Software Developers Trim Costs on New Games

humbug · 11 Jun 2013 at 01:43

http://allthingsd.com/20130610/software-developers-trim-costs-on-new-games/

A new generation of videogame consoles from Microsoft Corp. and Sony Corp. promise innovation on several fronts, including higher-fidelity visuals. But one thing they aren’t expected to bring is increased cost to software developers.
A typical console programming project, with roughly 100 developers, has come to cost an average $20 million in recent years—at least double what it cost a decade ago, according to Wedbush Securities. But some of the biggest game companies say they’ve found ways to hold back rising costs and more efficiently make games, reducing the amount of time it takes to build the intricate digital worlds they create.

craptakular · 11 Jun 2013 at 06:59

humbug · 11 Jun 2013 at 10:47

craptakular said:
err?

Game developers are cutting costs.

FrenchTart · 11 Jun 2013 at 10:50

This is a non-article containing non-news.

lurkio · 11 Jun 2013 at 11:26

gonna guess that they are going to cut costs but skipping on the software testing bit ?

spoffle · 11 Jun 2013 at 11:32

FrenchTart said:
This is a non-article containing non-news.

This. Additionally, Metro Last Light's developers have shown you don't need a mega budget to produce a high end game.

I understand there are other factors that have contributed to that, but not enough that Metro Last Light's budget was around 10% of other "Triple A" games.

MissChief · 11 Jun 2013 at 12:09

Let's have an Alpha beta stage where we get people to test the game for free so we can sack all the testers.

AHarvey · 11 Jun 2013 at 12:14

Sounds more like the dev companies are doing what every other company has to do...find more streamlined ways of doing things, fine tuning each step and reducing the need to waste man hours repeating tasks.

It's about time to be honest. Developers have been spoilt with the massive increases in technological advances over the last decade resulting in sloppy development. It's only when people and companies face difficulties do they start to look at better ways of doing things.

humbug · 11 Jun 2013 at 13:38

FrenchTart said:
This is a non-article containing non-news.

For you...

Thank you for declaring your none interest, but i'm not interested, please vacate and make room for those who are interested.

arknor · 11 Jun 2013 at 13:46

sim city is a fine example of cutting costs.....

Clav · 11 Jun 2013 at 14:19

The full title should read...

Software Developers Trim Costs on New Games
EA, Ubisoft and Others Use Software to Rein in Expenditures by Reducing Time Artists Spend on Repetitive Tasks

Sounds reasonable to me.

Jono8 · 11 Jun 2013 at 14:21

humbug said:
[But some of the biggest game companies say they’ve found ways to hold back rising costs and more efficiently make games, reducing the amount of time it takes to build the intricate digital worlds they create

We know, its called DLC. Make the game smaller and then make the consumer pay for the rest of the game after.

Witcher1979 · 11 Jun 2013 at 14:22

lurkio said:
gonna guess that they are going to cut costs but skipping on the software testing bit ?

I thought they already did that?

FrenchTart · 11 Jun 2013 at 14:23

humbug said:
For you...

Thank you for declaring your none interest, but i'm not interested, please vacate and make room for those who are interested.

Not just for me judging by some of the reactions in this thread.

You've posted it as though it's a scandal. It's really not. It's something that is blatantly obvious to everyone (or should be).

PapaLazaru · 11 Jun 2013 at 14:31

Global recession so companies are trimming costs shocker.

humbug · 11 Jun 2013 at 14:41

FrenchTart said:
Not just for me judging by some of the reactions in this thread.

You've posted it as though it's a scandal. It's really not. It's something that is blatantly obvious to everyone (or should be).

I posted an article and said nothing, you made your own assumptions completely by yourself and then had an emotional reaction for some strange reason.

Its like: what's in it for you? why the strange overblown reaction?

Good Grief... its an article, discuses it or leave, don't have an emotional breakdown over it.

FrenchTart · 11 Jun 2013 at 14:46

humbug said:
I posted an article and said nothing, you made your own assumptions completely by yourself and then had an emotional reaction for some strange reason.

Its like: what's in it for you? why the strange overblown reaction?

Good Grief... its an article, discuses it or leave, don't have an emotional breakdown over it.

I'm fairly sure I'm not emotionally invested in this one.

I may have made an incorrect assumption about your opinion on the matter (though I would be surprised). How about you enlighten me?

Clav · 11 Jun 2013 at 15:02

humbug said:
I posted an article and said nothing, you made your own assumptions completely by yourself and then had an emotional reaction for some strange reason.

Its like: what's in it for you? why the strange overblown reaction?

Good Grief... its an article, discuses it or leave, don't have an emotional breakdown over it.

It's not an article though. There are no details other than cost cutting is going on. Cost cutting is always going on. Am I missing something here? I can't read the full story as I have no subscription with Wall Street journal. Can you post the full article?

linwelin · 11 Jun 2013 at 15:13

How are they planning on cutting costs though, article doesn't seem to indicate how this is going to be done.

humbug · 11 Jun 2013 at 15:16

FrenchTart said:
I'm fairly sure I'm not emotionally invested in this one.

I may have made an incorrect assumption about your opinion on the matter (though I would be surprised). How about you enlighten me?

There is nothing to enlighten, its a piece of information, or call it what you will, discuss it.
Don't have a go at me for putting it up there, ok?

Clav said:
It's not an article though. There are no details other than cost cutting is going on. Cost cutting is always going on. Am I missing something here? I can't read the full story as I have no subscription with Wall Street journal. Can you post the full article?

I'm not a subscriber, I found it linked to investment articles I was reading, I thought people in here might find it interesting.