The Average Wii Game Costs $5-7 Million To Make

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mrmcygan

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#1 mrmcygan
Member since 2010 • 882 Posts

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As the level of video game production sky rockets, it's no surprise that development costs are following suit. What is interesting is that your average Wii game costs roughly five to seven million big ones to make, according to an investment review conducted by Digi-Capital.

On the other hand, Wii development costs still remain a fraction of what makes up for Xbox 360 and PS3 games that easily fall within the $15 to $30 million range, or even more with blockbuster releases. Obviously, DS games costs even less than that of the Wii to develop. However, development costs will likely see a rising surge with the coming launch of the 3DS where developers can take advantage of a more powerful device.

Digi-Capital notes that with such high development costs, in combination with marketing costs, means developers will generally need to sell half a million to over a million units if they want to break even. That's a lot considering only several key releases throughout the year ever break the half million mark. As reported earlier this month, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, a relatively well anticipated title from Ninja Theory and Namco Bandai, failed to reach the 500,000 point, moving only 460,000 copies world wide.

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ActicEdge

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#2 ActicEdge
Member since 2008 • 24492 Posts

when I look at the average Wii game I have serious trouble fathoming that it took 5-7 million to create?

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JohnF111

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#3 JohnF111
Member since 2010 • 14190 Posts

460,000 x £40(on average) = 18mill.... well in the clear.

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LegatoSkyheart

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#4 LegatoSkyheart
Member since 2009 • 29733 Posts

If the average Wii game costs $5-$7 Million then imagine how much the average Xbox 360 and PS3 game costs!

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ActicEdge

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#5 ActicEdge
Member since 2008 • 24492 Posts

460,000 x £40(on average) = 18mill.... well in the clear.

JohnF111

Well it said from 15 to 20 million and that's assuming all those copies were sold at full price which they certainly weren't. I'm not so sure I belive this stat though.

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Masculus

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#6 Masculus
Member since 2009 • 2878 Posts

I seriously doubt those Ninja ginger bread man games cost that.

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mrmcygan

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#7 mrmcygan
Member since 2010 • 882 Posts

If the average Wii game costs $5-$7 Million then imagine how much the average Xbox 360 and PS3 game costs!

LegatoSkyheart

the article says 15 to 30 million for PS3/Xbox 360 games

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osan0

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#8 osan0
Member since 2004 • 18239 Posts
sounds about right. i wonder what the most invested in a wii game ever was? as for the least...6 popcorn arcade games probably had a combined dev cost of 3..........dollars :P. i heard that a big DS game costs about 400,000 dollars to make. brain training, as legend has it, only cost 5000 dollars to make. though maybe that was just for the prototype. i think ninty mentioned that high end 3DS development will be around the 600,000 to 1.8 million mark. very small fry compared to the other platforms. the big boys would find that down the back of a sofa.
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#9 osan0
Member since 2004 • 18239 Posts

[QUOTE="LegatoSkyheart"]

If the average Wii game costs $5-$7 Million then imagine how much the average Xbox 360 and PS3 game costs!

mrmcygan

the article says 15 to 30 million for PS3/Xbox 360 games

it ranges wildly though. GTA4 was apparently 100million dollars. gears 1 was 15 million but i dont now if epic included the cost of UE3 development into that. killzone 2 i think was 45million. heres a list of the top 10 http://www.digitalbattle.com/2010/02/20/top-10-most-expensive-video-games-budgets-ever/ a few surprises there.
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Bigboi500

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#10 Bigboi500
Member since 2007 • 35550 Posts

It's funny when some of these low budget games end up being more enjoyable than some of the expensive over hyped blockbusters.

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shutdown_202

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#11 shutdown_202
Member since 2005 • 5649 Posts

Wow really? Thought it would be alot less than that.

I remember Gears of War 1 cost around 8-10 million to make.

