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[Wario64]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/08/12/news_6130901.html

Microsoft's Xbox is the most costly platform for game development, followed by Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's GameCube, says the latest report by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) in Japan. This week's issue of Famitsu covers figures from 2004 given by CESA, which calculated the average development costs for games on current-gen platforms. The reported figures are based on development fees that were voluntarily disclosed by 28 companies.

According to CESA, the Xbox is the most expensive due to the platform's high-end hardware specs. Development figures taken from 13 Xbox titles came to an average of 202 million yen ($1.85 million), more than double the cost of other platforms.

The PlayStation 2 ranked as the second most costly platform to make games for, with development figures for 194 titles averaging 96 million yen ($877,000). The GameCube came in third, with figures taken from 11 titles averaging 90 million yen ($822,000).

Surprisingly, games for the handheld PlayStation Portable reportedly cost the same to make as GameCube titles. On the other hand, games for the DS only cost 37 million yen ($338,000) to make, which is even lower than the average 53 million yen ($484 thousand) development cost for Game Boy Advance titles.

The full development figure table released by CESA goes as below.

Platform - average development cost / number of titles used for calculation

Xbox - 202 million yen ($1.8 million) / 13 titles
PlayStation 2 - 96 million yen ($877,634) / 194 titles
GameCube - 90 million yen ($822,857) / 11 titles
PlayStation Portable - 90 million yen ($822,857) / 6 titles
PlayStation - 80 million yen ($731,429) / 1 title
Game Boy Advance - 53 million yen ($484,571) / 47 titles
DS - 37 million yen ($338,286) / 3 titles
Dreamcast - 25 million yen ($228,571) / 2 titles

 

[MassiveAttack]

Utterly meaningless numbers unfortunately.

 

[FiRez]

nvm.

 

[Tiktaalik]

Since they say that Xbox's high costs are due to high hardware specs, will Xbox360, PS3 and Revolution all be higher than Xbox?

edit: how do they get these numbers? polling companies?

 

[segasonic]

well, there's more games on PS2 -> more trash -> lower average dev costs

 

[Fuzzy]

That chart was posted yesterday but thanks for the explanation.

Surprisingly, games for the handheld PlayStation Portable reportedly cost the same to make as GameCube titles. On the other hand, games for the DS only cost 37 million yen ($338,000) to make, which is even lower than the average 53 million yen ($484 thousand) development cost for Game Boy Advance titles.

That would mean more if it encompassed more PSP and DS games.

 

[Kroole]

Not really. The DS numbers are quite low but I think that has to do with lack of "epic" games and rushed ones. But it's really surprising that the PSP games costs that much do develop despite many being (like in the DS case) rushed and full of ports.

 

[sangreal]

Dreamcast - 25 million yen ($228,571) / 2 titles

Clearly Shenmue was not used

 

[Tiktaalik]

Not really. The DS numbers are quite low but I think that has to do with lack of "epic" games and rushed ones. But it's really surprising that the PSP games costs that much do develop despite many being (like in the DS case) rushed and full of ports.

I thought I read somewhere that the DS developers kit was cheaper than the GBA one. That would cut costs.

Even If I'm wrong on that, the programming the DS is pretty similar to the GBA, so that could also be a reason why costs are lower for the DS. Companies don't have to entirely learn a new system.

 

[Bluemercury]

I thought I read somewhere that the DS developers kit was cheaper than the GBA one. That would cut costs.

Even If I'm wrong on that, the programming the DS is pretty similar to the GBA, so that could also be a reason why costs are lower for the DS. Companies don't have to entirely learn a new system.

According to the article
PSP=GC
GBA»DS

 

[Nerevar]

:lol 13 titles?

I'd like to see what the confidence level was on those statistics. :lol

 

[Guy LeDouche]

Clearly Shenmue was not used

laffo

 

[Barnimal]

that hardware crap is BS. gamecube is more powerful than ps2.

 

[Fuzzy]

that hardware crap is BS. gamecube is more powerful than ps2.

This has nothing to do with which is more powerful, it's about which costs more to develop for.

 

[sangreal]

This has nothing to do with which is more powerful, it's about which costs more to develop for.

According to CESA, the Xbox is the most expensive due to the platform's high-end hardware specs.

.

 

[Barnimal]

*yawn*

"According to CESA, the Xbox is the most expensive due to the platform's high-end hardware specs"

 

[Fuzzy]

Since they say that Xbox's high costs are due to high hardware specs, will Xbox360, PS3 and Revolution all be higher than Xbox?

