Thrik Posted February 11, 2012 Could be he's just talking about regular old debit cards, though. The reason I specifically said VISA is because they're uniquely designed to work as VISA credit cards — the debit cards from the same bank before this came into effect several years ago didn't work unless the site specifically supported it. You get the same kind of protections with a VISA debit card as you do with a VISA credit card too, which is always nice to know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted February 11, 2012 I've always had an account with Amazon.com (since like 1999), long before I had a Visa debit, and I've never had a problem with any of my debit cards. Anyways... It's interesting to see people learn about how much video games cost to make. $300,000 (the original budget for "Adventure" -- not including the $100K for the documentary) was for "three people for six months", according to Schafer. That sounds insane until you break it down: Three people earning $33,000 per annum, each, for six months. In other words, they're earning ~$33K a year, but are only getting six month's work. It's not like they're paying themselves a ridiculous sum... and that's all the money gone! Makes you wonder. According to Schafes: DOTT (1993) Cost "$300 to $600K" ($300 for base game. $300 for voices. Although he's not 100% sure.) Full Throttle (1995) Cost $1,500,000 Grim Fandango (1998) Cost $3,000,000 Costume Quest, Stacked, and Iron Brigade cost about $2 million each to make. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nappi Posted February 12, 2012 Now this is interesting (to me at least): https://twitter.com/#!/TimOfLegend/statuses/168471171480817664 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tanukitsune Posted February 12, 2012 Tim is making a 2D adventure game? Oh, my! I think I'm getting a case of the vapors! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toblix Posted February 12, 2012 YESYESYES! I was really hoping for a 2D game, but really expecting 3D, since I have the impression a 3D game would be much cheaper. If I was a furnace, I would be positively stoked. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
syntheticgerbil Posted February 13, 2012 THIS IS FINANCIAL SUICIDE! HOW WILL THEY BREAK EVEN?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roderick Posted February 13, 2012 Yesss, I finally managed to pledge! It was a wild ride with signing up for various Kickstarter, Amazon and 3V credit card accounts, but my money is in. I look forward to seeing the few pixels my money financed, so I can point at it and say 'Hark! There are my pixels!' Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigJKO Posted February 13, 2012 http://www.hookshotinc.com/interview-schafers-millions/ People often ask where ideas come from and how they turn into games, and this is a great way to show the entire process from lose ideas to a developed concept. We’re going to put it all on camera. It’ll be like The Office, with me as Ricky Gervais. I.. I can not wait! At all! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrHoatzin Posted February 13, 2012 THIS IS FINANCIAL SUICIDE! HOW WILL THEY BREAK EVEN?! :shifty: :shifty: I think you're kidding, but I can't be sure. Are you kidding? :shifty: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted February 13, 2012 :shifty: :shifty: I think you're kidding, but I can't be sure. Are you kidding? :shifty: Yes, he's kidding. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Erkki Posted February 13, 2012 I look forward to seeing the few pixels my money financed, so I can point at it and say 'Hark! There are my pixels!' I wish I'd have thought of that -- I only funded the sound effects Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrHoatzin Posted February 13, 2012 Personally, I funded the Mac version. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nappi Posted February 13, 2012 You all focus on superfluous things. I funded the story and the setting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tommy Gun Posted February 13, 2012 It's interesting to see people learn about how much video games cost to make. $300,000 (the original budget for "Adventure" -- not including the $100K for the documentary) was for "three people for six months", according to Schafer.That sounds insane until you break it down: Three people earning $33,000 per annum, each, for six months. In other words, they're earning ~$33K a year, but are only getting six month's work. It's not like they're paying themselves a ridiculous sum... and that's all the money gone! 33K * 3 people = 100K annually, divided by 2 (for six months) = total budget of 50K. Am I not following you? Shouldn't it be: 300K budget / 3 people = 100K each for six months, which would be 200K annually? Of course there's music, voices, and whatever else they need to pay for that should be added in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
syntheticgerbil Posted February 13, 2012 I personally funded minigame sequences just to anger everyone at Justadventure.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elmuerte Posted February 13, 2012 I funded the lack of QTEs and a distinctive color grading (you know what I'm talkin' about) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toblix Posted February 13, 2012 I funded peculation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tanukitsune Posted February 13, 2012 I funded the very hard to find item that was just a red herring. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miffy495 Posted February 13, 2012 I funded the lack of QTEs and a distinctive color grading (you know what I'm talkin' about) I counter-funded for orange and teal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted February 13, 2012 33K * 3 people = 100K annually, divided by 2 (for six months) = total budget of 50K. Am I not following you? Shouldn't it be:300K budget / 3 people = 100K each for six months, which would be 200K annually? Of course there's music, voices, and whatever else they need to pay for that should be added in. Not sure where we've got our wires crossed. The annual thing was only to illustrate the salary they were paying themselves in terms we could relate to. But you're right, I made a rather silly mistake in my calculations Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tommy Gun Posted February 14, 2012 Yeah, I understood about the annual thing, I was just commenting on the math. $200K/year is a pretty good salary to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
castorp Posted February 14, 2012 I funded feeling like a child and having dreams again. (Interesting interview with Mr Schafer on Giant Bomb) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted February 14, 2012 (edited) Yeah, I understood about the annual thing, I was just commenting on the math. $200K/year is a pretty good salary to me. Yes, you're totally right. Wow. (Yeah, I really made a dumb mistake with my equations - duh.) Anyways, I guess it's not just three people's salary, it's three people at a game studio. There are overheads there. If they were making a game for a publisher, they wouldn't just go, "here's three people's salaries", they'd say, "this is how much it's going to cost you to make the game here". So I'm guessing that the money does include a profit (or mark up) of sorts. That's certainly how Graphic Design Agencies I've worked at do it, and I'm sure it's the same for other businesses. Edited February 14, 2012 by ThunderPeel2001 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrHoatzin Posted February 14, 2012 This other Giant Bomb article goes in hand with some of the business-y thoughts that have arisen in this conversation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites