[FrozenSnake]

Read before flaming for missposting! I posted here because it's related to game programming in some way and really didn't know where it goes, if this topic fits better somewhere else please move it.

I am trying to get a picture of what it can cost to launch a game development studio. Excluding hiring personnel.

Lets say the studio will be equiped for five developers, two graphics artists and 2 audio artists(?).

General
Hardware to the computers like keyboards, mouses, mousepads, speakers, monitors, tables, chairs, etc. Let's exclude that for now.

Then I will need for the
Developers
Five computers for about 1370$ each (6850(exluding software)), then I need software like Visual Studio Professional (don't know the price for it) on all five computers. I also need a good CVS, a good software for code reviewing. Also anti-virus software (including firewalls?).

Graphics
Computers for there guys as well so 2740$ (excluding software).
For 3D I need Maya (they probably wont wanna use blender) and for the 2D I guess the latest version of photoshop. Penboards (dont know the acctual name but I hope you understand).

Audio
Here I have no clue what is needed, but software for creating audio and probably some hardware (help here please)

After this I probably want a webpage for the studio so one webserver I guess 1370$ excluding software here as well. OS will probably be linux, webserver software will be apache, php and mysql I guess.

Then rent for a local, bandwidth, phone, etc. but I exclud this for now!

Help me fill out if something is missing in each "part". Prices, softwares, other stuff I need / might need. Exclude anything related to accounting (like bookkeeping), lawyers, copywriters etc for now as well!

I tried googeling but didn't find anything about the subject to launch a game development studio.

PS I am at school now and my class begins now so if I need to I edit the thread when I come home. Take care!

[NeoTifa]

With your recent math problems.... jk

Well, where you planning on hosting this? You need an office, and depending on location, rent can fluxuate. According to this site, they seem to charge by the square footage here in America. Sweden might be different.

You would also need to pay for amazing internet services, especially if you're planning on hosting online games or MMO's. Then you need to pay for the servers and network routers, IT guys to hook it up, possibly an electrician to make sure you don't overload the power capacity, etc.

Don't forget your utilities, security for your office, furniture, individual computers, stock, supplies, marketing/advertising (or you ain't gettin any business), lawyers, taxes, and other things to this degree. You would also, in America anyways, need your business license, and that can get pricey too.

I'm not going to look at prices for now, as I'm scared at the result It might discourage me.

[FrozenSnake]

NeoTifa, on 4 Nov, 2009 - 02:03 PM, said:

With your recent math problems.... jk

Well, where you planning on hosting this? You need an office, and depending on location, rent can fluxuate. According to this site, they seem to charge by the square footage here in America. Sweden might be different.

You would also need to pay for amazing internet services, especially if you're planning on hosting online games or MMO's. Then you need to pay for the servers and network routers, IT guys to hook it up, possibly an electrician to make sure you don't overload the power capacity, etc.

Don't forget your utilities, security for your office, furniture, individual computers, stock, supplies, marketing/advertising (or you ain't gettin any business), lawyers, taxes, and other things to this degree. You would also, in America anyways, need your business license, and that can get pricey too.

I'm not going to look at prices for now, as I'm scared at the result It might discourage me.

I passed the exam with 4 points ;P
Anyway we pay by the size of the local here, about servers I have no clue yet ;P depends on if we do MMO's
Here it's possible to get a joint-stock company if you have 100.000 SEK, I haven't read about it yet but I will if I find anything good to read on the subject.
I guess I can ask my teacher he is good at economy ;P he is a professor at a university in USA

[Fib]

For audio:

You can use software like Adobe Audition. I'm not sure about this software, but it's Adobe so it has to be good It goes for about ~$350 USD.

http://www.adobe.com...ducts/audition/

Or you can use audacity which is free.

Also, if your planning on recording your own audio you will need a sound booth, and a microphone that can connect to your sound card. Here is a website that might help with that part

http://www.sonicspot...erecording.html

Here's a website for sound booths, it looks like they go for about ~$3,000 USD.

http://www.whisperroom.com/

I hope that helps...

[FrozenSnake]

Fib, on 4 Nov, 2009 - 08:18 PM, said:

For audio:

You can use software like Adobe Audition. I'm not sure about this software, but it's Adobe so it has to be good It goes for about ~$350 USD.

http://www.adobe.com...ducts/audition/

Or you can use audacity which is free.

Also, if your planning on recording your own audio you will need a sound booth, and a microphone that can connect to your sound card. Here is a website that might help with that part

http://www.sonicspot...erecording.html

Here's a website for sound booths, it looks like they go for about ~$3,000 USD.

http://www.whisperroom.com/

I hope that helps...

Thanks I will take a look

[TheGDeveloper]

you need money
everything else coming after that

[FrozenSnake]

TheGDeveloper, on 5 Nov, 2009 - 05:23 PM, said:

you need money
everything else coming after that

Here money isn't really the big issue, it's the price tag =p

[FrozenSnake]

Made a quick rough purchase list if you want to read it NeoTifa
It's made in OpenOffice so I hope you have it!

http://data.fuskbugg...urchaselist.ods

The price is just estimated on the current price of the equipment!

[NeoTifa]

Double that and that's what I'm thinking you're gonna need. XD You need to have spares too, you know. Plus like I said, business license, inspections, rent, utilities, etc.

[FrozenSnake]

NeoTifa, on 7 Nov, 2009 - 05:29 AM, said:

Double that and that's what I'm thinking you're gonna need. XD You need to have spares too, you know. Plus like I said, business license, inspections, rent, utilities, etc.

True, but that list is only for equipment & furniture at the moment.
The others aren't so constant as they can shift a lot between towns and companies.
I will add to the list later have homework that needs to be done.

[TheGDeveloper]

if you are working with casual games , we are talking about a small comapny here, you do not need so much money about software and hardware
what dont you use open source/high quality software for ide,compilers, 3d editing tools (like blender) etc to keep money to pay the developers and the designers

[Tom9729]

If you're spending more than $1000 per computer then you're doing something wrong...

[WushuMonster]

Did anyone mention a system for backing up your work?

[TheGDeveloper]

linux rsync is ok
everything can be done with the minimal cost and high quality

[Trake]

I don't know if it is the same everywhere in Sweden but I'm working in Denmark right now and the company I'm contracted to allows the devs/designers to order their own choice on things like mice/keyboards etc. They even have special office chairs and height adjustable desks due to each person having a personal preference and ergonomics as you don't want your employees suing you for RSI.