FarmVille - how long?
by Mark Stillman · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 10/27/2009 (4:47 pm) · 3 replies
Hello,
I have been asked by a client what I think FarmVille took to create. anyone have any thoughts out there. am I way off here.
Concept, research, UI and design: I estimate 1,500 + man hours to research, concept, design, and play test initial game ideas for a basic MMO.
Game Assets: Art, Screens Music, Items. – Based on my initial research on existing game titles, this can range greatly depending on the complexity of the game. Some rough estimates range from 300 man hours for basic graphics to 1,000 + hours (animations music etc.)
Development: 4 to 8 man team 3 months
Support, patching, upgrades: Full time 2 - 3 man team.
I have been asked by a client what I think FarmVille took to create. anyone have any thoughts out there. am I way off here.
Concept, research, UI and design: I estimate 1,500 + man hours to research, concept, design, and play test initial game ideas for a basic MMO.
Game Assets: Art, Screens Music, Items. – Based on my initial research on existing game titles, this can range greatly depending on the complexity of the game. Some rough estimates range from 300 man hours for basic graphics to 1,000 + hours (animations music etc.)
Development: 4 to 8 man team 3 months
Support, patching, upgrades: Full time 2 - 3 man team.
#2
Mark.
10/27/2009 (6:24 pm)
Thank you so much! I have 0 experience with creating MMO so my first estimate was simply based off research and guestimates. Mark.
#3
And if you're planning on features that are new... Well, it's hard to estimate the amount of time it takes to figure out a problem that hasn't been figured out before...
10/27/2009 (7:08 pm)
Well, from one MMO to the next, time estimates can vary significantly. I'm working on one now, and I do revised estimates as we progress so that I have a handle on how long things take. Honestly, I don't think anyone can get a very good time estimate until they're familiar with how much time their teammembers spend on their particular tasks.And if you're planning on features that are new... Well, it's hard to estimate the amount of time it takes to figure out a problem that hasn't been figured out before...
Torque 3D Owner Ted Southard
Not that Farmville is all that complex, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if you have to revise that number up to about 6-8 months for the size of that team (and/or revise the size of the team up as well). I'm not sure what your experience with MMO creation is, but in my estimation it is typically much longer than similar games designed for single-player use.