I received an interesting letter today from the
IGDA (International Game Developers Association) Board of Directors. It talks of the horrible working conditions developers are forced to face in the work place and how we need to work together to put this to an end.
I have heard rumors about horrible working conditions. Developers are told to pull over-nighters and work weeks without a break. All this for pretty low pay because there is always another kid out there who can do their job for the same low pay.
Read the entire story below to see the letter I received and to find out how to help out.
-------------------------------
Open Letter – November 16, 2004
Quality of Life Issues are Holding Back the Game Industry
-------------------------------
Despite the continued success of the games industry, the immaturity of
current business and production practices is severely crippling the
industry. The recent frenzy of discussion over impassioned testimony about the
horrible working conditions within much of the industry attests to the reality
of this often unspoken disease.
As the professional association that unites the game development community and
serves as its voice, the International Game Developers Association is deeply
disturbed by this vicious cycle and is working to better the situation. Improving
the quality of life of game developers is an IGDA priority.
In tackling quality of life issues, it is important to realize that poor quality
of life is symptomatic of more fundamental challenges within the industry (e.g.,
consolidation, ever-evolving technology, one-sided contracting, lack of project
management expertise, no craft/job standards, etc), which in turn all need to
be addressed in order to truly improve our work/life balance.
What's more, game developers are sometimes just as much to blame for
submitting themselves to extreme working conditions, adopting a macho
bravado in hopes of “proving” themselves worthy for the industry. Our own attitudes
towards work/life balance and production practices need to change just as much
as the attitudes of the “suits.”
For those who are looking to unionization as an option, it is important to note
that the IGDA is not a union and cannot “become” one: the IGDA is incorporated
as a non-profit professional association, which has a distinct role from that
of a union. Further, as an international organization, the localized nature of
unions (i.e., often requiring state by state and country by country solutions)
is beyond our organizational scope.
It is unfortunate that it has gotten to the point of engaging in class
action lawsuits. While some industry workers choose such legal means to
gain retribution, the IGDA believes that a conciliatory approach is also an option.
The reality is that there are game companies that have proven that a focus on
quality of life can lead to great games, AND business success: BioWare, Firaxis,
Team17, Blue Fang, Cyberlore and Ensemble are just a few of the studios that
put as much effort on keeping their employees happy and healthy as on their bottom
line. These, and other sensible companies, realize that a strong quality of life
leads to more productive and creative workers. In turn, these workers produce
better games, and stay in the industry to share their experience with all the
passionate new recruits - helping to avoid common mistakes and recurring pitfalls.
Further, they realize that driving their people into the ground is a short-term
view that is not sustainable.
It is sadly ironic that those who strive for success at any cost don't
realize that mature and responsible human resource and production practices will
more readily bring them what they so desperately seek. That is to say, regardless
of the humane imperative, maintaining a strong quality of life is just good business.
The IGDA's white paper on quality of life best practices has already
served as a powerful tool, but it is only the first step. Via an upcoming “best
companies to work for” initiative, the IGDA will provide awareness of enlightened
companies and their practices so that others in the industry can learn from their
wisdom. Similarly, the IGDA will shine a light on the wealth of research and
knowledge being generated from outside the games industry.
To aid in these outreach efforts, the IGDA will be hosting a full-day
quality of life think-tank at the annual Game Developers Conference in
March. Also, we'll be encouraging our 80+ chapters from all over the world to
host local meetings and sessions to discuss and explore this important issue.
Further, the IGDA has two special interest groups that will help in sharing knowledge
and work on related issues: the Production SIG (working to formalize the production
process) and the Human Resources SIG (hub for HR professionals). The efforts
of these two SIGs, in addition to the ongoing work of the Quality of Life Committee,
will ensure a diverse perspective on solving quality of life problems.
This is only the beginning and we're still forming plans. We encourage
everyone to get involved. We ask that you contact us () to
volunteer, provide ideas, success stories, resources and any other relevant information.
In particular, the IGDA is requesting details on active and pending lawsuits
to add to our reference list online.
We have no doubt that with everyone's help and contribution we can save
the industry and art form we are all so passionate about.
Note: This letter is also available online at http://www.igda.org/qol/open_letter.php
and can be easily forwarded,
anonymously if desired.
The IGDA Board of Directors,
Bob Bates
Jason Della Rocca
Alex Dunne
John Feil
Mitzi McGilvray
Brian Reynolds
Jesse Schell
Kathy Schoback
Related Links and Resources
===========================
White Paper: "Quality of Life in the Game Industry: Challenges and Best
Practices"
http://www.igda.org/qol/whitepaper.php
Event: Quality of Life Summit: An IGDA Think-Tank
http://www.cmpevents.com/GD05/a.asp?option=C&V=11&SessID=4063
IGDA Quality of Life Advocacy Site
http://www.igda.org/qol
Winning Workplaces – Competitive Advantages
http://www.winningworkplaces.org/library/research/advantages.php
Article: “It's Not Just Abusive. It's Stupid.”
http://enginesofmischief.com/blogs/ramblings/archives/2004/11/11/643
Article: “Joe Straitiff's Journal”
http://www.livejournal.com/users/joestraitiff/2004/11/10/
Article: “EA: The Human Story”
http://www.igda.org/articles/easpouse_qol.php
Great Place to Work Institute
http://greatplacetowork.com/
Article: “Employees readying class-action lawsuit against EA”
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/11/11/news_6112998.html
Article: "Developer working conditions hide a cancer in the games industry"
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=3721
Article: “Programmer Sues VU Games Over Excessive Work Hours”
http://games.slashdot.org/games/04/06/30/1558238.shtml
Top 6 Work-Life Balance Books
http://humanresources.about.com/cs/worklifefamily/tp/worklife.htm
IGDA Global Chapters Index
http://www.igda.org/chapters/
Production Special Interest Group
http://www.igda.org/production/
Human Resources Special Interest Group
http://www.igda.org/hr/
![[angryalien]](images/BBCode/smilies/angryalien.gif)
![[twoguns]](images/BBCode/smilies/twoguns.gif)
