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Forums - Gaming - Do game devs get payed well? (thnking about becoming one)

hyperhealer3 on 27 July 2010
darkknightkryta said:

Honestly game develpment isn't worth it.  I have my Bsc in Computer Science so I know exactly what you're going through, I wanted to go into game programming my self, but then I started thinking about it; I'd be working 60-80 hours a week, and in crunch time I'm living in the office, and for what?  A little bit higher than minimum wage?  And at a senior development position I'm making barely any more money.  Game programmers are under paid for what they do and to be frank they get taken advantage of.  The amount of time they have to spend in the office they should be getting over 100k a year and they get around 30k (I'm talking Canadian currency mind you).  Like I'm sure there are studios out there where you can make a decent wage and not have to put in 60 hours a week, but that's a minority.


Maybe you guys are talking about QA Testers. But Designers, Artist and Programmers make decent money... and I already expressed my views on why I think that the market is changing. Before, and today still, developers have to rely on distributors like Activision and EA to get games out... Now with XBL, PSN, Steam and iTunes, this is going to be a game changer.



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Icyedge on 27 July 2010
hyperhealer3 said:
darkknightkryta said:

Honestly game develpment isn't worth it.  I have my Bsc in Computer Science so I know exactly what you're going through, I wanted to go into game programming my self, but then I started thinking about it; I'd be working 60-80 hours a week, and in crunch time I'm living in the office, and for what?  A little bit higher than minimum wage?  And at a senior development position I'm making barely any more money.  Game programmers are under paid for what they do and to be frank they get taken advantage of.  The amount of time they have to spend in the office they should be getting over 100k a year and they get around 30k (I'm talking Canadian currency mind you).  Like I'm sure there are studios out there where you can make a decent wage and not have to put in 60 hours a week, but that's a minority.


Maybe you guys are talking about QA Testers. But Designers, Artist and Programmers make decent money... and I already expressed my views on why I think that the market is changing. Before, and today still, developers have to rely on distributors like Activision and EA to get games out... Now with XBL, PSN, Steam and iTunes, this is going to be a game changer.

That always depends on your definition of decent money, also, its in relation to the number of hours worked. If you earn 60 K per year but work 60 hours per week, its not an amazing salary, even if 60 K does look good by itself.



hyperhealer3 on 27 July 2010

Well, it's actually more like $70k, but you're right.. "decent" is relative. $70k, or the most part is a liveable wage, most would agree.

 

And those are AVERAGE salaries. I don't know about you, but I've never limited myself to what the "average" guy does. Especially if you genuinely love something.



Icyedge on 27 July 2010
hyperhealer3 said:

Well, it's actually more like $70k, but you're right.. "decent" is relative. $70k, or the most part is a liveable wage, most would agree.


And those are AVERAGE salaries. I don't know about you, but I've never limited myself to what the "average" guy does. Especially if you genuinely love something.


Totally agree lol. When you love and good at it, your bound to have success whatever your doing.



AkibaFan on 28 July 2010

sum of u are very discouraging, but thank u for telling your real opinion. 

It seems game devs, like gamng doesnt get tht much respect in the "world", maybe 10 - 20 years in future it will be bettr. 

I'm also luking into a MBA so tht I can go into management/admin side in computer industries, maybe I shud do tht instead.



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zarx on 28 July 2010
AkibaFan said:

sum of u are very discouraging, but thank u for telling your real opinion. 

It seems game devs, like gamng doesnt get tht much respect in the "world", maybe 10 - 20 years in future it will be bettr. 

I'm also luking into a MBA so tht I can go into management/admin side in computer industries, maybe I shud do tht instead.


Well personally I think we need as many developers as we can get, more better games for me but it's no point in people colouring the facts. It's good to get a view from all sides, the links I posted are actual numbers so they would be best for an unbiased view of what devs actually make on average. If it's what you really want to do and you think the pay is enough to live on then you should follow your dream. If you are just doing it for the money then another field would probably be more lucrative. 



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Tanstalas on 28 July 2010

Getting your foot in the door can be a real pain, and once you get in, don't be surprised if you start as a tester, which in Canada you are looking at around $15/hr.

 

Like others have said programmers will usually be salary and will make what looks like decent money, but when you factor in how many hours you actually have to work you'd be better off doing programming at a place like a bank or an insurance company (money-wise)



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Mad55 on 28 July 2010

Those long hours often depend on the company you work for some friends of mine who are programmers in the industry earn a good amount and tell me their not over worked so it all depends on who you work for and how much time they give you.



Faxanadu on 28 July 2010

70k is a good salary. But it is average, so you will get paid much less in an entry position.



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darkknightkryta on 28 July 2010
Icyedge said:
hyperhealer3 said:
darkknightkryta said:

Honestly game develpment isn't worth it.  I have my Bsc in Computer Science so I know exactly what you're going through, I wanted to go into game programming my self, but then I started thinking about it; I'd be working 60-80 hours a week, and in crunch time I'm living in the office, and for what?  A little bit higher than minimum wage?  And at a senior development position I'm making barely any more money.  Game programmers are under paid for what they do and to be frank they get taken advantage of.  The amount of time they have to spend in the office they should be getting over 100k a year and they get around 30k (I'm talking Canadian currency mind you).  Like I'm sure there are studios out there where you can make a decent wage and not have to put in 60 hours a week, but that's a minority.


Maybe you guys are talking about QA Testers. But Designers, Artist and Programmers make decent money... and I already expressed my views on why I think that the market is changing. Before, and today still, developers have to rely on distributors like Activision and EA to get games out... Now with XBL, PSN, Steam and iTunes, this is going to be a game changer.

That always depends on your definition of decent money, also, its in relation to the number of hours worked. If you earn 60 K per year but work 60 hours per week, its not an amazing salary, even if 60 K does look good by itself.

Exactly the thing and to get to that 60k you had to have worked for 5 years atleast, so you start off with a small wage and have to work that same 60 hour week.  And when crunch time comes around you're living in the office until the work is done.