With near $100million for some games, this industry is one of high risk, but EA Partners VP and group GM David DeMartini says budgets have "peaked" and are actually on their way back down.

"I'll never tell a developer how much their game will cost," he told GI.biz. "They'll bring it to me and then I'll evaluate whether or not it makes sense from a business standpoint with regards to the potential of the idea. If they happen to make a lot of money based on that budget, great for them. If they come up short and have to cover some of it - y'know, they'll be smarter the next time they do it."

He went on: "But I think budgets for games have actually peaked and are starting to move in the reverse direction again. I don't think there's any one right budget for any game. It kind of depends on how big the idea is and what the team needs to be able to make a 90%-rated game with the idea that they're working on."

DeMartini mentions the shift in focus towards smaller studios and productions. "The core business model that we always go after is quality and value. Always seeking teams that have had a long-standing history of success, and then always looking for the next emerging group that is going to bust out and potentially be the next Valve or Insomniac," he said.

this brings about games like Deathspank from Hothead, Shank from Play Entertainment. "In the downloadable games market those are a couple of very strong emerging companies that may well say 'gee, now I want to take my IP to the main console, do you want to do that?' And based on success at a lower level, that might be the next step for them."

Recent hit Red Dead Redemption is estimated by 'industry executives' to have cost Rockstar between $80 and $100million to make.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/ar ... ?id=261615

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Say you're part of the development team for, I dunno, Bayonetta, how much would/do you reckon the pay would be? I'm guessing the sort of talented staff needed these days are actually in short supply?

Though I'm assuming most of the money goes on mo-cap, sound recording etc?