2007-08-03 11:36:08 StrangleHold $30 million!!

*** If thats true, these guys are going to lose allot of $$ ***
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=80...

Midway's European MD Martin Spiess has told GamesIndustry.biz the publisher is investing USD 30 million in upcoming action game Stranglehold.

Spiess claims the new IP could be the most expensive next-generation game in development, but is confident that come the September release the massive investment will pay off, with retail and consumers already very positive about the title.


"[Stranglehold cost] around USD 30 million, so it's possibly the most expensive next-generation game in development to date," said Spiess, in an interview to be published next week.

"The early indications from retail and the consumers are there, so it is going to pay off."

"In order to recoup development money you obviously have to sell a lot of units, but what we're seeing to date is that we will sell those units. Stranglehold will be the top selling title this Christmas," claimed Spiess.

The title has been developed in collaboration with Hollywood director John Woo and action icon Chow Yun-Fat. Pitched as a sequel to the 1992 movie Hard Boiled, the limited edition PlayStation 3 version of the game will include the original film on the Blu-ray disc.

And Spiess is confident that Stranglehold will offer a new experience for next-gen machines, rather than the equivalent of a PC game tweaked for the home console market.

"From a playability standpoint and a technology standpoint, we're delivering something which has not been done before - true next-gen for the first time, rather than just having some PC game ported onto next-gen with higher resolution graphics," he said.

---
Halle Berry: Delgado i am feeling really reall dirty tonight, shall i call Jessica Simpson for a threesome?

Delgado: HALLE what have i told you about bothering me when i'm playing Mass Effect!!! now get out and dont come back for 2 months!! (Slams door

2007-08-03 11:41:15

Dam that hell of alot :0 does look awesome from videos though. :)

Demo on 8th August so we shall see how it is.

2007-08-03 12:37:06

I find that VERY VERY VERY hard to believe, the game looks quite good but i dont think it will be a million seller so they will lose some serious money if this is true.

2007-08-03 13:02:15

Yeah, seems like he's just trying to market it. I have kept an eye on Stranglehold though, seems like a game i like. High destructibility ftw! :D

2007-08-03 14:02:35

They might sell a million world wide, which would be enough to break even probably. The $30m is likely to include marketing costs as well so obviously there is a significant advertising spend.

If the game holds up I think that's feasible. 500k in the US would create $30m in revenue at $60. Obviously that doesn't all go to Midway but I don't think 500k in the US is beyond them if it's any good.

2007-08-03 15:12:16

This isn't even close to the most expensive next gen game so far. There were games 3 years ago that broke $40M. And as one large multiplatform dev told me, there has been a number of games in the $40M range, and you would be SHOCKED to know which ones they were (he wouldn't tell me!) But we do know HL2 cost over $40M. All your titles with a lot of content and diverse art (like FF games) are also very, very expensive.

As for this game... they better hope it sells well. To me it has too much uncanny valley which the animations really betray it. The concept also is one you either like or don't.

---
The fans have spoken. Concerning the graphics of the Halo 3 Beta: "There's so many little effects and things going on that make this game pretty much 2nd only to Gears at the moment."

2007-08-03 16:23:29

The game, although seems fun, looks like a poor mans max payne. I honestly cant see where the 30 million went, it always seemed rather low budget.

2007-08-03 17:49:24 In reply to Jin187 (2007-08-03 16:23:29)

$15 mil when to Chow Yun Fat, and the other $15 mil when to John Woo so they could put his name on the cover ;)

I actually think it looks great.. and I love Max Payne, but this doesn't look like a poor mans anything to me. But I'm a big Hard Boiled fan, so maybe there is bias there.

Also, they should make Psi-Ops 2.

2007-08-03 17:50:21

30 freaking million dollars Whoaaaa! that's just way too much. They should cross hands and feets fingers to even break even!

---
Assassin's Creed-Blue Dragon-Lost Odyssey-Eternal Sonata-Final Fantasy XIII-Cry On-Ninja Gaiden 2-Heavenly Sword-Devil May Cry 4-Resident Evil 5-Naruto 360-Mass Effect-Alan Wake-Too Human-Infinite Undiscovery-Metal Gear Solid 4-The Last Remnant

2007-08-03 17:53:01

Doesn't Killzone cost like $200 million? =P

---
Hironobu Sakaguchi is coming back to reclaim the throne :)

October 20th 2007 (A good day)

Don't ask any questions just shut up and buy Halo : Ghosts of the Onyx one of the greatest books ever.

pssh! more like electronic gay-ming monthly! amirite

2007-08-03 18:05:06 In reply to Optimusv2 (2007-08-03 17:53:01)

thats about right CGI is expensive you know! ;p

Back on topic, the game is looking better and better every time its shown, but this game is going to have the marmite effect, either you love it or you hate it!

---
Halle Berry: Delgado i am feeling really reall dirty tonight, shall i call Jessica Simpson for a threesome?

Delgado: HALLE what have i told you about bothering me when i'm playing Mass Effect!!! now get out and dont come back for 2 months!! (Slams door

2007-08-04 23:32:32 In reply to Optimusv2 (2007-08-03 17:53:01)

I don`t think it`s that much but i think i have read an interview in a dutch news paper where a Guerrilla staff member said that it was the game developing costs were higher then the movie "Black Book" from director Paul Verhoeven (Black Book was the most expensive dutch movie ever made).