Does the gaming industry really suck that bad?

New / Eng
vNWb65

New Eng

 vNWb65
Oct 24, 2020 85 Comments

Gaming and game development has always been a passion of mine, so from that perspective I’d love to make games. However, I keep hearing that working in the gaming industry is generally terrible and way more stress than it’s worth. Is this true? I know like most things it probably depends what company/type of games/etc. I’m seeing some posts on here that also say the pay is atrocious as well.

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  • I spent a decade in the gaming industry. They don't pay shit. I more than doubled my salary when I went into Tech. Work life balance is better as well. The big win is if you can get paid in tech salary while working in games. Google Stadia, Microsoft Xbox, Apple Gamecenter, Amazon Twtich, or work for Supercell and make Bank.
    Oct 24, 2020 6
  • If you work as an engineer in game, you would most often have very little say, if not ZERO say, in how the gameplay should be like. And you’d spend all your time dealing with proprietor engines, which are insanely primitive and difficult to use than Unity or Unreal.
    Oct 26, 2020 1
  • Rockstar Games / Creative
    [__]

    Rockstar Games Creative

    PRE
    Rockstar Games
     [__]
    I'm at R* new England and our WLB is great. Occasional 50 hour week during crunch on rdr2 but really hasn't been bad. Pay is pretty mediocre compared to fang but the work is fun. Im more than comfortable with my salary and working on something I enjoy as opposed to having 2x the salary but hate the work. To each their own.
    Oct 26, 2020 3
    • Amazon
      XÆA12

      Go to company page Amazon

      XÆA12
      Are you guys working on GTA 6?!
      Nov 3, 2020
    • Rockstar Games / Creative
      [__]

      Rockstar Games Creative

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      Rockstar Games
       [__]
      ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
      Nov 3, 2020
  • If I can relive my life again, I will NOT choose gaming industry.
    Oct 26, 2020 2
    • Google
      pUzD55

      Go to company page Google

      pUzD55
      it's ok bro. there is still time to switch

      i regret wasting so much time on game dev myself before i realized i can't design games worth shit

      thing is. you are probably better than 99% of coders out there. because game programming pushes you beyond the mundane stuff

      so go forth. leave and live.
      Oct 30, 2020
    • Google / Eng
      uint64

      Go to company page Google Eng

       uint64
      Can't +1 enough what my colleague here said!
      Nov 3, 2020
  • Agree with above on long hours and low pay.

    Think about what about a game dev job is really your passion. At the end of the day, game dev is another dev job especially at a bigger game studio. If you really want to experience that thrill of game dev you need to join an indie dev studio where you wear multiple hats but you also get paid so low that passion is all you get to feed yourself.
    Oct 25, 2020 0