For a project of this scale, developing a high-quality 3rd-person action RPG with fully voiced dialogue, about 60 hours of content, and a large team, the cost would be substantial. Here’s an estimate based on each major expense category, factoring in Canadian industry standards.
1. Employee Salaries
- Team Size: 300 employees
- Full-Time (6 years): This includes designers, developers, artists, writers, animators, QA, audio engineers, and project managers.
- Part-Time (3 years): For ongoing support and post-launch content.
- Average Salary per Employee in Canada: Around $75,000 - $120,000 annually, depending on role and experience.
Cost Calculation:
- Full-Time Period: $100,000 (average salary) × 300 employees × 6 years = $180 million
- Part-Time Period: $50,000 (half salary) × 300 employees × 3 years = $45 million
Total Salary Cost:
$225 million
2. Voice Acting & Dialogue Production
- Full Voice Acting: For a game with 60 hours of content, thousands of lines would need to be recorded.
- Voice Actor Costs: Rates vary widely, but a conservative estimate would be $500 per finished hour, and high-quality studios charge more for character variety and multiple takes.
Estimated Cost:
$5 million - $15 million
3. Art and Animation
- With a large game, asset production is a huge expense, covering everything from character models, environments, textures, and animations.
- For a high-quality RPG with modern graphics, the art and animation department could consume a significant part of the budget.
Estimated Cost:
$50 million - $80 million
4. Audio Design and Music
- Sound Design: Includes ambient sounds, action sequences, and environment-specific audio.
- Music Composition: Custom orchestration or licensed music for an epic soundtrack.
Estimated Cost:
$5 million - $10 million
5. Licensing and Software
- Game Engine Licensing: For large games, studios may use licenses for engines like Unreal Engine or develop proprietary engines.
- Software Licenses: Includes tools like Maya, Photoshop, and other specialized software.
Estimated Cost:
$2 million - $5 million
6. Testing and Quality Assurance
- For a 60-hour game, extensive testing across different platforms and scenarios is critical.
- QA Team Cost: Around $100,000 per QA employee annually, with dedicated testing teams for several years.
Estimated Cost:
$10 million - $15 million
7. Marketing and Distribution
- Marketing: Typically, AAA games spend close to 50-100% of their development budget on marketing, but here we’ll assume a more moderate figure given the dedicated audience for RPGs.
- Distribution Costs: Platform fees, physical media (if applicable), and launch costs.
Estimated Cost:
$50 million - $100 million
8. Post-Launch Support and Updates
- Content Updates: Patches, minor expansions, bug fixes, and community management.
Estimated Cost:
$10 million - $20 million
Total Estimated Cost: $357 million - $470 million
This places the project in the same realm as major AAA RPGs, given the large team size, extensive content, and high production values required for a fully voiced 3rd-person action RPG with 60 hours of gameplay.