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  1. #1

    Theres been a lot of talk about game developers unionizing...

    Theres been a lot of talk about game developers unionizing...

    - Game workers dont get overtime and are forced to work crunch hours (right before publishing games) 100+ a week.
    - Game publishers tell game workers they should be thankful for working in their dream jobs and should endure ****ty pay..or quit..

    You guys should google it! And take your heads out of your butts and wonder why games are coming out the way there are nowadays... Dont get me wrong the games have great concepts, but I think once the game workers get decent a work place and time line to make games there will hopefully be a rise in quality of the games we play!

    https://www.latimes.com/business/tec...412-story.html
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  2. #2
    LubzinNJ's Avatar Senior Member
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    I'm a staunch Republican but also a realist, and the video game industry needs a unionization movement because if the stories we get are true they are being wildly abused.

    That said I'm a staunch Republican and what happens next is games are going to go up in price. Video game publishers want their cut and giving the folks who rightfully deserve more money to make the games won't hurt the investors bottom line.
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  3. #3
    Originally Posted by eckLub Go to original post

    That said I'm a staunch Republican and what happens next is games are going to go up in price. Video game publishers want their cut and giving the folks who rightfully deserve more money to make the games won't hurt the investors bottom line.

    This. I wouldn't be surprised if games would nearly double in price. Think I saw a quote from someone at Massive that they actively discourage these kinds of practices. They're in Sweden. Employees can go different routes than unions. Never liked the idea of some 3rd party in addition to the government taking money out of my check.
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  4. #4
    The market sets the price. The games might just take longer to develop and likely become more stable. It usually promotes good design and lessens chance of bad coding that arises from deadlines that aren't realistic.

    It would actually help a company like Ubi. Once every other game manufacturer has to abide by same union rules, no one company gains an advantage from pushing devs too hard. Well that is the theory.
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  5. #5
    Devs should own their games. Publishers are the problem. Publishers make people overwork for underpay.
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  6. #6
    Solkard's Avatar Senior Member
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    Publishers are the "big government" of the gaming business world. They hold all the power, do little to none of the vital work, and then want the lions share of the rewards that come from said work.
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  7. #7
    I'm never happy as a gamer to hear that the developers have suffered to create a game from which I gain pleasure. It turns me off of the Publisher for a start as I expect people to be treated fairly and with respect and dignity in all walks of life. Mostly though it takes the shine off of the game, and there's always a little thought that I am a part of that even though I do not directly influence it. Awareness of these issues is fairly recent and that helps as discussing it openly might force responsible changes to working environments.

    As to whether unionisation would bring about better conditions, that isn't always a given and a union is only as strong as its members and its leadership. Governments too can play their part by legislating standards of employment and pressure can always be directed at them.

    Some of the stories I hear are, frankly, disgusting and it sadens me that my hobby might be a source of great pain to anyone.
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  8. #8
    This is not inside info, but somehow I think this applies to other game publishers. Your money didn't go to a sweat shop.
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  9. #9
    Originally Posted by eckLub Go to original post
    I'm a staunch Republican but also a realist, and the video game industry needs a unionization movement because if the stories we get are true they are being wildly abused.

    That said I'm a staunch Republican and what happens next is games are going to go up in price. Video game publishers want their cut and giving the folks who rightfully deserve more money to make the games won't hurt the investors bottom line.
    What does your political stance have to do with gaming or this thread...

    I still remember when they said going completely digital will lower game prices... That worked so well right.
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  10. #10
    All workers should have a collective voice and control of their work environment.

    The problem with most professional unions, such as a developer/programmer union, comes from the extra layer of union management which is often controlled by corporate management or at least very heavily influenced by corporate profit-taking concerns. Few people at the top of the corporation will ever share even a small part of their wealth acquisition and all talented labor members will be forced into management to divide class concerns.

    A developer/programmer union would only work if labor was given a substantial level of ownership of their creative product, complete control over an apprentice development program and veto power for any Asian or Eastern Europe outsourcing.

    Of course a universal programmers union including all product development worldwide with a substantial level of ownership of the creative product would be the best solution.
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