As someone who spent a bit of time in that industry the best way I've been able to describe it is a production schedule that looks like film but with a financia

As someone who spent a bit of time in that industry the best way I've been able to describe it is a production schedule that looks like film but with a financial structure closer to the music industry. Your studio gets an 'advance' on development with milestones and the like. Only after you've paid back your advance + more do you start seeing royalties come to the studio. That advance allotment also usually includes the marketing budget which can be as much or more than the studio dev cost. Studio employees are usually a tier below that as well, in my time I never saw a penny of royalties, bonuses or the like. Combined with a pay that's 40-70% below standard dev rates it's not really a great industry if you live in a high cost of living area.