They probably have an outside company to do that. Or it might be part of the office services.I'm still curious as to how Valve get employees to voluntarily clean the toilets with their completely flat organisational structure.
I'm still curious as to how Valve get employees to voluntarily clean the toilets with their completely flat organisational structure.
I mean, look at Rockstar, they're swimming in money, they don't do this. I would say though that the large corporate gaming entities like Activision and EA (after those earlier incidents) to make their workplaces more compatible with a healthy balance.That's cool but, "to be fair", Valve can afford only releasing a game whenver they feel like it. Not really a model other devs could easily copy.
Contractors, especially permanent contractors, are still part of an organisationThey probably have an outside company to do that. Or it might be part of the office services.
That's cool but, "to be fair", Valve can afford only releasing a game whenver they feel like it. Not really a model other devs could easily copy.
What? That's not what I'm saying. The tweets are referring specifically to Valve Time, and Valve has the luxury of not ever having to release a game again and probably still being able to stay afloat. The same isn't true for 99,9% other devs out there.This is an extremely toxic opinion. You have no idea what you are talking about. Having a healthy work/life balance is NOT in direct conflict with being a productive employee.
Dont count on it. I can already imagine the "lazy Valve make HL" comments.Actually a rare good report of work conditions in the gaming industry.
Maybe the Valve hate-train will take a break for a few hours.
What? That's not what I'm saying. The tweets are referring specifically to Valve Time, and Valve has the luxury of not ever having to release a game again and probably still being able to stay afloat. The same isn't true for 99,9% other devs out there.
What? That's not what I'm saying. The tweets are referring specifically to Valve Time, and Valve has the luxury of not ever having to release a game again and probably still being able to stay afloat. The same isn't true for 99,9% other devs out there.
Actually a rare good report of work conditions in the gaming industry.
Maybe the Valve hate-train will take a break for a few hours.
Contractors, especially permanent contractors, are still part of an organisation
I think he means that because Valves main thing is not to make games, they get most of their money from Steam so it doesnt really matter how their games sell.That's exactly what you are saying. You are implying that you can't have a healthy work/life balance and ship games at the same time.
Don't think that's really a realistic view of business relationships. Companies don't tend to think of contractors as one of them or part of their organization at all. Just service or content partners. When someone is part of your organization it means they are subject to certain benefits, reviews, and policy. Someone who comes in to clean the place as part of a cleaning contract with another company is just a hired hand who answers to their own superiors in another company and are subject to different benefits and reviews under another organization's purview.Contractors, especially permanent contractors, are still part of an organisation
No. I'm saying Valve can take their time between releasing major games and they're still fine. Other devs can't do that. That doesn't mean other devs can't have a healthy work/life balance but that Valve doesn't work as an example for other devs to easily copy.That's exactly what you are saying. You are implying that you can't have a healthy work/life balance and ship games at the same time.
Valve also has the privilege of being a private company, Gabe probably owns most if not all shares of the company, meaning they don't have to constantly worry about pleasing shareholders.That's cool but, "to be fair", Valve can afford only releasing a game whenver they feel like it. Not really a model other devs could easily copy.
About two months ago.Good for Valve, but when's the last time Valve made an inhouse game? It's odd talking about deadlines for video game development when you haven't bothered with that in, what, a decade?
Contractors, especially permanent contractors, are still part of an organisation
Good for Valve, but when's the last time Valve made an inhouse game? It's odd talking about deadlines for video game development when you haven't bothered with that in, what, a decade?
Dota 2 came from Icefrog who was hired into Valve. Same with TF2, same with Portal, same with Counter Strike (eh, I'll give you CS:GO), etc. Never heard of Valley of the Gods, might look into it.
So when Valve hires someone and they become a Valve employee and then they lead a development team to produce a Valve game, it isn't in-house? Lol.Dota 2 came from Icefrog who was hired into Valve. Same with TF2, same with Portal, same with Counter Strike (eh, I'll give you CS:GO), etc. Never heard of Valley of the Gods, might look into it.
Dota 2 came from Icefrog who was hired into Valve. Same with TF2, same with Portal, same with Counter Strike (eh, I'll give you CS:GO), etc. Never heard of Valley of the Gods, might look into it.
Yes, Icefrog developed Dota2 all by himself. Same with TF2, Portal, and Counter-Strike.
So when Valve hires someone and they become a Valve employee and then they lead a development team to produce a Valve game, it isn't in-house? Lol.
All of these games were still developed inside valve with valve employees?
Or do you think Icefrog made the entiretoy of Dota 2 on his own????
Jane, from the OP, is on Valley of the Gods.Dota 2 came from Icefrog who was hired into Valve. Same with TF2, same with Portal, same with Counter Strike (eh, I'll give you CS:GO), etc. Never heard of Valley of the Gods, might look into it.
We're not even capable of discussing a positive thread about developer work conditions without the usual Valve shit posts. For fuck's sake.
Jane, from the OP, is on Valley of the Gods.
Also the whole "name a Valve game in the last 10 years!" and someone tells you and you reply "no, not those!" is not any sort of real criticism.
All of these games were still developed inside valve with valve employees?
Or do you think Icefrog made the entirety of Dota 2 on his own????
This isn't always feasible. "Nine women can't carry a baby to term in one month" as the saying goes.Hire more staff if you can't keep the deadlines, or schedule your work accordingly.
Wait, Jane left Campo Santo?
Also this is some good news, finally (the part about the time to be with your family, not her leaving CS)
Wait, Jane left Campo Santo?
Also this is some good news, finally (the part about the time to be with your family, not her leaving CS)
LOL you're right, but definitely cut some corners and don't ask developers to work more than they can.This isn't always feasible. "Nine women can't carry a baby to term in one month" as the saying goes.
However, I definitely agree that schedules should be appropriately adjusted.
No of course not. I just have a personal categorization regarding what's produced in-house by Valve and what's being bought out/purchased by Valve. Original IPs and whatnot, or any company for that matter (I consider Fallout and Doom for Bethesda under the same nature).
Wait, Jane left Campo Santo?
Also this is some good news, finally (the part about the time to be with your family, not her leaving CS)
CSGO was developed by hidden path. In the past seven years valve have developed 3-4 maps, added skins, and made some good and bad balance changes
The Lab and Artifact comes to mind.Good for Valve, but when's the last time Valve made an inhouse game? It's odd talking about deadlines for video game development when you haven't bothered with that in, what, a decade?
Oh, okay that's what that means. I knew that but I thought Campo Santo as a studio still existed.
Amazon could also afford to be able to pay their employees better and not work them to death.That's cool but, "to be fair", Valve can afford only releasing a game whenever they feel like it. Not really a model other devs could easily copy.
She didn't. Campo Santo is absorbed into Valve and while Campo Santo still exists for Firewatch related stuff, all Campo Santo staff are technically Valve employees.Wait, Jane left Campo Santo?
Also this is some good news, finally (the part about the time to be with your family, not her leaving CS)