We already know that Xbox 360 game patches must go through a lengthy certification process, but we never imagined that this process would cost $40,000 per patch.
The number was revealed by Tim Schafer the founder of Double Fine Studios who cited it as one of the main reasons indie developers should ditch closed systems such as Xbox LIVE and PSN in favor of more open ones such as Steam.
"Those systems as great as they are, they're still closed. You have to jump through a lot of hoops, even for important stuff like patching and supporting your game. Those are things we really want to do, but we can't do it on these systems," he said.
"I mean, it costs $40,000 to put up a patch - we can't afford that! Open systems like Steam, that allow us to set our own prices, that's where it's at, and doing it completely alone like Minecraft. That's where people are going."

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Something to think about.
Maybe if these companies
Maybe if these companies actually reviewed and properly tested their products then the amount of games that needed patching would be reduced, thus reducing their costs.
The problem is now that broadband is readily available to most people then these companies will issue these patches, even if they know the program isn't 100% fully bug free.
what about dlc that need
what about dlc that need patches
How about you go ****
How about you go **** yourself
i agree, i don't think buddy
i agree, i don't think buddy has a ******* clue just how many hours get put into making a 3d game and just how much of a ******* risk it is. you cut a few corners and you fix post-release because you simply can't afford the delay.
Download it
dont buy xbox games. download it off torrent. this is how u show support for games company. MS is playing with small game company. making them pay for small patch. we download it! show protest! help small games company.
It doesnt cost 40k to put up
It doesnt cost 40k to put up a patch this guy doesnt know what he is talking about. As long as the company has a contract to create game on Xbox uploading content is free for them. Microsoft just profits off the sales a little. I know this, Im a game devoloper thats worked with this and upcoming skyrim release.
A little more please
A little more BS please. IF you worked on Skyrim, then what was the coding passwords first 4 letters and numbers?? Yea, you dont know it, thats what I thought.
Right.
Game developers know how to spell.
haha...
I didnt catch that, especially when its your job title. The e and o are pretty far apart on a keyboard.
Meh
Consoles, Netbooks, Slates, Phones they all need to die sorry to burst peoples bubble but its all garbage. Delve the depths of corporate minds and you will realize how restrictive this technology is. Both in idea and physical hardware. Best part of it all they already have us because we embraced a closed solution or on the go concepts far too easily. Now we are paying and people seem to complain...why exactly?
...
"Consoles, Netbooks, Slates, Phones they all need to die sorry to burst peoples bubble but its all garbage."
In YOUR opinon.
Yeah it's his opinion,
Yeah it's his opinion, because he ******* wrote it. You're a ****, in MY opinion.
Wow!
Thats about how much money it costs to port a game to a PC. The smaller developers can't afford that. Thats crazy. Microsoft is simply encouraging the transition to "PC" based entertainment, which is what they want. Soon, TV, Internet, and gaming will be run through one device, and it will be a 1/4 inch thick slab against the wall, with photo realistic graphics. 7 years away, guaranteed. 98% of Microsoft's income is from the Windows OS, and office software. Making the Xbox, is just for name recognition, basically just advertising, and a write off. If they stopped making it, Microsoft would not even notice financially. Microsofts goal is to take over home entertainment, through a user friendly PC.
That is true...
and they would call that PC, an "Xbox". You're a ****. Microsoft wants complete control, and they can't have that on a PC. Sony claimed their little hunk of junk only does "everything". What they don't tell you is "everything it doesn't do", which is almost everything. Everything a PC CAN do. Get it? Doubt it. MS wants control, just like any other corporation. That control is impossible with a PC. You can build with whatever hardware you want, you can run any software you want. They released Kinect only for the 360 & look what hackers were doing with it on PC. The PC will always be where it's at, but there has been much resistance to freedom, and there will be more. Freedom will always win in the end though, because that's what's best.
Get your info right.
