How much does it cost to make a video game?

(Just out of curiousity) How much money does it take for developers to create a good game? all the art and design and the workers that get paid and .............
  
whats the average budget ? If you can detail your answer, including all the financial stuff, that'd be kewl.. since there's a publisher and.. stuff =\ im ignorant ^_^ 
 
 
Edit: we're chit chatting on the mirc channel and the guys were like "this game costed 30 million and that game 70 million" i was like THE FUCK???  if it takes millions and millions to make a game, and only a few get enough popularity around the world to sell over a million copies, then most video games are financial disasters !!!  
 amirite ?

"if it takes millions and millions to make a game, and only a few get enough popularity around the world to sell over a million copy, then most video games are financial disasters !!!   amirite ? "

Most games these days cost millions and millions to create so people making them have to be extremely carefull in where they hedge their bets so that's why there are so many franchises these days and why ballsy new I.Ps with alot of character yet still high production values have to be commended. It was alot easier to make a crazy game 10 years ago then it is today.

Just like a movie, it depends on how "big" you want the game to be.  For instance, Grand Theft Auto IV cost $100 million to make.  The typical game cost anywhere from $1 million to $20 million.

" Just like a movie, it depends on how "big" you want the game to be.  For instance, Grand Theft Auto IV cost $100 million to make.  The typical game cost anywhere from $1 million to $20 million. "

i dont see where the hell a million dollars went.. what needs so much money ? "

" @CitizenKane said:

" Just like a movie, it depends on how "big" you want the game to be.  For instance, Grand Theft Auto IV cost $100 million to make.  The typical game cost anywhere from $1 million to $20 million. "

but the difference is that usually the movie is a success, even if it makes one million dollars more than its budget.."

" we're chit chatting on the mirc channel and the guys were like "this game costed 30 million and that game 70 million" i was like THE FUCK???  if it takes millions and millions to make a game, and only a few get enough popularity around the world to sell over a million copies, then most video games are financial disasters !!!   amirite ? "

advertising alone is crazy expensive. not to mention all of the other game related promotion that should factor into the price.

Now do you understand why publishers want to cut out the middleman and are pursuing digital distribution?

" (Just out of curiousity) How much money does it take for developers to create a good game? all the art and design and the workers that get paid and .............  whats the average budget ? If you can detail your answer, including all the financial stuff, that'd be kewl.. since there's a publisher and.. stuff =\ im ignorant ^_^   Edit: we're chit chatting on the mirc channel and the guys were like "this game costed 30 million and that game 70 million" i was like THE FUCK???  if it takes millions and millions to make a game, and only a few get enough popularity around the world to sell over a million copies, then most video games are financial disasters !!!   amirite ? "

I'd say it depends on different factors. The amount of resources you buy to build the game, advertising, etc.
 
Big time projects soar into the millions -- an indie project would be relatively less.