chevalier
Wed, 17th Nov '04, 3:20pm
Internation Game Developers Association has posted an open letter entitled "Quality of Life Issues are Holding Back the Game Industry", addressing the undesirable influence of harsh working conditions on the game industry. Here's a snip:
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.
It would be hard not to agree with the above. Saving on human resource never leads to good results, which is a truth that some businesses will never learn. Satisfied customers, satisfied employers, that's how good business thrives. Taking shortcuts here will get back on you, no matter what. Like bad karma.
Read the whole thing (http://www.igda.org/qol/open_letter.php) at IGDA.
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.
It would be hard not to agree with the above. Saving on human resource never leads to good results, which is a truth that some businesses will never learn. Satisfied customers, satisfied employers, that's how good business thrives. Taking shortcuts here will get back on you, no matter what. Like bad karma.
Read the whole thing (http://www.igda.org/qol/open_letter.php) at IGDA.