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> 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. T

by gavman 8y ago

> 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. That's the crux of this entire article in one sentence. This might be an upopular opinion here, but right now the supply of developers overall [across all industries] is much lower than demand. No one is forcing a developer to work for a game studio. It might be your dream job, but if you're not treated well you're a highly talented skilled worker, go work for someone else. Let the supply diminish because of the working conditions and alternatives and suddenly studios won't have the option to treat their employees this way. edit: typos

baud147258 8y ago
I know one guy who is like that, he realized his dream by doing it as a side job and it look like he's been successful so far (released one game, worked as a writer for a handful of other games)
- baud147258 8y ago
  Apparently the game he's worked on made at least 300k $, to split between the publisher (WE Games) and the guy and his two collaborator. And he used a good chunk of his share to fund games on kickstater
glvn 8y ago
When I was in college a few years back I had many colleagues that wanted to get into the game industry. Most all were pretty serious gamers and many seemed to have false expectations of what the industry was like, namely that: Playing Video Games === Creating Video Games. While I'm not one to tell someone what they should or shouldn't do with their careers (hell my mother wanted me to become a lawyer), I always made a point to tell them they should research the industry a bit more before making the leap. I know quite a few that ended up pivoting what field they went into after learning how brutal the gaming industry can be. Making games might be your dream job, just make sure you are fully aware of the realities of your dream job and decide if you are willing to accept that reality day in and day out.
titanomachy 8y ago
You're right. I have sympathy for game developers: no one should have to endure those conditions. But I also don't understand them. The state of the industry is so widely publicised, and there are so many amazing jobs outside of gaming for people with that skill set. Probably the reason I don't get it is that I'm not really "into" games. I like playing Civ or overwatch a few times a month, mostly to keep in touch with old friends, but there must be people out there who care so much about video games that they can't imagine working on anything else. Maybe these are the people who choose to endure the awful conditions.
- ip26 8y ago
  The state of the industry is so widely publicised... The people ensnared & abused the most, genearlly seem to be very young developers, fresh out of college or high school. That age group is, through no fault of their own, never particularly worldly or in touch with current working conditions.
colkassad 8y ago
Game development is more than just programming.

by gavman 8y ago

baud147258 8y ago

I know one guy who is like that, he realized his dream by doing it as a side job and it look like he's been successful so far (released one game, worked as a writer for a handful of other games)

baud147258 8y ago
Apparently the game he's worked on made at least 300k $, to split between the publisher (WE Games) and the guy and his two collaborator. And he used a good chunk of his share to fund games on kickstater

glvn 8y ago

When I was in college a few years back I had many colleagues that wanted to get into the game industry. Most all were pretty serious gamers and many seemed to have false expectations of what the industry was like, namely that: Playing Video Games === Creating Video Games. While I'm not one to tell someone what they should or shouldn't do with their careers (hell my mother wanted me to become a lawyer), I always made a point to tell them they should research the industry a bit more before making the leap. I know quite a few that ended up pivoting what field they went into after learning how brutal the gaming industry can be. Making games might be your dream job, just make sure you are fully aware of the realities of your dream job and decide if you are willing to accept that reality day in and day out.

titanomachy 8y ago

You're right. I have sympathy for game developers: no one should have to endure those conditions. But I also don't understand them. The state of the industry is so widely publicised, and there are so many amazing jobs outside of gaming for people with that skill set. Probably the reason I don't get it is that I'm not really "into" games. I like playing Civ or overwatch a few times a month, mostly to keep in touch with old friends, but there must be people out there who care so much about video games that they can't imagine working on anything else. Maybe these are the people who choose to endure the awful conditions.

ip26 8y ago
The state of the industry is so widely publicised... The people ensnared & abused the most, genearlly seem to be very young developers, fresh out of college or high school. That age group is, through no fault of their own, never particularly worldly or in touch with current working conditions.

colkassad 8y ago

Game development is more than just programming.