Game Design - The Union Forever?
Game Design - Easier Layoffs?
https://www.polygon.com/2019/3/5/18233699/game-developer-layoffs-unions-katie-chironis?fbclid=IwAR3UbUvaB7Oh52G3JMVu71Aj9odEBDLVPOgTdc49f5X5JTuLUQLDhjwBe5U
Artists become the expendable Resource as oppose to the impactful, talented worker designing the game
"Video game development is remarkably efficient at chasing away talent; the industry often seems inhospitable to anyone who craves stability. Or health insurance, for that matter."
In this article, this game designer goes into detail of how she lost her job and how the layoffs in the game design industry are really rough. It's true... The game design marketplace doesn't have a ton of money. I felt so bad when she was talking about her story of the layoff. She had exit out the door when she heard the news. And, then she has this situation of being in debt. I mean, can't these awesome, skilled artists catch a break in this world?
Unionizing in the Game Industry
Many game developers are starting to discuss solutions such as unionizing.
She ends the article highlighting on that the film, TV and entertainment industry has a better approach to it that she thinks the game design industry can learn from.
https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/16/18178332/game-developer-union-crunch
"If you care about the quality of the games you play, you should also care about the health and safety of the people who create them. Which means you should care about unions."
International Game Developers Association
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is the industry group founded to advance the cause of game developers across the world.
Being hunched over at a desk all day isn't the healthiest thing in the world. There have been plenty aniamtors to name, both famous and unknown, who've lost their life due to health problems most likely caused by sitting at the production studio all day. Unions deliver higher wages for workers again and again across the board, whether you’re in the U.S., Australia, the U.K., or Canada. In fact, the effect of unions on wages is so strong that a decline in overall union membership even lowers the wages of people who aren’t in a union. Strong unions benefit everyone, it seems, similar to the idea of herd immunity offered by vaccines.
Game development is much like the work done in the movie industry in this way: A large percentage of the creative workforce isn’t full time, but instead hired on a per-contract basis to work on a specific project.
YOU’RE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THE WORK OF UNIONS IF YOU’RE THANKFUL FOR THINGS LIKE THE WEEKEND
A union can help. Steve Kaplan is an international representative with IATSE, a labor union representing workers in the theater, film, television, and trade show businesses. He says that health insurance coverage is one of the biggest reasons that animators, technicians, and stage workers of all kinds have unionized.
Tech Industries rejecting unionization
Ambitious game teams struggle to hire the experienced, steady hands who know how to handle massive projects well. Game development is hard, complicated work, and often experienced folks can spot project-killing problems early or generate novel solutions to tough problems. In other words, senior developers help all of us make better games.
Excerpt from Blizzard
Blizzard has been known to treat it's artists very well and keep them for the long run. They are known to giving their employees a sword and shield after a 5-10 year span. (lol)
https://www.polygon.com/2019/3/5/18233699/game-developer-layoffs-unions-katie-chironis?fbclid=IwAR3UbUvaB7Oh52G3JMVu71Aj9odEBDLVPOgTdc49f5X5JTuLUQLDhjwBe5U
Artists become the expendable Resource as oppose to the impactful, talented worker designing the game
"Video game development is remarkably efficient at chasing away talent; the industry often seems inhospitable to anyone who craves stability. Or health insurance, for that matter."
In this article, this game designer goes into detail of how she lost her job and how the layoffs in the game design industry are really rough. It's true... The game design marketplace doesn't have a ton of money. I felt so bad when she was talking about her story of the layoff. She had exit out the door when she heard the news. And, then she has this situation of being in debt. I mean, can't these awesome, skilled artists catch a break in this world?
Unionizing in the Game Industry
Many game developers are starting to discuss solutions such as unionizing.
She ends the article highlighting on that the film, TV and entertainment industry has a better approach to it that she thinks the game design industry can learn from.
https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/16/18178332/game-developer-union-crunch
"If you care about the quality of the games you play, you should also care about the health and safety of the people who create them. Which means you should care about unions."
International Game Developers Association
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is the industry group founded to advance the cause of game developers across the world.
Being hunched over at a desk all day isn't the healthiest thing in the world. There have been plenty aniamtors to name, both famous and unknown, who've lost their life due to health problems most likely caused by sitting at the production studio all day. Unions deliver higher wages for workers again and again across the board, whether you’re in the U.S., Australia, the U.K., or Canada. In fact, the effect of unions on wages is so strong that a decline in overall union membership even lowers the wages of people who aren’t in a union. Strong unions benefit everyone, it seems, similar to the idea of herd immunity offered by vaccines.
Game development is much like the work done in the movie industry in this way: A large percentage of the creative workforce isn’t full time, but instead hired on a per-contract basis to work on a specific project.
YOU’RE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THE WORK OF UNIONS IF YOU’RE THANKFUL FOR THINGS LIKE THE WEEKEND
A union can help. Steve Kaplan is an international representative with IATSE, a labor union representing workers in the theater, film, television, and trade show businesses. He says that health insurance coverage is one of the biggest reasons that animators, technicians, and stage workers of all kinds have unionized.
Tech Industries rejecting unionization
Ambitious game teams struggle to hire the experienced, steady hands who know how to handle massive projects well. Game development is hard, complicated work, and often experienced folks can spot project-killing problems early or generate novel solutions to tough problems. In other words, senior developers help all of us make better games.
Excerpt from Blizzard
Blizzard has been known to treat it's artists very well and keep them for the long run. They are known to giving their employees a sword and shield after a 5-10 year span. (lol)
Image Source: http://fortune.com/2018/02/15/best-companies-activision-blizzard/
“Honestly, one of the things I’m most proud of about Blizzard culture is that disagreeing is okay,” says Mike Morhaime, who co-established the Blizzard kingdom in 1991. “A really good culture actually encourages healthy debate.” Nate Nanzer, the commissioner of the Overwatch League, a professional e-sports association, agrees. “You are here because you’re great, and you’re expected to do great things and be an active voice in what we’re building,” he proclaims.
All in all, if you're passionate about this gaming industry, then being a game designer will be right for you. 15-16 hours a work day may sound overwhelming but not overwhelming if you're having fun doing it. Now, to resume my digital painting on Photoshop for today!
#wolfmanart #blog #blogpost
If you like what you read, please follow me on Twitter and Instagram for awesome updates on game-related and film entertainment projects that include my design work in programs such as Photoshop, ZBrush, Substance Painter, and Maya.
Ta ta for now!
-Wolfie
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