Since the Revolution is based on GCN hardware I don't see the cost of development being significantly higher.

 

[Fuzzy]

*yawn*

"According to CESA, the Xbox is the most expensive due to the platform's high-end hardware specs"

And tell me where they mention the PS2 or GCN power when it comes to the development cost.

 

[jarrod]

According to the article
PSP=GC
GBA»DS

Just like JP software sales.

 

[GaimeGuy]

Since the Revolution is based on GCN hardware I don't see the cost of development being significantly higher.

no no no no no.

Revolution's SOFTWARE LIBRARIES are based off the GC's. That means programming is very similar between the two. While it does say that the GC and Rev likely share some architectural similarities, it's probably not the most accurate statement to say that Revolution is based off of GC hardware.

 

[Fuzzy]

no no no no no.

Revolution's SOFTWARE LIBRARIES are based off the GC's. That means programming is very similar between the two. While it does say that the GC and Rev likely share some architectural similarities, it's probably not the most accurate statement to say that Revolution is based off of GC hardware.

I'm sorry, that's what I meant to say but didn't think.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

Maybe if the GC cost more to develop for it would get more titles.

NINTENDO try something else!

 

[Deku Tree]

Xbox ... Development figures taken from 13 Xbox titles

PlayStation 2 ... development figures for 194 titles

does not compute... is it that hard to get dev figures for more xbox games?

 

[GaimeGuy]

I'm sorry, that's what I meant to say but didn't think.

Dude your post sounds like you just ran over a cat or something. There's no reason to apologize with a frowny face. :lol

 

[SomeDude]

Most of the AAA games probably cost way more than this.

 

[Fuzzy]

Xbox ... Development figures taken from 13 Xbox titles

PlayStation 2 ... development figures for 194 titles

does not compute... is it that hard to get dev figures for more xbox games?

Those are like all the XBOX games released in the last year in Japan. :lol

Dude your post sounds like you just ran over a cat or something. There's no reason to apologize with a frowny face. :lol

 

[Yoshi]

Besides the numbers for PS2, these numbers are totally useless due to the low number of games. One of the Dreamcast games definatly was Ikaruga imo ^^^^.

 

[Oblivion]

How the fuck is a DS game cheaper to make than a GBA game? I read developer interviews that have talked about single people team's working on GBA games.

 

[bigNman]

How the fuck is a DS game cheaper to make than a GBA game?

Because they just port it across.

 

[C- Warrior]

Aw Hells no, those numbers mean jack shit.

A) There is a lot of shit in Japan. PS2 games that only contain 1000 pictures of models and stuff. That's it, no video, just pictures. That game probably costed 40,000 dollars to make.

There is a lot of low-key Jack-Wacko lovin' niche titles in Japan that bring that figure down.

I would say your typical AAA game should cost anywhere from 5 to 8 million easily. With these same AAA games costing 10-15 million on next-gen...eas-a-fucking-ly.

B) Onimusha 3 (for instance) their opening CG done by ROBOT was priced at 100,000,000 yen (1 million USD) per minute. Per fuckin minute? I said per fucking minute!11!!

Again, if you were to take this same poll with the games that lets say...sold over 1,000,000 worldwide (dictating a more than likely large budget game) the figures would easily be roughly 4-8 million. MGS2 costed around 8 to 9 million. Same with MGS3, maybe even a little more.

If the average development for PS2 games was 900,000 dollars like that article implies and we take it's meaning to the bone, man--fuckin everyone would get in the game industry business. Hell, me and my friends coudl combine are salaries/accounts together and fund a Nintendo DS game if that's how much it really cost to make.

...

Hmmm....

I think I'll make a porn game. >.> Jack Thompson prepare yourself!!!

 

[Jado]

One of the devs in that really long Developer Roundtable article on NintendoInsider said DS titles are 2-3 times the cost of GBA games, while PSP games are 5-7 times as much.

Found the quote...

Karthik Bala, Vicarious Visions:
The development costs have increased quite a bit. DS development costs for AAA titles are 2x to 3x higher than GBA, whereas the PSP costs are 5x to 7x higher than GBA. It certainly means that next-gen development requires more resources than ever before.

State of the Handheld Industry article

 

[C- Warrior]

One of the devs in that really long Developer Roundtable article on NintendoInsider said DS titles are 2-3 times the cost of GBA games, while PSP games are 5-7 times as much.

