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Making Video Games Is Not a Dream Job (nytimes.com)
The video game industry is richer than it has ever been. Its revenue in 2018 was $43.8 billion, a recent report estimated, thanks in large part to hugely popular games like Fortnite and Call of Duty. These record-breaking profits could have led one to think that the people who develop video games had it made. But then the blood bath began. From a story, shared by an anonymous reader: In February, Call of Duty's publisher, Activision Blizzard, laid off 8 percent of its staff, or nearly 800 workers, in a cost-cutting massacre. A few weeks later, the game studio ArenaNet cut dozens of positions, while smaller layoffs hit companies like Valve and the digital store operator GOG. And just last week, the video game giant Electronic Arts announced that it was laying off 350 people across the globe.
This brutal start to 2019 followed the closures of major game companies like Telltale, the makers of games based on The Walking Dead, and Capcom Vancouver, the large studio behind the popular action series Dead Rising in 2018. All in all, thousands of video game workers have lost their jobs in the past 12 months. In many of these cases, laid-off employees had no idea what was coming. One developer at a major studio told me in February that he and his colleagues had been crunching -- putting in long hours, including nights and weekends -- for a video game release, only to be suddenly told that security was waiting to escort them off the premises.
Worker exploitation has always been part of the video game industry's DNA. Executives with multimillion-dollar stock packages often treat their employees like Tetris pieces, to be put into place as efficiently as possible, then promptly disposed of. For many kids who grew up with controllers in their hands, being a game developer is a dream job, so when it comes to talent, supply is higher than demand. Some people who make video games receive decent salaries and benefits (experienced programmers at the richest studios can make six figures), but many do not.
This brutal start to 2019 followed the closures of major game companies like Telltale, the makers of games based on The Walking Dead, and Capcom Vancouver, the large studio behind the popular action series Dead Rising in 2018. All in all, thousands of video game workers have lost their jobs in the past 12 months. In many of these cases, laid-off employees had no idea what was coming. One developer at a major studio told me in February that he and his colleagues had been crunching -- putting in long hours, including nights and weekends -- for a video game release, only to be suddenly told that security was waiting to escort them off the premises.
Worker exploitation has always been part of the video game industry's DNA. Executives with multimillion-dollar stock packages often treat their employees like Tetris pieces, to be put into place as efficiently as possible, then promptly disposed of. For many kids who grew up with controllers in their hands, being a game developer is a dream job, so when it comes to talent, supply is higher than demand. Some people who make video games receive decent salaries and benefits (experienced programmers at the richest studios can make six figures), but many do not.
If everyone and their dog want to do it, then there's lots of cut-throat competition and employers know they can treat you like crap. My relative found this out in the clothing designer industry.
Table-ized A.I.
Also, with most games now just online multiplayer with a few maps, development becomes much more simple. No need for AI when you have other humans to fill the niche. I guess I don't know for sure, but lack of any single player campaign mode probably really cuts down on development needs.
"Worker exploitation has always been part of the EVERY industry's DNA"
There, FTFY
I always give younger people starting out their careers the same general advice that I was given and subsequently failed to heed as early as I should have: Find something you are good at and seek a job in whatever industry needs that skillset and will allow you to develop it further. Basically, I try to tell them to keep their "passion" for a particular cause or industry at bay, and develop their skills and resume instead. This is for two reasons.
1) You aren't going to become CEO of Sustainable Tech Incorporated because you loved what they stood for so much you took a job in the mail room. Sorry, it just isn't going to happen.
And, 2) You will learn to appreciate the benefit that different industries provide, and how just being good at something helps out your coworkers and customers.
The video games industry is notorious for running sweat shops that prey on the young and naive, people who would do better to find a steady, "boring" gig with a 401k and reasonable chances for advancement. Maybe something union, if that floats your boat.
The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
My interest ended when it was no longer possible for a single programmer (or a very small group) to make games anymore. When I was a kid growing up with my Atari 400 and Apple II I dreamed of possibly being able to come up with a new game idea, programming it, and getting it published somewhere. However by the time I was in college and getting my computer science degree I realized that those days were long over and games were far too complex to make by yourself. Not to mention the whole industry had changed drastically by that time becoming the meat grinder it is today.
Personally I don't know why anyone would want to make games for a living anymore. Even if you don't mind the grueling hours, crappy management, and relatively low pay, it sucks the fun out of what you used to enjoy.
When the hiring manager has starry-eyed young hopefuls lined up out the door and around the block, who view a game developer job as the culmination of their lifelong dream, of course working condition will be shit. Because you're all easily replaceable. So you put in unpaid overtime during crunch time and get laid off after the product ships. Contrast this to someone who does non-glorified skilled work and has a reliable job and decent work/life balance.
Companies all over are scaling back their fixed costs because they know another recession is coming in the next 6 to 12 months thanks to Trump's tariffs/trade wars/general instability. It'll be a bad one too, because the tools government normally uses to fight recession (tax cuts & interest rate cuts) have already been used by Trump in a failed attempt to boost his popularity.
Support Right To Repair Legislation.
This really isn't specific to the gaming industry.
My first job (printer company) I lost because we were acquired and they wanted to cull the herd.
My second job (storage company) I lost because we outsourced everything.
My third job (HPC company) I lost because our CEO was an idiot and ran the company into the ground.
My fourth job (storage company) I lost because we bought our biggest competitor, put them in charge of my division, and then strangely we took the brunt of the cuts.
experienced programmers at the richest studios can make six figures
Experienced programmers pretty much anywhere should be making six figures. If they're not, they're probably being taken advantage of.
That's the same with almost any work that can be pleasurable, until you mix in a giant organization you have to please with a million bosses above you who all have a say.
The thing is, there has never been a better time to be a game developer and make games in a very small (sometimes just yourself) company.
Small shops can have too many bosses, too. Partnerships, for instance. You also may not be able to specialize in a particular area, because you are more likely to be wearing many hats. Not saying working for a megacorp is always better, but there are tradeoffs either way.
The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
Grandfather had a 1200 sqft house.
1 car
B/W TV or no TV
Radio
You can EASILY do that on min wage or slightly more in most of US. What you are bitching about is big screen TV, Netflix, Hulu, 3 cars, going out drinking multiple times a week, multiple cell phones, and on and on.
Compare apples to apples. You don't need a 3000 sqft house otherwise you DO need six figure.