Should I move to EA?
Currently considering a position at EA and wondering if it'll be a step above current job at Valve. I don't really have any issues in terms of compensation but some part of Valve culture is a little challenging for me related to supposedly "flat" structures that aren't always so. What's culture at EA like? Are there any things culturally that you're unsatisfied with at EA?
EA as a whole is definitely not flat. But the culture varies wildly across teams and locations. It’s a very large company.
Wait until Hawaii is over. Also curious what you're feeling at Valve;. PM me if you want to vent. Sincerely, Gabe
As long as you don’t work for EADP, you are fine. If you do work for EADP, good luck...
What’s wrong with EADP? Which team are you on?
There’s no diversity and inclusion in EADP. How many people in EADP are Latinos, Black? How many are gay, lesbian or transgender? Everyone thinks the same, everyone does the same. People told me not to question the system and be a yes sayer. My Indian manager constantly discriminate me for being “different”
Bloated. It seems many groups go through this cycle: - Start a group of 2 or 3 people that does "something". "Something" is usually not making money. - Be overwhelmed, and then start to expand personnel regionally to fix that. The original do-ers are now managers. - Regional workers are overwhelmed, so they need staff. The regional workers are now managers, and the original people that started the group are now directors or higher. You now have an org with almost too much time on their hands. Easiest way to spot them is when you get "urgent" requests out of nowhere near the end of the quarter. These are not actually urgent, but they have to show progress on "goals" in order to keep feeding the beast.
You’re talking about game teams that spin up, or what?
Not game teams, but "overhead" departments. Most are non tech.
This does not sound like a good idea. Can’t you just move to another project inside Valve by rolling your desk?
EA is a great place to be. EADP is platform team and usually a common team for all studios and also slow in process and growth. But much stable than studios
As always, it depends on what team you are on. I think if your position is at EA and not at one of the EA studios, the culture will be more tech than gaming(which is a good thing).
So EA rather than an EA studio?
Yes, I would say so