With likes of the ps3 and 360, making games is taking alot more people, time and money. It seems to me we are not far off where the hardware is no longer limiting games its the human factor of having hundreds of people sitting down for years writing code.

 Nintendo where pretty clever and seemed to have seen this problem ahead and sidestepped it. But what about next gen for sony and m$, if they release top end spec machines. How big will the budgets be, how long will it take to make a AAA title, longer than the consoles life?

 I think they are better off getting middle of the road spec machine that developers can get alot out of, rather than a top end machine with new tech that they must struggle to get a performance out of.

 What do you think, will console makers keep trying to one up each other in having the most powerful machine? if so, what will that mean for game development? will it mean, more time and money making games = less games?

We already hit the wall, the 360 and PS3 are what happens when you try to force their way through it.

You will be pleasantly surprised what these companies have in store for the next generation. You don't think technology can get much better, but I promise you it can. And even though games look more complex, technology also finds ways to do complex tasks in easier ways. So just because these 360 and PS3 games look amazing, it doesnt mean they took twice or three times as long to make as PS2 games did back in the day.

"It seems to me we are not far off where the hardware is no longer limiting games"

Wrong. PS3 and 360 are already limited. There are some games out there that can't run on their hardware because it's too weak (I won't say names). And seriously, PS3 and 360 are faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar below of some technology that's already present on other places. Don't think they are "next-gen" or "above next-gen", because they're not.

You don't have to worry, in years to come you'll see more and more games that will make you say "OMFG that's real time?!"

loadedstatement said: You will be pleasantly surprised what these companies have in store for the next generation. You don't think technology can get much better, but I promise you it can. And even though games look more complex, technology also finds ways to do complex tasks in easier ways. So just because these 360 and PS3 games look amazing, it doesnt mean they took twice or three times as long to make as PS2 games did back in the day.

 

I dunno, the money it cost to make a ps3 game is alot more expensive.  For example gran turismo series, to make the car models, usta be to done days, then weeks, the months as technogy got more powerful.

 The tech is advancing much faster than are ability to use it. If it keeps up, MGS5 will cost $50 million and take 5 years (plus a few delays) to make.

misteromar mk4 said: loadedstatement said: You will be pleasantly surprised what these companies have in store for the next generation. You don't think technology can get much better, but I promise you it can. And even though games look more complex, technology also finds ways to do complex tasks in easier ways. So just because these 360 and PS3 games look amazing, it doesnt mean they took twice or three times as long to make as PS2 games did back in the day.   I dunno, the money it cost to make a ps3 game is alot more expensive.  For example gran turismo series, to make the car models, usta be to done days, then weeks, the months as technogy got more powerful.  The tech is advancing much faster than are ability to use it. If it keeps up, MGS5 will cost $50 million and take 5 years (plus a few delays) to make.

 To an extent I think you are right.  MSG5 is a horrible example because it will be the most expensive game of this generation yet.  You have to take a bunch of things into account.  If games are getting more expensive, is it because there is more competition and developers are willing to shell out more dough?  Because the gaming industry is growing?  Or because technology is more expensive.  It may be a little of everything.  I do not think it is getting cheaper.  I think they are getting slightly more expensive.  I dont have official figures or evidence, but I dont think the change in production cost has been too monumental, nor will it be.  I think we will always find ways to do what we want to do.   

 

A game only costs as much as the developer (or publisher) wants to spend. A game like MGS4 could be made with a much smaller budget and still be just as good.

Brain Age cost what... 5 bucks and 10 minutes to make? And it sold what... infinity copies?

End of story.

we haven't even begun to see the potential of technology.