MMORPG Initial Cost?

[Curlay]

I am a student at The George Washington University School of Business and Public Management, conducting research on what it costs to make an MMORPG. I know the rough numbers, millions, yes, but I'm curious as to how one arrives at those numbers. If at all possible, I'd like to find [If Released] what it cost to make EverQuest, Ultima Online, etc. Any of them for comparison's sake. If anyone might know where I could find such information, I would be much obliged.

Please email me at (DELETED) or IM me at Curlseyq to chat.

Kenny

[Gronk]

The history of MMOG development is much like the history of enterprise software development. Do some research into what it takes to create enterprise software. MMOG's have much in common with high volume transaction processing systems. They have to solve many of the same problems and live within many of the same constraints.

Some of the earlier games didn't realize this and made many of the same mistakes that early software developers made.

[Soukyan]

Also, you may want to get some quarterly reports from the companies as they publish figures for each different division so you could get Sony's report and see what the SOE division spent on games overall. Of course, that's recent and not EQ release period so you may need to try to track down some old reports or look at a company with an MMOG in development now. Just a thought.

[Kwil]

..is to do your research from primary sources.

Actually approach the guys who make these type of games and ask them. Now you're less likely to get answers from the big players, but there are plenty of little ones.

Try the Yo Ho Ho Puzzle Pirates and A Tale in the Desert makers, for starters. From what I've heard, their creators are fairly accessible, and it'll be an interesting comparison because the two games are so different from the norm.

If you're researching this stuff to do a thesis, tell them and promise them a copy after if they want -- they may decide it's worth it. It can also help if you're willing to deal on exactly what information you're looking to publish.

Do it right, and it's possible you'll get more help than you dreamed possible.. even from the big players.