How much does it cost to produce a game like Arcanum?

I am wondering cause computers are like mega faster then they were in the days of games like Fallout. So could a person with good programing knowledge make a fairly playable graphic game on his own home computer then burn it on CD and sell them himself like to his neigbors and friends? :hidepc: What do you peps think, could those of us that had a killer PC and the time make games of their own? :boxing: (I am talking a graphical game not as high tech as say Unreal or Duengon Seige but better then pong or astoriods...) uke:

 

There doesn't seem to be any shortage of people trying. I don't think most people stand much of a chance to get a professional-standard game out. It takes more than a bit of programming skill to get decent graphics and sound. Even the lower end of the professional spectrum can end up looking a bit two bob.

If you're not too bothered about it looking a bit amateurish, then I'd guess the game mechanics would be most difficult, since they have to be complex enough to make an interesting game but need to be balanced so that playability doesn't go down the crapper. That probably puts it within the reach of some people, but whether they're the same people who have the technical knowhow and the initiative to get it all going, I don't know.

After the mechanics, you've still got to have a decent setting, story, characters, and locations. These are the areas where even the best professional games fall down a bit, and I think the amateurs might even have an edge with these ones.

Anyway, before you start laying into my all knowing ass, I have to answer, I have no idea how much it costs to produce a game like Arcanum. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a bit hard for Troika to pin down, either.

 

Well Then

I guess that would make the best part about that post your new signature, wouldn't it? :thinker:

 

All hail the Sheriff's All-Knowing Ass!

I commit myself and my Uncle Herschel to its marvelous, omniscient power!

In the grand tradition of the Geshianna (sp?) cult, we shall now commence the ceremonial orgy in its name.

 

You'd be amazed how often people try to start an orgy with my ass. Luckily, I'm there to defend its honour.

*slaps away Windmills groping hands*

 

Um I really liked the signature.... I am not sure about the orgy though (looks at windmills with raised eyebrow. ) Even if by nature I have a weakness for ass especially all knowing ass 8)

 

How much would it cost to license an older game engine? It would be cool if some fans got their hands on the engine Black Isle used for Fallout Tactics and did another 2d iso RPG.

 

YEAH that's what I'm talking about! How does one go about getting ahold of one of those Game engine thingies??? How cool would that be if someone were to market one to the public??? You could create your own RPG and then play it on the I-net with your bros! Something like the old Daggerfall engine but upgraded to make it easier for a laymen to use :minigun:

 

Well if you just wanted to play something with your friends, you could mod the hell out of something like Neverwinter Nights or something like that.

If you wanted to sell it, then you're probably better off putting together a presentation, assembling your staff and making a pitch to one of the publishers out there. That's if you wanted to use one of the newer game engines, I'm thinking.

For an older one that's not really being used, I bet the cost would go up like hell once the owners found out that someone actually wanted to buy it.

 

Actually I was more thinking like what if a publisher put out an old engine with the intent of letting peps create their own custom games to share with friends and family and such. You know like some people buy those "build your own car / airplane / PC" type kits it has alll the parts that you need but you have the satisfaction of building it yourself (am I sounding REALLY weird right about now?) :drunk:

 

It's called, companies make engine and sell license to use it in games to other companies. In fact there are companies that do nothing but making engines and engine type accessories to license to companies. It's very profitable if you're good at it - how do you think id has managed to stay afloat all these years? They sell their engines to anyone who can afford it. Now, that said, small, independent developers can buy the Tribes 2 engine for something like $100. That's a pretty unique offer though. However, there are certain conditions and whatnot (such as you not being a professional company ).

I'm not sure on the pricing, but I heard that some company licensed the Q3 engine for $10000 (ten thousand, in case you think that's a typo). As for the cost of producing a game, well, it depends on the time you take and quality of the game. I would not be surprised if something like Warcraft 3 cost $3 or $4 million. I remember EA dropped $2 million on a failed project a few years back.

 

A company called Garage Games actually had a business model that sounds a lot like what you need. Basically, they let people license the Tribes 2 engine for a minimal fee ($100 per programmer), and then publish the good games made with it. If your game'd be any good, they'd publish it. I seem to remember they quit operations a while ago though, but I'm not sure. Check out their website: http://www.garagegames.com
I think they'd be your best bet if you have the rest of your project worked out (programmers, designers, artists).

 

Very cool, I'm not there yet but thanks for the insight guys, I am gonna checkout that sight however, it sounds like a boss idea 3

 

Hel Khat, are you also registered as Darkwalker? I only ask because you both seem to mispell "site" as "sight" pretty consistently.

 

Um no I am not but if memory serves me you are a brit right?

Cause if so a lot of words that you may assume are mispelt are only because it is spelt diffrently in your country. Now I am not saying in EVERY case cause I ain't the best speller in the world (Hell I'm not even the best speller on the block!), but here in the states it's spelt "insight" as in being able to see within not "insite" (I think the latter may be used like "insiting a riot")

It's much like the way you spell colour and we spell it color :wink:

 

I've put the one to which I was refering in bold.

However, I believe we share a common spelling of the word "site", as in "web site".

 

DOH! (I didn't see that site until you showed me what you had seen and in the spelling of THAT site you would ofcourse be rite er... RIGHT)

 

Well, I'll just shut up correcting minor spelling mistakes now, before I push the "all-knowing" bit even further over the line.

 

Too late for that one I'd say

May as well stay the course cause if they don't like ya they never will anyway _

 

Hel (or Eros, whatever you want to be called these days), no offense, but your spelling sucks.

You've got that last part right at least .

No one spells it insite Hel. It's insight everywhere. It's not like the US has a completely different version of English to the rest of the world which only you guys are 'privileged' enough to use . You don't "insite a riot" - you "incite" it. Your confusion arises from your mispellings of the words.

As for the other stuff, see my post in the Spelling Bee thread.