4 ms·

I'm guessing cause they have wives, kids and mortgages. Now, why they don't line up another job is a good question. But 70+ hour weeks can get in the way of jo

I'm guessing cause they have wives, kids and mortgages. Now, why they don't line up another job is a good question. But 70+ hour weeks can get in the way of job hunting.

potatolicious 17y ago
"Now, why they don't line up another job is a good question." Probably because most other studios in the area are just like this also - this is a persistent problem in any industry where there is a lineup a mile long of suckers who want the glamour of making video games. Just look at Hollywood.
- gamble 17y ago
  Game studios in California typically have nasty reputations, in my experience. The rest of the industry isn't renown for good working conditions, but I can't think of many studios in CA with a good reputation. Could be that the huge programming and artistic talent pool in the state makes it easy for the studios to abuse employees.
  - potatolicious 17y ago
    I don't know since I'm not in the industry - but I can hazard a guess. Like Hollywood, California is essentially the birthplace of video games - and in many ways is still considered its Mecca. Like the other HN post about the aspiring web dev who moved to CA to "make it", I'm sure others do the same to break into the games industry. Low supply of jobs + huge influx of desperate glamour seekers = massive drop in pay and benefits, and more incentive to abuse (there's a guy who's spent years honing his experience right outside the door ready for you to burn out and quit).
    - gamble 17y ago
      I agree, but it seems ironic since your chances of breaking in are probably a lot better outside CA these days. It's become common for studios to clamp down on hiring in high-cost locations, while ramping up in cheaper cities. If I was trying to break into games today, I'd go to Montreal - thanks to gov't subsidies, they're the cheapest place on earth to make games, and the studios have noticed.
  - cabalamat 17y ago
    I don't think the location is the issue. Rockstar have an office in Edinburgh, and they treat the staff there with contempt too.
  - wooster 17y ago
    FWIW, I have friends that work at game studios in SF, and they're generally happy (and mostly ex-EA employees). These are indie studios or companies that get contracted out by companies like EA to do "hard stuff". That said, I don't know anyone who was happy working at EA.

I'm guessing cause they have wives, kids and mortgages. Now, why they don't line up another job is a good question. But 70+ hour weeks can get in the way of job hunting.

potatolicious 17y ago

"Now, why they don't line up another job is a good question." Probably because most other studios in the area are just like this also - this is a persistent problem in any industry where there is a lineup a mile long of suckers who want the glamour of making video games. Just look at Hollywood.

gamble 17y ago
Game studios in California typically have nasty reputations, in my experience. The rest of the industry isn't renown for good working conditions, but I can't think of many studios in CA with a good reputation. Could be that the huge programming and artistic talent pool in the state makes it easy for the studios to abuse employees.
- potatolicious 17y ago
  I don't know since I'm not in the industry - but I can hazard a guess. Like Hollywood, California is essentially the birthplace of video games - and in many ways is still considered its Mecca. Like the other HN post about the aspiring web dev who moved to CA to "make it", I'm sure others do the same to break into the games industry. Low supply of jobs + huge influx of desperate glamour seekers = massive drop in pay and benefits, and more incentive to abuse (there's a guy who's spent years honing his experience right outside the door ready for you to burn out and quit).
  - gamble 17y ago
    I agree, but it seems ironic since your chances of breaking in are probably a lot better outside CA these days. It's become common for studios to clamp down on hiring in high-cost locations, while ramping up in cheaper cities. If I was trying to break into games today, I'd go to Montreal - thanks to gov't subsidies, they're the cheapest place on earth to make games, and the studios have noticed.
- cabalamat 17y ago
  I don't think the location is the issue. Rockstar have an office in Edinburgh, and they treat the staff there with contempt too.
- wooster 17y ago
  FWIW, I have friends that work at game studios in SF, and they're generally happy (and mostly ex-EA employees). These are indie studios or companies that get contracted out by companies like EA to do "hard stuff". That said, I don't know anyone who was happy working at EA.