How much is a good serious game costing?

How much is a good serious costing?

Serious Game Expo, 22nd of Novembre 2011

About the authorFounder of Succubus Interactive

• Serious games’ pionneer in France

• Several dozens of games dedicated to the professionnals

• Blog’s editor (non commercial) : www.jeuxserieux.fr

• Editor of the serious games manifesto (available for free on the blog)

• Viadeo and LinkedIn hubs’ animator

• Best French Serious Game 2010

About the author

Key account customers• ERDF• Ministry of Industry• Orange• Symantec• Building French Federation• Manpower

Partners• Micropole• Paraschool• Syfadis

1. Serious Games 101

What objective?

Maximum simplification of message transmission:

• Fun• Easy• Comprehensible• …

Positioning

Which uses?

Three categories

• Training - evaluation

• Information – consciousness raising

• Promotion - marketing

Which games?

• Story / Scenario

• Strategy / Management

• Aim / Skilfulness

• Action / Reflexes

2. Business model / ROI

Business model• Investment between 20K€ and 200K€ Dependant of the quantity of content and of the desired quality. Other important factors : type of game and used technology.

• As for now only few developers have managed to sell serious game “on shelves”

• Sold-to-Party let their serious game available for free:– Within their company (formation, sensitisation campaign)– Outside their company (communication, promotion, recruitment)

• Return on investment varied and function of serious game’s type

3. Understanding what is a GOOD serious game

Check the content

• Sharpness of the message

• World an scenario fullness

• Liberty of action

• Fun

• Quality of design

The 6th ingredient

Games’ effectiveness

• Teaching serious games Performance

• Marketing serious games Spread

• Sensitisation serious games Exposure time

4. How much does it cost?

Provider’s answer

• Price += Development x nb days • Price += Graphic design x nb days • Price += Sounds x nb days • Price += Game design x nb days • Price += Teaching method x nb days • Price += Project management x nb days • Price += …

Simpler...

Price =Type of game

x( Technology

+ Quality

+ Length )

EurekaPrice = J x (T + Q + L)

J // Type of gameSkilfulness / Aim J = 4000€Reflection / strategy / management J = 6000€Scenario J = 8000€Action J = 10000€

T // EXISTING TechnologyFlash 2D T = 0Flash 3D or boosted T = 13D Engine T = 2 (+ licence cost)Bad technology T = 3 (+ licence cost? very bad techno)

EurekaPrice = J x (T + Q + L)

Q // QualityOptimisation Price Q = 0Good value for money Q = 1Best quality Q = 2

L // LengthFor every “one-use gaming hour” L += 1

Cost “per hour”

Storytelling J = 8000€Succubus Technology T = 1Good value for money Q = 11 gaming hour L = 1

Cost = 8000 x (1 + 1 + 1) = 24000€

Ma Cyber Auto-Entreprise

Storytelling + management J = 8000€ + 6000€Succubus technology T = 1Good value for money Q = 14 gaming hours L = 4

Budget = 14000 x (1 + 1 + 4) = 84000€

Any questions?

[email protected]

www.jeuxserieux.fr

www.succubus.fr