I like that this article doesn't just talk about the financial side of it, but also at least in part how much harassment game developers get for absolutely no reason. It's clear who the villains here are, and as the crash continues to gain momentum, I think unionizing and banding together no matter where you are is the only choice for survival at this point. Odds are still slim but what other options are left?
I've never worked at a game company (outside of my own indie game company).
I've only every been in tech, and chose that path because I believed what the author says here:
Software engineers could probably make more money programming bank equipment.
Artists could probably make more money doing design work for pharmaceutical ads.
Sure, they might not be as exciting, but at least these jobs aren’t punishing hardworking people for doing what they love. Would you rather be bored and paid well and appreciated or excited and constantly terrified you’ll never work again?
Some ten years ago, I didn't trust that cartooning or video games would pay the bills, so I chose software design, thinking that it may not be as exciting, but at least it would be stable, pay ok, and would have time to work on my own personal projects.
God, I was so wrong.
The first tech company I worked for was named after a fruit, and paid me $11 USD an hour. When I had been overperforming in my job for a year in and asked for a raise to match my coworkers ($20 USD an hour) I was demoted and relocated to the customer support team so "my job requirements would match my salary."
My salary was half the median salary in the area I worked. There were days I ate from the "free snacks" bin because I couldn't afford the company cafeteria.
The next company I worked for paid me well, but I had a manager who hired me as a junior developer, refused to train me, and instead expected me to work evenings to learn my job instead of being trained on the job. I was constantly terrified of losing my job so I learned to work evenings as well as daytime shifts, while not asking for any additional pay.
Due to a very strict IP clause, if I worked on any passion projects, even outside of work time, they belonged to this company. I had to get someone to sign off at the company saying they didn't own my capstone project at the university I was going to nights and weekends.
The next company I worked for paid me quite well, but I worked nights and weekends, and my company would give me ~48 hours notice before an out of town business trip, so I never could make firm plans with anyone.
That put a strain on my friendships and relationships; when I pushed back, I would get feedback to my manager that I was "not a team player" and asked to "consider my negative attitude—we're all family here! And we all should be thankful to be working in design at such a famous company." There was no way I was able to work on creative projects then; the most I could do when I came home was watch TV.
That design company laid off 20% of their workforce in 2022. Investors bought the company and wanted to make the line go up.
I learned my lesson and moved to a country that had better labor laws.
I came out better than some video game developers.
I have stress-related chronic issues now, but I don't have a cocaine/ketamine/Adderall addition and I do have better financial stability (due to the labor laws and cheaper medical care), so...I'll take it.
So...yes. The pay. Much better than the video games industry. For my first job, no. But for the rest? Absolutely spot on.
The appreciation and stability? Mmm... in my personal experience companies that have a reputation for being famous or high-quality and exacting in terms of design are similar. They're good on the resume, but taxing on the psyche and the creative spirit.
