I am just curious about how developers profit from their `long term` games. I mean games like Resident Evil 5, its not released in a few years just like %90 other, but workers in this game only works for that project or they work in a few projects together? Because if they work on same project for 5-6 years; it will cost `very`. I was just curious about that, if anyone knows the answer
An average game projects usually 2-3 years long, but it can be as little as 6 months and as much as much as 6 years, depending on the format and the publishers. Most of the reasons why projects gets dragged out is due to the publishers/higher ups and all the changes they request. Its also normal for studios to spend extra long on projects when they have to adapt to new engines and software as much of the project is a learning curve and quite experimental.
Industry workers normally gets 6 months or 1 year contracts, in which has to be renewed when expired [or the company lets them go]. The financial department has to work out how much they can afford on the project, and how many staffmembers they can use. In most cases, you have the case of developers working for external publishers. In that case, you have to keep sending WIP materials as you go; usually a Design Doc, Alpha, Beta and Final Submission [but very often they randomly ask you to show updates, so they can show on events and pass on to the marketing department].
There is a balance to it, so its not un-common to have a long term project. Whats dangerous is if the publishers decide to back out, and youre stuck with a canned project. In that case, the company have to buy the project of the publishers and try and have it published through another company. -They also have to alter 10% of the game. [Usually its the game title, story and main character that has to be changed a bit]