wraggster
February 25th, 2013, 16:12
Studios could have to sell 20-to-30 million copies to break even if game budgets and team sizes increase
The industry should be wary not to back itself into a corner and make game development economically unviable on next generation consoles, BioWare’s director of art and animation has warned.
Speaking to OXM (http://www.oxm.co.uk/50545/features/a-new-era-biowares-art-director-talks-dragon-age-3-mass-effect-and-next-gen-visuals/?page=1), Neil Thompson said that the last generation of hardware caught many developers off guard with the required skillsets to make games.
He stated that the industry cannot afford another ten-fold team increase in development costs and team sizes, as studios would likely have to sell 20-to-30 million copies of a triple-A title just to break even.
Thompson added however that although next generation consoles would be a big leap from the current hardware, it wouldn’t be as obvious graphically.
“I think the main thing is that the industry doesn't get itself into a corner where it becomes economically unviable to make a game,” said Thompsom.
http://www.develop-online.net/news/43370/BioWare-dev-warns-against-economically-unviable-next-gen
The industry should be wary not to back itself into a corner and make game development economically unviable on next generation consoles, BioWare’s director of art and animation has warned.
Speaking to OXM (http://www.oxm.co.uk/50545/features/a-new-era-biowares-art-director-talks-dragon-age-3-mass-effect-and-next-gen-visuals/?page=1), Neil Thompson said that the last generation of hardware caught many developers off guard with the required skillsets to make games.
He stated that the industry cannot afford another ten-fold team increase in development costs and team sizes, as studios would likely have to sell 20-to-30 million copies of a triple-A title just to break even.
Thompson added however that although next generation consoles would be a big leap from the current hardware, it wouldn’t be as obvious graphically.
“I think the main thing is that the industry doesn't get itself into a corner where it becomes economically unviable to make a game,” said Thompsom.
http://www.develop-online.net/news/43370/BioWare-dev-warns-against-economically-unviable-next-gen