GameCube the most expensive to develop?

Rubeus · 07-31-2003, 12:58 PM

Quote:

CESA has conducted a survey in the industry in Japan, on the development costs for the current console systems. It was discovered that the development cost is the most expensive for Nintendo GameCube, the average development cost for each game is 72 million yen (US$603,000), and the least expensive is Sony PSone, which is only 14 million yen (US$117,000). The data is collected from 43 development studios in Japan.

It seems like after people get through the learning curve of programming PS2, it costs less and less to develop on the system, but I wonder why Gamecube is the most expensive? Because of the royalty fee to Nintendo?

Escaflowne2001 · 07-31-2003, 01:09 PM

Yep Nintendo expect to more, hence the small amount of third party surport that and low sales of third party titles.

Nindalf · 07-31-2003, 01:29 PM

GCs avarage is higher because it has way more quality games than PS2 or Xbox, so they cost more.

Reality · 07-31-2003, 01:31 PM

So far it's working pretty good. 3DO is going under, Acclaim is going under MIDWAY is going under.

Spited Pariah · 07-31-2003, 01:55 PM

wasn't it always like that?

or was it just that nintendo was hard to develop?

I don't get why it would be the most expensive other than possibly because of the disk format

DBJAY · 07-31-2003, 01:58 PM

I beleive that the GC developement costs are higher because of Nintendo's royalty rates, and the media is a custom format, that only Nintendo produces. By having a custom media format, ala carts (and the real reason why N64 did not go cd because Nintendo would be losing a cash cow and why GBASP remains a cash cow), Nintendo pulls in major bucks.

That's why I'm betting that Sony will use a custom media format, maybe a variation of UMD, for the PS3 games. My prediction is that all three systems will have a custom media format for gaming software, but the hardware will be able to play back UMD etc., DVD, and CD formats.

Spited Pariah · 07-31-2003, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DBJAY
I beleive that the GC developement costs are higher because of Nintendo's royalty rates, and the media is a custom format, that only Nintendo produces. By having a custom media format, ala carts (and the real reason why N64 did not go cd because Nintendo would be losing a cash cow and why GBASP remains a cash cow), Nintendo pulls in major bucks.

That's why I'm betting that Sony will use a custom media format, maybe a variation of UMD, for the PS3 games. My prediction is that all three systems will have a custom media format for gaming software, but the hardware will be able to play back UMD etc., DVD, and CD formats.

that might cripple the Piracy business (gamecube is the only system where piracy has been stomped for the most part, even Gameboy Advance is plagued by Piracy)

Rubeus · 07-31-2003, 02:08 PM

$603000 average cost? That means each Gamecube game must sell at least 12300 copies to break even the cost, and they are not making any real profit until the sales past 30000 copies (with marketing, packaging, shipping costs, etc).

Didn't Nintendo mention a while ago that they must sell 75000 copies of Giftpia to break even the cost? That's pretty scarely, not all games can past that figure in Japan.

Reality · 07-31-2003, 02:16 PM

Good point, I don't think that game has passed that yet or not. I mean Giftpia is just weird.

Why not make something more appealing?

Kid0_oIcarus · 07-31-2003, 03:53 PM

12,300 - 30,000? 75,000? Those are low numbers for quality games...

Unless you miscalculated and forgot to throw in a zero.. but then I doubt that, since that would be quite a mistake...

Oh and don't forget that low low numbers bring averages down quick. So all those subpar games in the PS2's vast library can make a difference ;)

Regardless, this is a bit surprising, since the GC is touted as being very easy/economical to develop for. I wonder if Nintendo will have anything to say about this?

Oh, btw what is CESA?

Escaflowne2001 · 07-31-2003, 05:27 PM

/\
basic average who only goes after big titles,

You do know there are smaller games that are just as good or even better then the mainstream titles that just don't get reconize by the average joe.

Black Ace · 07-31-2003, 06:08 PM

The development cost is different than the royalty fee. Royalty is per unit made, so say R = $1 per unit, if they plan to published 50,000 copies, the R would be $50K. This just states how much it would cost them to make a game and only that.

Games today required 4 - 5 times the codes versus the last generation, and it would only gets more complicated and expensive going into the next generation.

Does anyone remember an article from about a month back, which states games may go up by ~$10? I think it may so when the next round of console starts.

Escaflowne2001 · 07-31-2003, 06:20 PM

Well games are cheapier now then when the PsOne/N64/Saturn was around in this country (UK) anyhow.

jack123 · 01-06-2006, 02:10 AM

I Can't figure out that Is there any way to Search this Bulletin Board by similar words instead of exact words.
I searched for similar words in http://www.google.com and
http://www.boardexplorer.com and I found this Bulletin Board.
but inside the web site I could not find any intelligent search. you should know exact words to find similar topics
any Idea?

naruto_sensei · 01-06-2006, 02:40 AM

what does that have anything to do with this thread?

