Earlier this year, employees of the French studio Eugen Systems went on strike for more than a month. In March, the United Game Workers Unite, an advocacy organization for employees in the video game industry was formed in the United States. What do you think of these initiatives?
Adam Badowski: It's a very difficult job, everyone knows, and improvements are always possible. But I do not know if the unions can contribute to it. We should find our own solutions.
Marcin Iwinski: That's what we do! It's true that we do lot of overtime, and when people join us, we warn them that it's really not easy. Releasing a game is, every time, as hard as sending people to Mars. But if there are unions, what do we do? We do not take off anymore? Originally, unions were created to protect low-paid workers, right? These guys are not low paid workers, they are extremely skilled professionals.
Adam Badowski: I think that changes for the better. For example, before, the industry did not pay overtime.
Marcin Iwinski: It's really blood, sweat and tears. From the outside, the video game industry seems to be a big success story. People who do not know the industry think that everything is rosy. It's really very, very hard, and people who decide to make a career in this business have to make a lot of sacrifices regularly.
Adam Badowski: But when you start a game, a trailer, a demo, you have to see the reactions. Today, in Warsaw, at the head office of CD Projekt, there is joy, noise, and everyone is happy!
