4 replies to this topic

[Gar_aka_thedude]

I just read from the TripleBuffer site about the quality of life for game devs.. over worked.. under paid.. and the stress involved around it. All I have to say is.. wow.. That's a very hard line to walk. I could just imagine working for companies that produced games that bombed and could easily picture how that must feel... work for 2 years making one game with all kinds of pressures from work.. deadlines.. home.. social strains.. then finally ship the load out only to have it bombarded by game critics and unhappy whiny spoiled consumers who only expect the highest quality products.

That's a nightmare.

I screenwrite and that's no different. I spent 15 months writing a 120 page script (prolly a 4th of the writing time compared to paperback novels) which was very mind boggling, confusing, to the point i ripped some hair out.. and 14 of those months was all planning and structuring.. the remaining month was typing and revising.. spending 12 hours a day at the computer just typing and revising away. Those 15 months paid off however.. in terms of story structure :D. Beyond that, sending out my work to be critiqued is a nightmare in itself.. to be critiqued by uptight reviewers who may overlook so many unique devices, complex arcs just to tally it to some standard based on how they feel about it and passing it off as a mediocre script. That's the way it goes though.. and that would be my folly for challenging myself to write two steps beyond my capabilities just to see if i could do it.

I feel for those game dev's.. i can just picture a load of domestic related arguments around the house and see them sitting on a couch questioning themselves if this was the dream they really hoped for. Some are lucky to not have that.. but for ones with luck.. others pay the consequences for the unluck that balances it all.

There are too many wants and not enough of the world to offer it. I pray they will find their way.

[Methulah]

A prayer for game developers. Amen.

[TheNut]

A lot of the crap that goes down in this industry is primarily due to ignorance and inexperience. There are also companies that have a lot of “red tape” that you have to put up with, which is unfortunate. As for overworked and underpaid employees, I feel sorry for them especially if they are the kind of person who really makes a difference for the project. It’s a shame if they have to live like that. 80 hours a week leaves little to no pleasure time, especially for the wife *wink*.

For me, I enjoy what I do, not what I must do. Whether it’s for work or myself, every day is a learning experience and I’m content with it. Strangely though I’m not as passionate about video games as I use to be. Sometimes I have to glue my ass to the chair and finish my personal projects, but it’s becoming more and more difficult. I’m curious if others feel that way as well.

[Goz]

TheNut said:

For me, I enjoy what I do, not what I must do. Whether it’s for work or myself, every day is a learning experience and I’m content with it. Strangely though I’m not as passionate about video games as I use to be. Sometimes I have to glue my ass to the chair and finish my personal projects, but it’s becoming more and more difficult. I’m curious if others feel that way as well.

Yeah im with ya there. I, in my spare time, have been working on a non gaming related bit of software for nigh on 2 years (its no simple concept either) but finding the time and the inclination to work on it is so hard after a hard days work coding. I'd much rather down a bottle of red wine, spark up a bifta and curl up with the other half ...

[Alex]

Quote

"Ignorance and inexperience"

...and I'd add "the knowledge that ppl are goint to put up with it cause they love what they're doing"

I enjoyed reading this today:
http://www.codeproje...ecrets1.asp#ch4
Could be a quote from my diary if it was about games....

Alex