I will refrain from insulting you as you did me, but you have no idea what you are talking about. Your right is that Microsoft wants complete control, that is exactly what I was saying. 7 years from now, there will be an integrated home entertainment system thats will be based on a Microsoft OS. Go to Fed Ex Kinkos, Windows XP runs the copy machines. Look at all the phones that run Windows software, do you see Microsoft making cell phones? No, they have no interest in producing the hardware. The software is the key. Microsoft is currently developing software that produces photo-realistic graphics, and the need for a seperate graphics chip and cpu will be gone, as will compatibility issues. Microsoft is not interested in producing the hardware, just the software, and the software is the gatekeeper. Your ignorance is assuming that i am referring to current PCs. Notice my quote, "in 7 years". Again, In seven years, there will be no gaming console, It will be a home entertainment system facilitated by a PC. In one purchase, you will buy a PC, television, and Gaming system, all in one, and running Microsoft software. Look at Windows 7 Media Center used with a tv turner card. Have you used it? Have you seen its features? It's only the beginning. Look at todays televisions, they have a VGA adapter in addition to HDMI, Why do you think this is ???
"MS wants control, just like any other corporation. That control is impossible with a PC."
Your wrong, Most PCs run Windows software, Microsoft does have control. Microsoft makes more money when someone buys a PC, than when they buy a XBox. How many hundreds of millions of PCs are out there. It costs Microsoft nothing to sell a PC, and Xbox? 60 million sold, and mostly at cost. Its the kinect that is driving the XBox 360 sales numbers. Where do you think the money is?? Try some logic.
Q3 of 2011, microsoft had a revenue of 17.37 Billion. Sales related to the XBox was 700 million, and was led primarialy by Kinect sales, of which, it is estimated that 40% were PC Kinect purchases. Microsoft is investing heavily into the Kinect for the PC, not only for gaming, but CAD software.
Xbox / Kinect / subsription / and Xbox accessories sales account for 2-4% of Microsoft's sales. What do you think they are more concerned about? A device that accounts for 2-4% of sales, or a device that accounts for 96% of sales. When you buy a PC, you are paying for the OS, Word Processing software, ect.
Wait, I think I will insult you...... ******.
Educate yourself......
Oh, also ....
And to point more to that your a ******, Microsoft was developing drivers for the PC 1-1/2 years before the XBox. The Kinect is an gaming accessory for the XBox, For the PC, it is a tool for engineers, Hence the enhanced capabilities on the PC......******.
Again, educate yourself before talking out your ********.
I'm not going to lie like many people and say I'm some kind of Microsoft employee.
I work for Intel. Gaming system sales account for .02% of our sales dollars. In terms of hardware gaming sales, the dollar amount is insignificant. Its all in the software. Microsoft could care less where that comes from, a pc, an xbox, a smart phone,... its all about people buying thier software.
.....******
The Positive
If it encourages developers to create a finished product at release rather than 'buggy' and 'broken' games that are patched later then I'm all for it. It may be a lot of money for a patch but maybe we should consider it a pro rather than a con.
40k seems a lot for common
40k seems a lot for common folks, but for major companies its pennies vs purchasing SDK's, and other licences for their games. Just look up the price for Unreal Engine, you could buy a house or two.
dont buy xbox games! download
dont buy xbox games! download it!! show your support, let microsoft hear the small people. how they stepping all over the small nobody.
lol
This is so 90's
If you are talking about
If you are talking about digital store bought digital download, I will not support that.
show your support for what?
show your support for what? Your own selfish attitude, by stealing the product nobody other than you benefits, Microsoft couldn't care less as they get paid whether the game sells well or not.
This is a just a poor justification for someone who feels they should be able to get anything they want without having to earn it.
omg
What incentive does this give developers to fix there games???? well done microskft for ******** us all over
hmm
Like someone else post early;
It may encourage ****** dev to make finish product instead of crappy unfinish game at 15-80$.
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