#10 This is the way it is in not just the gaming industry, but the media industry as a whole, from films to documentaries to novels. It's a very unique and interesting field, to be sure. There are a lot of stereotypical nerds that you'll encounter in the industry, some of them are annoying to talk to, some have weird quirks, some only want to talk about themselves. One of these is something to be celebrated while the other is an unfortunate and tragic case. There are developers that are hardcore fans, and there are hardcore fans that are developers. I won't comment about whether the sales department is out of touch, but I would say that they're cautious and conservative regarding bold and sometimes industry-changing decisions. I think the worst structure for a game company is one where actions are dictated by the sales and marketing teams primarily in terms of what will ultimately be profitable and keep the company afloat, and that seems to be the case with a lot of development studios and publishing companies especially as game development costs and budgets continue to rise. People who are looking to make a quick buck, people who exploit the industry in general, and sometimes just people who need to throw together a quick game on a tight schedule to be able to finance the next high-profile title. However, as the industry continues to grow, more and more "outsiders" will continue to reveal themselves. That's a very positive thing for the industry. People are just plain more educated about games - and specifically what makes a good game - than they were in the past. There are college courses that focus on design philosophy and game development. There are a lot more gamers, and a lot more hardcore gamers, that are out there now.
#2 Working in the game industry nowadays is very much a double-edged sword. Props to the Blizzard devs and all the dedication from everyone everywhere. I think it's fucken crazy hard work but also super satisifying. I had always thought about becoming a developer and still do. In my freshman year at high school I created Bomberman VB. "Joel, the entertainment industry is 90% pain and suffering and 10% pleasure, Just make sure the pleasure shows in your work and you'll be fine." He was right. through it all I always remembered something Chuck Jones told me. I've see racism, sexism and some of the most egotistical people in the world in the game industry and yet. I saw a a man lose his career, his wife and his company when he opened the door of his company to a guy who knew nothing about the game industry offering to help the company go public, but turned out to be a criminal connect to the mafia who ultimately fired every executive, robed the companies payroll and stole the workstations taking them to Florida where they were later found on bails of hay in a barn on his ranch. I've seen an employee rob another when he was at lunch, deny it, and the discover he was being video taped. now" I've shown up to work and handed a glad trash bag and told that our 200K payroll had been stolen and that I’d have 15 minutes to collect my stuff before the company closes forever. I've been told that I had to work a 48 hour day, sleep on a company couch at work or "families will suffer when the company can't pay it's bills when the deliverable isn't met, Joel we're counting on you" I've been a part of countless layoffs, herded into a room with 300 brilliant talents and told that "**blank*** has F*'d us so we have to lay you all off effective immediately. I've had artist apply for a job with my artwork featured in their portfolios when I was the interviewer. I've had CEO's and coworkers claim my ideas without mentioning the source. because I was an "artist" my opinion was considered destructive to the game design hierarchy.
I've had someone say he wanted to kill me and eat me, I've had anonymous threats when I attempted to suggest that we work together and share better ways to make the game better but. I've seen a barefoot art director tromp down the hallway like a baby to complain to his bosses when his concept art failed to look like the real-time model he expected when the limits of technology at the time wouldn't permit the level of detail he expected.
I've seen a computer fly through a window, I've seen an ex employee trying to sledgehammer through from one companies adjoining wall to ours so he can get to his office and get his "stuff" back, I've seen one of my friends, a long time game vet kill himself on his birthday because nobody would listen to his brilliance.
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