4 ms·

Isn't this more or less how movies get made in Hollywood? You're always hired just for a particular project? (Going by memory here, may be way off.)

dsirijus 12y ago
Of course. There's a bit of delusional idea that games are somehow sustainable business model (admiteddly, they _are_ for some genres). But, yes, that's the nature of business. This, to me, is a bit like complaining how war-time journalists don't get to spend enough time with their families and are at life risk. It's the biz, and, I'm sorry to be slightly verbally violent, get tougher skin or gtfo. Plenty of sustainable software/design/management roles in various spheres for you if you can't take it.
- Retric 12y ago
  Games are a sustainable business model. The problem is games are a highly competitive market so where most startups get some traction and keep executing that for years the game industry moves fast and you need a new hit every time. IMO, Pixar is probably the most sustainable model for a hits industry. At a minimum you need a multistage pipeline, rock solid management, and a focus on customers.
watwut 12y ago
The difference is that Hollywood is up front about it and you sign temporary contract etc. Game companies tend to sign normal employment contracts, promiss long term employment and heaven, exploit you during development and fire you later on (occasionally just before you would collect benefits). Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that game developers did not used to be hired for one project in the past. It is a thing of last years. They used to be hired by company and worked on multiple games there. Bad development practices used to be norm all the time through. Which does not apply to parent who is up front about the whole thing.
- dsirijus 12y ago
  Exactly. It's about non-delusional financial projections and transparency of business leadership. So, management.
- ameoba 12y ago
  It's cheaper to lie to people about a position having a long-term future & getting them on board with a salary than being honest & paying them hourly.

dsirijus 12y ago

Of course. There's a bit of delusional idea that games are somehow sustainable business model (admiteddly, they _are_ for some genres). But, yes, that's the nature of business. This, to me, is a bit like complaining how war-time journalists don't get to spend enough time with their families and are at life risk. It's the biz, and, I'm sorry to be slightly verbally violent, get tougher skin or gtfo. Plenty of sustainable software/design/management roles in various spheres for you if you can't take it.

Retric 12y ago
Games are a sustainable business model. The problem is games are a highly competitive market so where most startups get some traction and keep executing that for years the game industry moves fast and you need a new hit every time. IMO, Pixar is probably the most sustainable model for a hits industry. At a minimum you need a multistage pipeline, rock solid management, and a focus on customers.

watwut 12y ago

The difference is that Hollywood is up front about it and you sign temporary contract etc. Game companies tend to sign normal employment contracts, promiss long term employment and heaven, exploit you during development and fire you later on (occasionally just before you would collect benefits). Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that game developers did not used to be hired for one project in the past. It is a thing of last years. They used to be hired by company and worked on multiple games there. Bad development practices used to be norm all the time through. Which does not apply to parent who is up front about the whole thing.

dsirijus 12y ago
Exactly. It's about non-delusional financial projections and transparency of business leadership. So, management.
ameoba 12y ago
It's cheaper to lie to people about a position having a long-term future & getting them on board with a salary than being honest & paying them hourly.