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Darksiders 2 cost $50 million to make
- Thread starter ugoo18
- Start date
I'm going to drink water just so I can spit at the screen, I thought Darksiders was a "B" game, wtf!?
TheBaldEmperor
Member
I really liked this game. How many copies did it actually sell? Any reliable numbers that aren't chartz?
If they trim the fat and just work on top of the combat system they have it could be something really special. 1&2 both missed the mark in different ways.
ViewtifulJC
Banned
shit just needs some focus, man. Last one was like a hodgepodge of God of War, Zelda, Diablo, Portal, third person shooter, etc.
They pretty much need to remove all the 3rd person turret/mini gun sequences from all the games. The Portal stuff is fine, it's interesting and led to some cool puzzles in both games.
GoW + Zelda is the essence of Darksiders (with a combat system better than both). They should continue to expand on that. The stuff they can take out is the Diablo random itemization. Probably should adopt a more Dark Souls-esque itemization where exploration and questing is rewarded over just killing monsters ad nauseum until you get an over powered weapon that destroys the content you are on.
Surprise 3rd person turret/mini gun sequences need to go away from almost all games.
Schweinehund
Member
Besides the ending and final boss fight, DS2 was a good game. Thought about playing through it the other day again, but I'm going to wait for the eventual DS3.
Im fairly certain I was th only person who liked the turret section.... blowing the shit out of everything
ViewtifulJC
Banned
I'm trying to remember the last time there was a turret section in a game and I was like "aw shit yeah son a turret section"
victreeb3l
Member
$50 mil for fetch quests?
Yeah because Platinum has ton of successful games.
OT: I really enjoyed Darksiders 2 but it was never going to make back that kind of budget. These types of games can be successful but they have to be budgeted where they can sell around 2m copies and be able to turn a profit.
I think I enjoyed a couple in RE4. Also enjoyed it in Halo 3 when you could rip out the turret and use it as a mini gun in 3rd person.
Solemn_In_Berlin
Member
That seems like way too much for what the product turned out to be.
Honestly after going on a Platinum replay binge and finishing up by playing through the PC version of Revengeance, the escalation at least in Platinum's games is something that looks easy enough to market on the action alone.
I can understand the content of something like Bayonetta and TW101 being difficult to market for obvious reasons and i guess Madworld somewhat but Revengeance seems like something that could be sold just on the action alone and even the content if done right.
A cyborg running around hacking enemies up seems easier to market than a witch who attacks with her hair that also makes up her clothes or 100 colorful superheroes teaming up.
Revengeance seems packed with moments that would make great trailers and marketing material. I'd actually like to see a marketing campaign cooked up by Bethesda for a Platinum game.
ViewtifulJC
Banned
dat poor ass budgeting
ZehDon
Gold Member
This. Darksiders II was elevated by it's God-tier soundtrack.
I share the confusion here though - if this is just for the development, I'm not sure it all ended up on the screen. It's a great game, but it doesn't feel like a AAA game. The lack of a meaningful story probably has a lot to do with that, too.
If that's the criteria for judging if a game is "AAA" or not then Destiny is D- tier gaming.
I don't know why people are surprised at this when Destiny just came out with probably a budget of 200 million+ and that game is at times more empty and lifeless than DS2.
DracoBlade
Member
Thats halo 3 level money
NullPointer
Member
And yet it still included that horrible Earth level.
*shakes head*
Loved the game otherwise, but dayum.
*shakes head*
Loved the game otherwise, but dayum.
For me: Modern Warfare 2 in the chopper covering the evacuation from DC, and in the GRAW campaigns and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. That's it though.
BabyFaceKillah
Member
has to be marketing... that game was everywhere
Astral Dog
Member
The game was enormous for an action adventure game, i just wish the story was better, it felt like an spinoff more than a sequel or prequel, i dont remember most of it.
I haven't played Destiny, but I have an honest, totally serious question:
Has there ever been a game with a multiplayer co-op focus, raids, drop in, drop out, etc. gameplay that has ever had a good story?
Diablo doesn't. Borderlands doesn't. Halo, honestly doesn't. WoW really doesn't.
Really, all of those games have decent-to-good lore, but the actual stories are bleh. Maybe it's the nature of the macro system structure that kills the chance at a compelling narrative.
FF XI
J
Jotamide
Unconfirmed Member
I remember the marketing for this game being very good. THQ had models and all that shit at the E3 before it hit IIRC.
Omnipunctual Godot
Gold Member
Isn't The Witcher 3's development budget near $15M? Where did all of the Darksiders money go?
AnotherDustInTheWind
Banned
One of the true gems from last gen. I really hope the franchise survives. Its a crazy budget, but I enjoyed the hell out of that game. The music, the setting, the combat, all the puzzles, loot, it really was awesome. I recommend everyone try it out.
Diablo 1 and 2 had solid stories. Nothing great but they got the job done.
Honestly all those games you listed have better stories than Destiny. Or at least more coherent ones.
In any case, the quality of story is not the measurement of whether a game is AAA or not. It's really budget and marketing that dictates whether a game is AAA or not... in that regard Darksiders 2 is an AAA game because of it's budget and THQ certainly tried to push it as such.
And with marketing included $40M. But still, that's Polish development costs, considerably cheaper wages
hodayathink
Member
The Witcher's development budget is that low because they're making the game in Eastern Europe, where they can pay developers a lot less because of a lower cost of living. You make the same game with the same people in the US or UK, you're probably up around $50-60 million as well.
personally, I thought the combat in DS2 was just fine. Thanks Tragic
Probably the best combat system in a Western-developed action game. It doesn't surpass Bayonetta or Ninja Gaiden Black or anything but it nibbles on their heels, and that's more than basically any other Western studio can say.
This game is still criminally underrated in my opinion. Clearly the last couple of worlds seem unfinished and the story is nothing to write home about, but it has fantastic combat and great dungeons with great puzzles.
shinobi602
Member
So that's why they needed to sell over 4 million copies to consider it a success.
tiebreaker
Member
Haven't played this yet.. seeing this game always on sale kinda putting me off.
Guess I'll pick it up when It's on sale again, a $50 million game can't be bad, right?
Guess I'll pick it up when It's on sale again, a $50 million game can't be bad, right?
NickatNite
Member
$50 million dollars! Man you think you're making a game about Chelsea Clinton?
Net_Wrecker
Member
I think what throws people off about this is the lackluster presentation. The music's great, and there are a lot of large scale environments and artistry on display, but it never really feels slick and well presented, the errand boy missions leave a bad taste, and the latter parts of the game fall off hard. Looking at the team size and amount of stuff within the game though, I can see the $50m budget.
TheLostBigBoss
Banned
Where did the bones go?
No thanks. I doubt Platinum has it in them to finally make a game that isn't cringingly over the top for no reason.