It's not a secret that the working conditions are poor in gamedev. Everyone wants to do it and is willing to make less, work harder, and face constant uncertainty to do it. Supply and demand.
damnburglar on September 22nd, 2018 at 06:35 UTC »
Don’t do free overtime/hours Don’t work for exposure Don’t sell yourself short when you take a job just to get it
Feel free to add to that list.
Edit: well shit this blew up. Too many comments to reply to but I’ve seen things like “don’t be a game dev if you aren’t ready to do do 65 your weeks”, etc. Doing a 65 hour week is fine, but if you aren’t getting paid for it you’re a sucker. Sorry, but there is nothing noble about giving a company time for which you are ‘t compensated.
Someone mentioned exempt positions. Yes, those positions do not get overtime, but if you take an exempt job without some special conditions (higher pay, more time off, etc) then again...you’re a sucker.
Clearly the “sucker” part doesn’t apply if you’re in a third world country, you literally have no other job options, or for some reason you actually enjoy bleeding out 14-16 hours a day for some corporation.
I'll add to this. My mother turned 75 this year, a yearly title I worked on was wrapping up. Everyone got two and a half weeks off...., the break included my mother's birthday.
I had to remain to continue to work on the servers. My parts of the servers didn't have an issue, but just in case was their reasoning. So I started to help out on support tickets (help desk and more).
Mothers day started to approach. A perfect oppurtunity to surprise her. Everyone on the server team took off, the Helpdesk team was expected to remain and I was the only guy with programming knowledge (Able to unwind a few of the really hard tickets). I was again staying during another break.
Finally my lead pulled me aside. Turns out something went wrong last year, and they wanted to put me on a Performance Improvement Plan (A PIP) most of the claims were bs that everyone did, or everyone should be on one for. It was clear a way for my direct supervisor to have a way to let me go because he and I didn't see eye to eye. The lead knew about this animosity when I asked to be moved to a different group. Either the lead or the supervisor started me on the path to be kicked out.
I was given a way out, I could take three months severance and leave on my own terms and not have to deal with any of this BS. I took it, as it was being set up I simply asked "What about the two weeks off?" And was told after multiple conversations about me being given the time later "Everyone was supposed to take the time together. I know nothing about that."
I love making games, I'll find a better studio, but never trust your employer. They aren't in it to make you a better person, not be on your side. They pay you a salary for your work and nothing more.
Preece on September 22nd, 2018 at 06:33 UTC »
It's not a secret that the working conditions are poor in gamedev. Everyone wants to do it and is willing to make less, work harder, and face constant uncertainty to do it. Supply and demand.
damnburglar on September 22nd, 2018 at 06:35 UTC »
Don’t do free overtime/hours Don’t work for exposure Don’t sell yourself short when you take a job just to get it
Feel free to add to that list.
Edit: well shit this blew up. Too many comments to reply to but I’ve seen things like “don’t be a game dev if you aren’t ready to do do 65 your weeks”, etc. Doing a 65 hour week is fine, but if you aren’t getting paid for it you’re a sucker. Sorry, but there is nothing noble about giving a company time for which you are ‘t compensated.
Someone mentioned exempt positions. Yes, those positions do not get overtime, but if you take an exempt job without some special conditions (higher pay, more time off, etc) then again...you’re a sucker.
Clearly the “sucker” part doesn’t apply if you’re in a third world country, you literally have no other job options, or for some reason you actually enjoy bleeding out 14-16 hours a day for some corporation.
Kinglink on September 22nd, 2018 at 07:42 UTC »
I'll add to this. My mother turned 75 this year, a yearly title I worked on was wrapping up. Everyone got two and a half weeks off...., the break included my mother's birthday.
I had to remain to continue to work on the servers. My parts of the servers didn't have an issue, but just in case was their reasoning. So I started to help out on support tickets (help desk and more).
Mothers day started to approach. A perfect oppurtunity to surprise her. Everyone on the server team took off, the Helpdesk team was expected to remain and I was the only guy with programming knowledge (Able to unwind a few of the really hard tickets). I was again staying during another break.
Finally my lead pulled me aside. Turns out something went wrong last year, and they wanted to put me on a Performance Improvement Plan (A PIP) most of the claims were bs that everyone did, or everyone should be on one for. It was clear a way for my direct supervisor to have a way to let me go because he and I didn't see eye to eye. The lead knew about this animosity when I asked to be moved to a different group. Either the lead or the supervisor started me on the path to be kicked out.
I was given a way out, I could take three months severance and leave on my own terms and not have to deal with any of this BS. I took it, as it was being set up I simply asked "What about the two weeks off?" And was told after multiple conversations about me being given the time later "Everyone was supposed to take the time together. I know nothing about that."
I love making games, I'll find a better studio, but never trust your employer. They aren't in it to make you a better person, not be on your side. They pay you a salary for your work and nothing more.