Topic: MGS4: Most Expensive Game Ever?

[sirean_syan]

It's probably pretty close if they're saying that they have to sell one million copies the first day.

I don't know, but doesn't that just seem a bit high in order to make profit? Really, I know game development is expensive at this point and I don't doubt a Metal Gear's production values, but that just seems absurd. It's a rare game that does that, especially when the system it's going to be played on is barely a year old and has a lower than usual install base. What is it? On average, there tends to be something like 2 to 3 games purchased per system. I forget the actual figure, but I remember it seeming absurdly low. I remember that even the highest selling games tend to make it to only about 10% of actual systems. Maybe my numbers are way off, but it can't be over the ~33% needed to hit that million mark. To top it off, this is a Metal Gear game. They've always sold well, but they're not things like Madden or Halo that more casual players run out to buy for the most part.

Something's strange with all this. Either they've dug a nice little hole for themselves or this is just an attempt to get pity purchases.

[Quemaqua]

I think you've analyzed it well.  That, or he just wasn't speaking in literal terms.  Either way, it seems ridiculous, and it isn't going to happen.

[MysterD]

One mill in one day to try and recoup losses?!?!?!?

HA!

That's insane.

[gpw11]

Ok, first of all that makes no sense at all - it might need to sell a XXX copies it's first QUARTER so that investors don't worry that costs might not be recouped, maybe even XXX+XXX copies by the end of the fiscal year, but there would be absolutely no reason it would HAVE to sell a certain number of copies it's first day.  That has no bearing on anything.

Payton notes that the figure may be hard to reach due to the PS3's relatively low installed base

+

We're telling our fans that if you want to play Metal Gear Solid 4, you have to buy a PS3,"

That kind of seems like more the message of the article - if MGS4 plans to make a tidy profit, more people need to buy PS3s.  This kind of gives them another excuse to mention that it's an exclusive for the time being.  Even if a 360 port is in the works, chances are it won't see the light of day for a year or two, and Konami obviously wants to sell as many PS3 versions as they can so that they can move out of the red on the game and into the black sooner rather than later.

[Pugnate]

I read something about an expensive MGS4 production before the PS3s went on sale. I think they couldn't imagine the PS3 not selling like hotcakes then.

[Xessive]

I hope this means they'll stretch out to reach the PC players

[angrykeebler]

I read somewhere about WoW costing about $8 million to make.

[Pugnate]

8 mil? wow.

[scottws]

Maybe I misread it, but I thought that other thread Pug posted said Shenmue cost over $70 million.

[Pugnate]

Yea, that's right. And the game sucked.

[idolminds]

Shenmue didn't suck, you liar.

[Pugnate]

haha... come on, it was one of the most lifeless games I ever played.

[idolminds]

I felt like it was a "next gen" adventure game and enjoyed playing it. It was cool just walking around and seeing people going about their day, then dropping into the arcade and playing some darts or whatever.

$70 million good? Probably not, but I liked it. It reminds me, I didnt give Shenmue 2 a fair shake yet. Guess thats another one to add to the list to play.