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locopatho

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#12 locopatho
Member since 2003 • 24300 Posts
But isn't there 100s of utter crap Wii games that drag that average down?
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#13 carljohnson3456
Member since 2007 • 12489 Posts

[QUOTE="LegatoSkyheart"]

If the average Wii game costs $5-$7 Million then imagine how much the average Xbox 360 and PS3 game costs!

mrmcygan

the article says 15 to 30 million for PS3/Xbox 360 games

This is why this gen needs to last a long time. GIVE THE DEVS A BREAK!
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#14 Nonstop-Madness  Online
Member since 2008 • 12861 Posts

460,000 x £40(on average) = 18mill.... well in the clear.

JohnF111
100% of the game's face value does not go to the developer/publisher. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/02/anatomy-of-a-60-dollar-video-game.html
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#15 Bigboi500
Member since 2007 • 35550 Posts

But isn't there 100s of utter crap Wii games that drag that average down?locopatho
There's hundreds of crap games on all systems brah, the Wii just happens to have more crap games because it's the top selling console this gen. That's something a Microsoft console has never had to worry about. ;)

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#16 ChubbyGuy40
Member since 2007 • 26442 Posts

Huh...yet you get games like The Witcher 2 for nearly the same amount, maybe a bit more. Devs last stated the project only cost them 7 million.

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locopatho

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#17 locopatho
Member since 2003 • 24300 Posts

[QUOTE="locopatho"]But isn't there 100s of utter crap Wii games that drag that average down?Bigboi500

There's hundreds of crap games on all systems brah, the Wii just happens to have more crap games because it's the top selling console this gen. That's something a Microsoft console has never had to worry about. ;)

Enough of the RAR DEFEND WII FROM THE MEANIES!!!

I don't give a **** about MS making money.

I'm making a genuine point, is this the average cost for a good Wii game like Mario Galaxy or is it factoring in

  • Imagine: Master Chef (2007) (known as Imagine: Happy Cooking in Europe)
  • Imagine: Fashion Designer (2007)
  • Imagine: Animal Doctor (2007) (known as Imagine: Pet Vet in Europe)
  • Imagine: Babyz (2007) (known as Imagine: Babies in PAL regions)
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  • Imagine: Champion Rider (2008)
  • Imagine: Pet Hospital (2008)
  • Imagine: Interior Designer (2008)
  • Imagine: Wedding Designer (2008) (known as Imagine: Dream Weddings in Europe)
  • Imagine: Party Babyz (2008)
  • Imagine: Ballet Star (2008) (known as Imagine: Ballet Dancer in Europe)
  • Imagine: Movie Star (2008)
  • Imagine Gymnast (2008)
  • Imagine My Restaurant (2009)
  • Imagine Fashion Party (January 20, 2009)
  • Imagine: Cheerleader (February 3, 2009)
  • Imagine: Ice Champions (March 3, 2009)
  • Imagine: Family Doctor (March 26, 2009)
  • Imagine: Makeup Artist (May 12, 2009)
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#18 Bigboi500
Member since 2007 • 35550 Posts

^Well you can start adding Kinect games to that list of crap. No more "I dun care about sales, just hardcore games for the hardcore!" for lemmings.

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locopatho

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#19 locopatho
Member since 2003 • 24300 Posts

^Well you can start adding Kinect games to that list of crap. No more "I dun care about sales, just hardcore games for the hardcore!" for lemmings.

Bigboi500
I have less then no idea what you are on about.
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campzor

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#20 campzor
Member since 2004 • 34932 Posts
i highly doubt it cost $5-7 to make the average wii game
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#21 DeckardLee2010
Member since 2010 • 402 Posts

460,000 x £40(on average) = 18mill.... well in the clear.

JohnF111

... If only all of that were pure profit.

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dercoo

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#22 dercoo
Member since 2006 • 12555 Posts

Wait, so the average Wii game uses money as efficiently as Water World....

Wow

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#23 Mr_Cumberdale
Member since 2004 • 10189 Posts
I wonder if SMG was also under 10 million? I think all games can learn a two or thing about Nintendo and not just focus on graphics.
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ActicEdge

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#24 ActicEdge
Member since 2008 • 24492 Posts

But isn't there 100s of utter crap Wii games that drag that average down?locopatho

We don't even know how the average was compiled to begin with though? That said I really doubt the Wii averag is much higher then what is already shown, I have a hard time believing that average as it is.