It doesn't seem like graphical fidelity is a huge factor... Gears cost half as much as Lost Planet, Crisis cost less than Crackdown. Beyond marketing, the number of developers, and time spent on the project, is there anything else that significantly influences the budget?

This was really interesting - tagging for a proper read later.

Not until recently has there been a trend in inflating budgets. It's interesting to see how there were random spikes only just a few years ago. I wonder what Nintendo's budgets look like?

guess $$ does not by quality.

it was delayed a few times so I'm sure that inflated the budget. That or they built a time machine for research purposes.

Destiny is gonna be crazy, it wouldnt surprise me if marketing was over 100m.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_of_Duke_Nukem_Forever

1666 - $35 million - The contract between Patrice Désilets and THQ, released as part of Désilets' lawsuit against Ubisoft, estimated development costs of $35 million for his Assassin's Creed followup.

Warhammer 40k: Dark Millenium Online - $30 million - Former THQ executive Danny Bilson told Eurogamer last year the publisher spent around $30 million on this licensed MMO before the title was cancelled.

Homefront - $50 million - THQ's attempt to take on Call of Duty had a $50 million development budget, according to a former Kaos Studios producer.

poor THQ.....

Most games don't have to cost as much as they do if publishers would stop inflating the fucking budgets with Hollywood voice actors and necessary employees who are over paid like human resource managers (wtf?).


And how about we turn this thread into a game budget thread and post all game budgets when they're revealed.
I like seeing how much a company spent to make a game. :P

tagging