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I got into programming and software development due to my love of games. I've created independent games and worked at major game studios. If this is article is

I got into programming and software development due to my love of games. I've created independent games and worked at major game studios. If this is article is accurate then unfortunately I'm not surprised. There are major business model related issues across the industry. Top talent getting low pay and doing it just because of "passion" which can only last so long (for an individual) but the then new blood arrives for the cycle to continue. Games and game engines are hard to create and require excellence across multiple disciplines and customers do not value games enough to pay what they are used to already. Prices are similar to what they were for triple-a titles as back in the 90s when games were simpler. Add HD/4K graphics and the latest networking, audio, other modern jazz and all the staff required and what they're charging for a game is a joke.

matt4077 10y ago
What they're charging is plenty. - programming has become much more efficient due to better tools (such as engines) and the ability to waste a few clock cycles here and there. - The market for games has expanded dramatically since the 90ies. There are 10x as many people with the hardware and money to buy your game (not even counting mobile). - Piracy today is significantly lower than it was in the 90ies, mostly due to constant network connectivity. Here's a nice chart, showing revenue quadrupled since 2000: http://1u88jj3r4db2x4txp44yqfj1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/global-video-game-sector-revenue.jpg http://1u88jj3r4db2x4txp44yqfj1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-c...
- DaiPlusPlus 10y ago
  That chart says that "PC games" amount for maybe $2-4bn in revenue in 2014 compared to console games' $20bn - that order-of-magnitude difference doesn't sit well with me at all. Where's the source data for this chart? I find it hard to believe that mobile games generate 5x more revenue than PC games.
- ajeet_dhaliwal 10y ago
  I'm taking about console/tripe a games, if that chart is right then it shows the revenue for those has not quadrupled and even if it did it says nothing about profitability.
- jhanschoo 10y ago
  You're forgetting that AAA game creation today requires way more art assets than it ever did. I'm no insider to the industry, but it's obvious that there's far less reuse of assets, and assets are also far more detailed.

matt4077 10y ago

What they're charging is plenty. - programming has become much more efficient due to better tools (such as engines) and the ability to waste a few clock cycles here and there. - The market for games has expanded dramatically since the 90ies. There are 10x as many people with the hardware and money to buy your game (not even counting mobile). - Piracy today is significantly lower than it was in the 90ies, mostly due to constant network connectivity. Here's a nice chart, showing revenue quadrupled since 2000: http://1u88jj3r4db2x4txp44yqfj1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/global-video-game-sector-revenue.jpg http://1u88jj3r4db2x4txp44yqfj1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-c...

DaiPlusPlus 10y ago
That chart says that "PC games" amount for maybe $2-4bn in revenue in 2014 compared to console games' $20bn - that order-of-magnitude difference doesn't sit well with me at all. Where's the source data for this chart? I find it hard to believe that mobile games generate 5x more revenue than PC games.
ajeet_dhaliwal 10y ago
I'm taking about console/tripe a games, if that chart is right then it shows the revenue for those has not quadrupled and even if it did it says nothing about profitability.
jhanschoo 10y ago
You're forgetting that AAA game creation today requires way more art assets than it ever did. I'm no insider to the industry, but it's obvious that there's far less reuse of assets, and assets are also far more detailed.