3 ms·
Delayed or never received payments are common for video game freelancers. Most projects fail, and so the likelihood you don't get paid out for a portion of your
by jasonwatkinspdx 4y ago
Delayed or never received payments are common for video game freelancers. Most projects fail, and so the likelihood you don't get paid out for a portion of your work is very high. You just have to eat it and set your rates accordingly. iD/Zennimax are big enough there's no excuse here, but as far as mentality anyone that's been freelancing in games has probably crossed over into this territory of just hoping the client stops being an idiot at least once if they're honest.
- MichaelZuo 4y agoIf it’s so common why don’t the well known freelancers insist on upfront payments?
- jasonwatkinspdx 4y agoThese contracts are very asymmetric in negotiating power. That's actually true of gaming in general: as both an artist or coder you'll almost certainly make more money and have a much better work life balance outside of gaming. Freelancers are even more disposable. Basically, people who wanna make games do so mostly out of personal passion, and that means they get pretty screwed in negotiating compensation.
- MichaelZuo 4y agoHow does that stop them from negotiating a lower rate, but paid upfront?
- Arrath 4y agoThat relies on the other party agreeing to such terms. They may well choose a pay-later setup offered by an otherwise more expensive contractor, and then go on to play accounting reindeer games just like this.
- MichaelZuo 4y agoWell presumably the other party will agree at $0. So it’s really a question if there’s a mutually agreeable price, not whether it’s feasible in the first place.