I'm a game programmer for hire, contracting for companies on a per project basis. I notice that I get much better treatment by my clients than my clients employees do. Whenever there is mention of crunchtime, the money people STRESS project management that they should not have me work more than what we agreed on in the contract, at least not without talking to them about it..
If a game company wants me to work more, they'll have to pay me more.
Offcourse, you're the first one out the door when there isn't enough work, but at least in the US it seems (I'm dutch, contracting from home for us companies) that employees don't have that good protection from getting fired anyway...
I realize its not for everyone, but I strongly recommend working as a contractor, if it fits in your current lifestyle.. (insecurity in income, but when you got it, you got a lot, lots of crunchtime, lots of freetime in between).
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I'm a game programmer for hire, contracting for companies on a per project basis. I notice that I get much better treatment by my clients than my clients employees do. Whenever there is mention of crunchtime, the money people STRESS project management that they should not have me work more than what we agreed on in the contract, at least not without talking to them about it.. If a game company wants me to work more, they'll have to pay me more. Offcourse, you're the first one out the door when there isn't enough work, but at least in the US it seems (I'm dutch, contracting from home for us companies) that employees don't have that good protection from getting fired anyway... I realize its not for everyone, but I strongly recommend working as a contractor, if it fits in your current lifestyle.. (insecurity in income, but when you got it, you got a lot, lots of crunchtime, lots of freetime in between).