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Quality of Life Issues Holding Back Game Industry

Posted by Zonk on from the programmers-talking-about-programmers dept.

zenrender writes "With all the craziness regarding EA_Spouse's blog entry, it looks like some more organized groups are starting to chime in: Open Letter from the IGDA (International Game Developers Association). See Also Quality of Life White Paper, also from the IGDA."

6 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. What's it like in Japan? by ronfar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm wondering what work is like for game developers in Japan. Now, I know the Japanese are notorious workaholics, so I'm not sure what I'm expecting to be different, I'm just curious.

    --
    All the creatures will die, And all the things will be broken. That's the law of samurai. (Jubai, 1605)
    1. Re:What's it like in Japan? by jasno · · Score: 4, Interesting

      After a 2 1/2 week stint in Japan a few years back, I came to realize that, at least as far as engineers are concerned, the Japanese don't work much harder than Americans. They also had about the same distribution of slackers vs. workaholics.

      They did seem to have longer commutes, and they definitely partied harder, but work? Nope.

      --

      http://www.masturbateforpeace.com/
  2. Game programming is a vocation by bay43270 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    People don't get into game programming for the money and the good hours. Neither do priests, teachers, firemen, policemen or soldiers. Complaining about the long hours in the video game industry is like complaining about the color of the sky. Just deal with it or pick a different profession.

    With half the skills an EA job requires, you could get a very nice low-stress job working half the hours. My job isn't especially interesting, but it pays the bills easily and it's very low stress. Plus, I can start working on my more interesting hobby-programming when I get home (between 4:30 and 5 in the afternoon).

    Or if you can't settle for less than an interesting, high-demand job, then you must really enjoy what your doing -- in that case, shut up and get back to work!

  3. Re:There's something wrong... by Dot.Com.CEO · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Thing is, the US is backwards in securing workers' rights, mainly because of Americans' distrust of the state as a guaranteer of citizens' rights. In Europe, the 40 hour week is a basic legal right. If you work more, you have the right to overtime. If your company refuses to pay you overtime, you take them to court. If they fire you because of your refusing to work overtime, you take them to court, you win and you get a pretty good settlement agreement.

    There was only one job that required me to work 60+ hours a week. It was hilariously mismanaged, had no direction and the CEO aimed for a Steve Jobs like aura that eluded him. I now own my own company and even though I have enormous responsibilities I manage to work 40 hours a week. It's not that hard. You just have to manage your time and be good at making realistic projections.

    --
    Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
  4. Re:Cognitive dissonance by CommanderData · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If at first you don't succeed... Try again! Looks like your comment faired much better than it did yesterday.

    For what it's worth I thought it was funny both times :)

    --
    Urge to post... fading... fading... RISING!... fading... fading... gone.
  5. Re:IT needs a Union by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Ok, so let's say for the sake of argument that IT shops actually let their workers form a union. Then let's say that said shops actually let the union set a 40 hour work week. The shops that didn't get rid of half of their force altogether and outsource as much as they possibly could will probably fail, leaving everyone in the shop out of work. The workers will then take whatever job they can get elsewhere, union or not. Unions are fine when the shops don't have the availability of cheap labor like they do in IT, but now is not the time for IT unions to form.

    Now, this isn't directed at the parent; I'm just ranting now. Nobody likes to hear it, but the idea that somebody would try to build a family on the income of IT employment and then be surprised that their jobs suck and they no longer have a job in 10 or 20 years is silly. If you want stability and predictable hours, working for someone else in IT is not going to achieve the desired result. Sorry. This industry is built on pioneers and if you aren't a pioneer, you may need to adjust your course or at least make sure you are able to save enough money so you won't be caught off-guard when you look around and the industry is in ruins.