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Isn't it exploitation to benefit from programmers'/designers' love of gaming? Labour laws are there for a reason. I believe it is a basic human right to work re
by terminalcommand 4y ago
Isn't it exploitation to benefit from programmers'/designers' love of gaming? Labour laws are there for a reason. I believe it is a basic human right to work reasonable hours and rest.
Game development companies are making millions in profits, what stops them from hiring 2x the workforce so that each can work 8 hours a day 5 days a week instead of 12 hours x 6? The demand in the field is obvious.
I personally would prefer ethically coded games if such a category existed. I get no fun from playing a game from a company that I know exploits people. Maybe that is the reason why indie games are so popular.
- eru 4y agoAs I said, programmers can already find relatively cushy CRUD jobs. So any 'exploitation' is in some sense voluntary. Would you say that Bundesliga footballers are exploited? They physically work much harder than programmers in the game industry. > Game development companies are making millions in profits, what stops them from hiring 2x the workforce so that each can work 8 hours a day 5 days a week instead of 12 hours x 6? The demand in the field is obvious. You can have a look at video game industry stock indexes. See eg https://etfdb.com/etfs/industry/gaming/ https://etfdb.com/etfs/industry/gaming/ or https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/010616/top-4-entertainment-etfs-2016-pej-xly.asp https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/010616/top-4... If there's evil exploitation and excess profit, they don't seem show up in returns to shareholders. At least no better returns than any other industry. Including those with the cushy CRUD dev jobs.
- terminalcommand 4y agoSorry, I think you are mistaking stock price and profits. ETFS' performance is based on stock prices. Game companies still continue to make millions in profits. Stock price is not a reflection of profits. Hiring a recent college grad and working him 12+ hours a day with no rest is IMHO exploitation. This is why we have labour laws in the first place. Employers have too much power and influence. Offer a college grad the chance to work on games and above average pay, you get him on the hook. What you are not saying to him is that you'll overwork him breaching labour laws. I gave him a job, he wanted it, if he doesn't like it, he can leave is not sufficient to make it ethical nor legal. Please read this insider story on how brutal the working conditions are: https://ea-spouse.livejournal.com/274.html https://ea-spouse.livejournal.com/274.html I cannot comment on the comparison with Bundesliga footballers, because I have no experience in working a physical job. I am a knowledge worker.
- eru 4y agoSo who is supposed to be benefiting from the 'exploitation'?
- terminalcommand 4y agoManagement gets fat bonuses for reaching profitability targets, investors are happy.
- eru 4y agoI mentioned that investors don't seem to be getting any special benefit, if you look at the stock (including re-invested dividends).
- terminalcommand 4y agoPublic investors may not be getting any benefit, because the private investors have already IPOd at a ridiculous stock price. Private investors usually have non-trading shares. The way the scheme works is that if they find the stock price to be right, they convert their non-trading shares into trading shares and profit more. This way the stock price doesn't increase much. They basically dilute the amount of public shares for profit. They don't give any thought to public investors such as you and me.