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Maybe similar to the startups world too? Super long hours, not much pay, minimal chance of payoff, infinite supply of people who want to do it. The desired resu

Maybe similar to the startups world too? Super long hours, not much pay, minimal chance of payoff, infinite supply of people who want to do it. The desired result is financial freedom, whereas perhaps in videogames the desired result is creative freedom. Also yes, anything that seems glamorous has too much supply and not enough demand, so you end up with these skewed power dynamics. Pick a job that maybe pays ok but is super unglamorous, and I doubt you'll see the same practices

drawkbox 9y ago
The desired result is financial freedom, whereas perhaps in videogames the desired result is creative freedom. Creative freedom is definitely nice and a goal of people in games. Both developers and designers go into it with the goal of making games and eventually making their games. What you find out is, most game companies can only make a few people's games. It is the same in any creative industry. This results in most developers, designers, artists going to work on their own games or at small to medium studios where they can have some input after 3-5+ years. It is the same with entrepreneurs and any work/team really. You will get more shots at implementing things the way you want towards the market you want if you can control it, especially if it is your own or you control the funds. Game studios and agencies are great to learn all the skills you need at a rapid pace and understand the amount of effort it takes, but eventually you will need to break off on your own or small teams to deliver the experience you want. Working at an agency or studio is a bit of an education or hardcore apprenticeship. Most people that get to control creative and design decisions at large game companies had to do just that or make their own (or they put up the money) i.e. John Carmack, Tim Schafer, Tim Sweeney, nearly all mobile studios initially are small teams and either launch their own or subcontract for a label and on and on.
ryandrake 9y ago
Due to the unstoppable force of automation and other productivity multipliers, the situation is creeping into more and more jobs/sectors. The trend is already clear: Increasing numbers of hungry people in line and pushing each other aside for a chance at one of the increasingly fewer jobs. Today it's a few highly desired niches within a few industries. Tomorrow it's the new normal for employment in general.

drawkbox 9y ago

The desired result is financial freedom, whereas perhaps in videogames the desired result is creative freedom. Creative freedom is definitely nice and a goal of people in games. Both developers and designers go into it with the goal of making games and eventually making their games. What you find out is, most game companies can only make a few people's games. It is the same in any creative industry. This results in most developers, designers, artists going to work on their own games or at small to medium studios where they can have some input after 3-5+ years. It is the same with entrepreneurs and any work/team really. You will get more shots at implementing things the way you want towards the market you want if you can control it, especially if it is your own or you control the funds. Game studios and agencies are great to learn all the skills you need at a rapid pace and understand the amount of effort it takes, but eventually you will need to break off on your own or small teams to deliver the experience you want. Working at an agency or studio is a bit of an education or hardcore apprenticeship. Most people that get to control creative and design decisions at large game companies had to do just that or make their own (or they put up the money) i.e. John Carmack, Tim Schafer, Tim Sweeney, nearly all mobile studios initially are small teams and either launch their own or subcontract for a label and on and on.

ryandrake 9y ago

Due to the unstoppable force of automation and other productivity multipliers, the situation is creeping into more and more jobs/sectors. The trend is already clear: Increasing numbers of hungry people in line and pushing each other aside for a chance at one of the increasingly fewer jobs. Today it's a few highly desired niches within a few industries. Tomorrow it's the new normal for employment in general.