They are probably thinking right now... What will happen with GTA VI
Rockstar is preparing the sleep deprivation chambers for that, they don't need to worry.
They are probably thinking right now... What will happen with GTA VI
Too many people have this idyllic view of labor mobility. That people can just up and quit their job without major disruptions to their life.
Some of the responses in this thread are amazingly unbelievable.
In my first year in the industry I had seen some really crazy stuff. One toll I've seen was our lead producer literally disappearing near the last 3 months or so of development. The last time I saw him, it was when I was passing by his office at 3am and he was laying on the ground (nothing that required serious medical attention). We mysteriously got a replacement producer and were given no explanation.
That same year, I was once testing a popular unreleased mobile game just for a single day while the devs worked on some major fixes for the console game. I was given an iPad and that iPad started receiving iMessages. It started off with "are you coming home for dinner?" I ignored it at first and just kept playing.
But then the messages started getting more and more intense. The significant other was stunned that not only was her husband not coming home for dinner, but he was once again traveling for an extended period of time, which according to her was not supposed to happen anymore. Shortly after, she started explaining the toll this was having on her and her kid. Literally talking about missing their kids first steps. Then she ended things by showing a picture of their child and saying that she's done and wants to call things off.
Those messages all happened within a very very short span of time so it was difficult to not see everything unfold. It was absolutely mindblowing seeing it all break down so quickly in a way that seems like it was written as a PSA. But it was real.
For your own sake, please quit. It's not worth it for having your name in a credits list.
What I'm saying is you can just quit and work for another company that suits your lifestyle better. Working for the best of the best comes at a price
My compensation after my contract was done was "maybe we'll call you back in 3 months, assuming there is work to be done during that time. If not, please be excited for our call at a later time".
I know people who have been going through the grind of a 9 month on and MAYBE 3 months off at a AAA studio for nearly 10 years. I don't know why they do it, personally. I think some of it has to do with the idea of prestige for working for a AAA studio. After my contract was up at my first job I frantically found another job and never thought about going back to the other place again.
Game development isn't some special niche in project and/or software management. Its simply part of the culture to abuse (often) young persons who don't know better. Because everyone is doing it right?
There's a dev on this page explaining why they stay.
Pretty much today's discussion on Twitter.
I don't think you can work 7 days a week in the UK. That would be highly illegal. So either way its still pretty ridiculous.
iirc you're entitled to one day off a week or two off a fortnight if you're over 18. That can be twisted by employers to have people working 7 or more days in a row. I see it at my work all the time happening to people too scared to say no.I don't think you can work 7 days a week in the UK. That would be highly illegal. So either way its still pretty ridiculous.
11 pages in and not a single "it be like that sometimes" post. Proud of you era. yall great people.
Rockstar needs to work on their employee incentives and benefits. Everyone should get like 200hrs of PTO after something like that.
Multiple times. I've worked in investment banking and private equity, I know what 80-100 hour weeks are like. I knew what I was getting into but after a while I decided I'd rather do something more laid back and switched jobs.How many times have you quit your job as an adult with bills and obligations to go find another job that fits your life syle better? Shit isn't easy no matter how many youtube ads you've watched saying "follow your dreams" its BS. Employers treating employees with respect seems like a no brainer nobody should be expected to work 100hr weeks.
While that may help, consumers should not support product that we know were created under hostile working conditions. Everyone has a role to play. They should unionize, and we shouldn't purchase this product.
I don't work there anymore. I was let go. It was the strangest feeling. I felt terrified to go, as I was supporting my girlfriend with the job and was the only income in the house while she studied. I had no savings because low pay, probably just enough to survive a couple of months, but then I landed another job in an unrelated field, and I've been happily cruising since then.
Investment banking and games industry are not the same. You can find a finance job in likely any decently sized city. That's not the case for game development.Multiple times. I've worked in investment banking and private equity, I know what 80-100 hour weeks are like. I knew what I was getting into but after a while I decided I'd rather do something more laid back and switched jobs.
Having bills and obligations doesnt mean you cant switch jobs, you find something new, put in your 2 weeks and start working at the new place 2 weeks after. Millions of Americans do it every year.
Before they started cracking down on CDL vehicles in America, it was not uncommon for those driving 80,000 pound big trucks to push 90 plus hours a week. Years ago, I worked in a field that required driving a big truck, and I never put in less than 70 hours a week, and flirted with 100 a few times. I was young, and was able to do it, but if I am being honest, it is lucky I did not kill a family driving off the road. At the very least it put a huge strain on my marriage and my relationship with my children.
At the the time I thought I was doing the right thing for my family. The truth was I was being exploited by my company, and worked well past what is fair. The government stepped in and capped the hours of work to 60 or 70 for CDL jobs (depending on a few things) which really helped, but there are still people on the road, who should not be behind the wheel because they are not getting enough rest. (physical and mental)
The truth is crunch time should only be for times of emergencies. Making sure a game comes out on time...that will end up making BILLIONS... is in no fucking way an emergency.
Yea you can, there's a law where you're only supposed to work 48 hours per week, but you can opt out if you want to do more, before that I worked 12 hours per day 7 days a week as a Security guard, I think I ended up doing 43 days straight before a day off (to be fair, I wanted some money saved and this paid well enough to set me up to go to University)
Edit: And to add, I got a Bachlors Degree in Video Game and Software Development, after hearing so many bad stories I decided to focus on Software dev. more, better pay for less hours really
Yeah I see, you do have a point.Investment banking and games industry are not the same. You can find a finance job in likely any decently sized city. That's not the case for game development.
While that may help, consumers should not support product that we know were created under hostile working conditions. Everyone has a role to play. They should unionize, and we shouldn't purchase this product.
iirc you're entitled to one day off a week or two off a fortnight if you're over 18. That can be twisted by employers to have people working 7 or more days in a row. I see it at my work all the time happening to people too scared to say no.
It's because the game industry is a sexy industry. You have new grads willing to get gigs every year for the gaming industry. This is why they can get away with this.This is only the case in the videogame sector of software development.
The best of the best software companies have a sane work/life balance, and for the most part, they pay much more than the videogame sector of the software industry. As a software engineer, who works very normal 35-40 hour weeks, and usually doesn't have much crunch at all, and gets paid very competitively, I'm always eager to tell videogame developers to branch out to other parts of the industry where you'll get paid more, with better benefits, and not have crunch.
I was under the impression that if you worked more than 12 hrs straight in a shift you're supposed to have a day off. So 14hr for 7 days doesn't sound legal.
Well, maybe it'll seem that way, but hadn't it been for these news, the game would sell at least one more copy: mine.
You're gonna have to drop AAA gaming then.While that may help, consumers should not support product that we know were created under hostile working conditions. Everyone has a role to play. They should unionize, and we shouldn't purchase this product.
Because people keep buying the products.
More people need to send a message that this isn't OK.
People keep buying products and gamers keep shitting all over everything that's not up to thier ridiculous standards.
But really I blame the industry more for trying to keep up with those ridiculous standards, but that's not to say gamers have no input into the issue. They want more and more but don't want to pay for any of it.
Oh god dude. I'm so glad life worked out for you but my god, that is incredibly exploitative. Thank you for telling us about your experience.