| arcaneguyver said: Games are taking longer and longer to make, while technology is improving faster than the average consumer can keep up with. Upon reading this, can you imagine being a cog in a machine releasing one of these huge games? You spend well over 40 hours a week on it, the game goes gold, but you gotta keep working on that day one patch. Game releases, and there's a good chance people shit on this thing you've spent thousands of hours building; and what if it flops? That's gotta be a gigantic hit to the morale. And yet you may still be required to keep working on further patches... |
You describe it pretty almost perfectly. But, your're forgetting the part where you might get laid off the day that day 1 patch goes final. You're forgetting the part where you game comes out to critical acclaim, and great sales, but you don't get to see an extra dime of the hard work you've poured in because you no longer work there. That sucks too.
People don't make video games for money, they do it because they love it, and the people that are in it for the money are fully aware and take full advantage. It's why the industry has such a high turn over rate. Developers take abuse from pretty much everyone around them, day in and day out, and there's only so much they can take before they hit the "eject" button, and go find a real job, with real job security, and real pay, and sensible hours. Then all you really have to show for it is the placques on the walls, and stories of sleeping under your desk. The upside is the best feeling I've ever had outside of saying "I do" and looking into my child's eyes for the first time. There's always those reviews and comments where some fan from the middle of nowhere talks about your game in such a way glowing way that you can tell it touched their heart. That impact it makes all of the bullshit melt off of you, if only briefly. But that's what keeps me going. Those little victories. Those are the things I hold onto.
But I have to admit, it's really starting to lose its luster. I became a parent recently, and now I need to make sure that my kid has everything they'll need, and the "real world" is looking mighty appealing. Losing my job right now would be devestating, and I have a major release right around the corner, and the threat of yet another lay off is weighing me down. I'm seriously considering moving on to a different industry before that happens.
Game development needs to change. Game developers are people too. Don't ever forget that.
