The video game industry has evolved greatly from its humble beginnings and is one of the biggest industries in the world, but the pressure put on developers by publishers, the public, and even the developers themselves have led to unhealthy work practices and unreasonable expectations. Is there a way for the industry to eliminate these or will they continue to be the norm of the profession? What steps should be taken to inform the public of these issues and to discourage employers from encouraging them?
Is it fair to say that the majority of video game players do not have a clear idea of what goes on behind the scenes of game development? The panel discusses in what ways the industry has gotten better in being more transparent about the development process with thier communities, but not as much with the general public. Is the gaming community in their own bubble from the rest of the public?
Discussion also considers the amount of influence that the public should have in game development. Should developers have complete creative freedom when it comes to making their games? Does the amount of public influence differ between crowdfunded, indie, and triple A titles?
The next topic covers the kind of pressure that publishers put on developers. Should developers and publishers institute a release window instead of a release date? If fans knew what went on behind the scenes, would they be ok with games being pushed back? The panel discusses the kinds of pressure many game developers experience and the reasons behind them.
Other discussion includes how indie game development has shaped the employment landscape of the gaming industry, advantages and disadvantages of working for a triple A studio, and whether or not a college education is necessary to succeed in game development. Each panelist gives their thoughts, experiences, and advice on the different avenues a developer can take in the industry, along with indie game development and how the ability for anyone to be able to make their own game has helped the industry as a whole.
The panelists also give their takes on crunching, the practice of working extremely long hours to meet deadlines, and how it is negatively affecting developers' health and career longevity. Is it a necessary evil or do more people in leadership roles need to take a stand and work to eliminate this harmful practice from studios? What is it about the gaming industry that makes people believe that crunching is ok? The panel explains why crunching is harmful and their thoughts on how to stop it from being the norm of the industry.
Finally, discussion covers the major shift we are seeing in the gaming industry from the younger generation and how it is working to push out practices like crunching and pushing for issues, such as diversity.
The show has wrapped for today, but you can catch the whole video above. Need more Game Talk Live? Check out Friday's episode about Microsoft's latest moves in the gaming industry as well.