07-31-2003, 01:31 PM	#4
Reality Sin and Punishment Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 14,153	So far it's working pretty good. 3DO is going under, Acclaim is going under MIDWAY is going under. __________________ Outpostnine is that 1%.

07-31-2003, 02:08 PM	#8
Rubeus Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 3,540	$603000 average cost? That means each Gamecube game must sell at least 12300 copies to break even the cost, and they are not making any real profit until the sales past 30000 copies (with marketing, packaging, shipping costs, etc). Didn't Nintendo mention a while ago that they must sell 75000 copies of Giftpia to break even the cost? That's pretty scarely, not all games can past that figure in Japan. Last edited by Rubeus; 07-31-2003 at 02:11 PM.

07-31-2003, 02:16 PM	#9
Reality Sin and Punishment Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 14,153	Good point, I don't think that game has passed that yet or not. I mean Giftpia is just weird. Why not make something more appealing? __________________ Outpostnine is that 1%. Last edited by Reality; 01-06-2006 at 02:32 AM.

07-31-2003, 03:53 PM	#10
Kid0_oIcarus wha-? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: T4mp4, Fl0r1d4 Posts: 2,816	12,300 - 30,000? 75,000? Those are low numbers for quality games... Unless you miscalculated and forgot to throw in a zero.. but then I doubt that, since that would be quite a mistake... Oh and don't forget that low low numbers bring averages down quick. So all those subpar games in the PS2's vast library can make a difference ;) Regardless, this is a bit surprising, since the GC is touted as being very easy/economical to develop for. I wonder if Nintendo will have anything to say about this? Oh, btw what is CESA? __________________ I took a class in it. ('.' >) Last edited by l33t GAWD; 07-31-2003 at 03:56 PM.

01-06-2006, 02:10 AM	#14
jack123 Banned Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2	Is there any way to Search this Bulletin Board by synonym words ? I Can't figure out that Is there any way to Search this Bulletin Board by similar words instead of exact words. I searched for similar words in http://www.google.com and http://www.boardexplorer.com and I found this Bulletin Board. but inside the web site I could not find any intelligent search. you should know exact words to find similar topics any Idea?

07-31-2003, 01:09 PM	#2
Escaflowne2001 ... ... ... ... Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thetford, Norfolk, England Posts: 15,220	Yep Nintendo expect to more, hence the small amount of third party surport that and low sales of third party titles.

07-31-2003, 01:29 PM	#3
Nindalf Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 11,905	GCs avarage is higher because it has way more quality games than PS2 or Xbox, so they cost more.

07-31-2003, 01:55 PM	#5
Spited Pariah Banned Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 125	wasn't it always like that? or was it just that nintendo was hard to develop? I don't get why it would be the most expensive other than possibly because of the disk format

07-31-2003, 01:58 PM	#6
DBJAY Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Socal Posts: 3,998	I beleive that the GC developement costs are higher because of Nintendo's royalty rates, and the media is a custom format, that only Nintendo produces. By having a custom media format, ala carts (and the real reason why N64 did not go cd because Nintendo would be losing a cash cow and why GBASP remains a cash cow), Nintendo pulls in major bucks. That's why I'm betting that Sony will use a custom media format, maybe a variation of UMD, for the PS3 games. My prediction is that all three systems will have a custom media format for gaming software, but the hardware will be able to play back UMD etc., DVD, and CD formats.

07-31-2003, 05:27 PM	#11
Escaflowne2001 ... ... ... ... Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thetford, Norfolk, England Posts: 15,220	/\ basic average who only goes after big titles, You do know there are smaller games that are just as good or even better then the mainstream titles that just don't get reconize by the average joe.

07-31-2003, 06:08 PM	#12
Black Ace Watching liek a Hwak Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 2,971	The development cost is different than the royalty fee. Royalty is per unit made, so say R = $1 per unit, if they plan to published 50,000 copies, the R would be $50K. This just states how much it would cost them to make a game and only that. Games today required 4 - 5 times the codes versus the last generation, and it would only gets more complicated and expensive going into the next generation. Does anyone remember an article from about a month back, which states games may go up by ~$10? I think it may so when the next round of console starts.

07-31-2003, 06:20 PM	#13
Escaflowne2001 ... ... ... ... Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thetford, Norfolk, England Posts: 15,220	Well games are cheapier now then when the PsOne/N64/Saturn was around in this country (UK) anyhow.

01-06-2006, 02:40 AM	#15
naruto_sensei O N E P I E C E Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,374	what does that have anything to do with this thread?

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