Right, which would make somewhat noteworthy PSP games costing at around 2.5 million. Which is far more in-tune and what makes sense.

Where the fuck is Gazunta, I wonder if he can tell us if these numbers are accurate, even if somewhat.

I would consider the Ty games bigger budgeted than your average Japanese title.

 

[Bigfonzie]

Ok thats it, im starting the "Gaf DS Game fund" right now!, we could bankroll a DS game easy, we can work our cheap korean developers EA style, and rake in the money with our "*quickly thinks up gafs two most favorite games*" Wallguy's Puppie cuddles adventure!!

 

[Sgt. Killjoy]

So they average over 100 games on PS2, and 13 and less for the others?

consistency++

 

[Oblivion]

B) Onimusha 3 (for instance) their opening CG done by ROBOT was priced at 100,000,000 yen (1 million USD) per minute. Per fuckin minute? I said per fucking minute!11!!

The fuck? That would mean a 30 second clip would be 30 million? I think you're a bit off there, duder. I'm not doubting those scenes would be expensive, but that's a bit much.


And that State of the handheld industry thing seems a lot more accurate. DS cheaper than GBA my ass...

 

[thorns]

Well the numbers are useful, they could have just said average development costs for games released this year across different platforms . That would be accurate and factual. But reaching a conclusion like Xbox is the most expensive to develop for you would need far more data, averaged across years etc.

 

[Azure Dream]

The fuck? That would mean a 30 second clip would be 30 million? I think you're a bit off there, duder. I'm not doubting those scenes would be expensive, but that's a bit much.

Wait, what? That's not what he said...

B) Onimusha 3 (for instance) their opening CG done by ROBOT was priced at 100,000,000 yen (1 million USD) per minute. Per fuckin minute? I said per fucking minute!11!!

Assuming you meant USD, a 30 second clip would cost $500,000, not $30,000,000. You must've confused minutes for seconds.

 

[Friend]

The fuck? That would mean a 30 second clip would be 30 million? I think you're a bit off there, duder. I'm not doubting those scenes would be expensive, but that's a bit much.


And that State of the handheld industry thing seems a lot more accurate. DS cheaper than GBA my ass...

He said per minute, not per second. 1 million per minute seems about right considering feature length movies by pixar cost $100+ million to produce.

 

[Oblivion]

Oh, terribly sorry. You guys are right. I thought he said seconds instead of minutes.

 

[C- Warrior]

You fuckin idiot!

Why don't you go fuckin kill yourself you autistic mentally retarted ass fuck.

=p

Keep in mind, this is ROBOT CG--not the CG you see in most games. That's priced much less.

All the Onimusha games have had CG sequences (all of which were amazing btw) done by ROBOT. Onimusha 4 seems to also have ROBOT on board (during some parts of the recent trailer you can see some high quality CG that screams 1 million dollars per minute

 

[Oblivion]

Wait, so cutscenes are done by outside companies? Do any developers do them in-house?

 

[The Abominable Snowman]

Wait, so cutscenes are done by outside companies? Do any developers do them in-house?

Lots.

The most famous example being Square and Square Honolulu (Whom made The Spirits Within, as well as CG for IIRC FF8 on)

 

[cybamerc]

One of the devs in that really long Developer Roundtable article on NintendoInsider said DS titles are 2-3 times the cost of GBA games, while PSP games are 5-7 times as much.

Well, keep in mind that Vicarious Visions is a Western dev. The CESA report covers Japanese titles.

 

[EmSeta]

This shows how unwilling companies are to invest in PS2 level PSP software.

 

[Madame M]

"epic"

die

 

[Kroole]

die

 

[Oblivion]

Lots.

The most famous example being Square and Square Honolulu (Whom made The Spirits Within, as well as CG for IIRC FF8 on)

How long does that shit take? Most developers have like 20 artists. It's hard to see them do all those animations even within a year, and that's not counting creating the whole levels and environments within the game.

 

[C- Warrior]

How long does that shit take? Most developers have like 20 artists. It's hard to see them do all those animations even within a year, and that's not counting creating the whole levels and environments within the game.

That's why a lot of companies outsource their CG for their games.

 

[The Faceless Master]

the comparison is kinda rediculous when you see they based their averages on too few games for every system except ps2

 

[neptunes]

Wait, so cutscenes are done by outside companies? Do any developers do them in-house?

All I know is that the CG used in FFX was done by a third party at the time.

They've probably been absorbed into square-enix now and works with them internally.