Research on working conditions in the Video Game Industry

[Canadian Ink]

Besides working as an artist for a video game studio I am also a grad student working towards getting my MBA at a local university. For my signature project I am doing a research project which will be an examination of ethical workplace climate and culture type on firm performance outcomes in the Video Game industry.

The long and short of it is that there is alot of research in other industries that clearly draws the line between negative work practices and cultures (unpaid overtime, poisonous working environments, frequent layoffs ..etc etc) and clear negative impact of firm performance. (financial bottom line, employee performance etc).

Unfortunately the video game industry believes itself exempt from these effects and continues to be filled with terrible working environments and practices. My research will attempt to create some hard evidence to back up what most of us already know to be true, that when you treat employees poorly and keep them in a poisonous environment then its bad for your products and your company. The research will take the form of anonymous online surveys and my hope is that it can be a jumping off point for more people to do research in our industry and maybe effect some positive change.

I will keep everyone informed over coming months I get the ball rolling on this.

[glottis8]

This is great. It will be interesting to see what your research comes up with. I believe that the happier your employee is, the better he will do and perform. So kudos to you, i hope that with some evidence, people will have a different standard about what to think or expect in the industry.

[Fomori]

Yeah I think it's great you're doing this as well. I think there is a very clear relation between employee performance and how well that employee is treated. Too many employers seem to miss this obvious point, and it can even lead to a company's downfall. Anything helping to address this point can only help the industry.

[RexM]

Yeah... instead of having to force a lot of employees to work ridiculous hours, they should just hire more people.

[Firebert]

Yeah... instead of having to force a lot of employees to work ridiculous hours, they should just hire more people.

we could argue till the cows come home on the profits made, but in an industry that's business model has "$0" cashflow, this is not a viable solution. you run the risk of an even bigger loss if your title doesn't sell.

sad, but true.

hiring more people is only viable if the work is there, like a new contract was signed, or investors are willing to support you as you venture into a different market, etc. if the money isn't there, you can't do shit. every business has to make money to survive, and each new hire is not only an investment, but also a risk. at most places, the money that goes into a new hire is well beyond what you see on your paycheck every other week. you're talking about payouts (profit sharing, health care, taxes, etc.) that all comes out of the employers pocket above and beyond your 5-6 figure salary.

working ridiculous hours is one thing. working crunch from time to time get meet a common goal is something entirely different.

[Mark Dygert]

As always, since the beginning of time, if you treat people like shit, you make bank. If you run away with the cash before they catch on you might live long enough to spend it.

[Fomori]

As always, since the beginning of time, if you treat people like shit, you make bank. If you run away with the cash before they catch on you might live long enough to spend it.

Temporary solution and profit in business though innit? A longer lasting business and profit comes from a well tuned machine. But if you're incompetent or incapable to start with, then the cut and run solution probably is best.

[Canadian Ink]

working ridiculous hours is one thing. working crunch from time to time get meet a common goal is something entirely different.


Ya that is a good point, the challenge becomes defining at what point studio culture crosses the line into unhealthy work practices. We do reasonable crunches here all the time, and as long as they make sense and are part of the plan there is usually very little negative impact because of it.