GabeN: Reflections of a Video Game Maker

[Eraser]

Just finished watching it all. I wonder how many people they've had coming up to their front door asking for a job, who turned out to be completely incompatible with their flat organization structure.

It sounds like a way of working that asks a huge amount of dedication and discipline from the employees and I don't think most people are able to deal with that.

[Don Carlos]

But it ensures the people who do work there are the balls

[Mogul]

It sounds like a way of working that asks a huge amount of dedication and discipline from the employees and I don't think most people are able to deal with that.

I got the impression that they fire a lot of people, or there's at least a very real threat of that. I'm sure it's not a really oppressive place to work, but I agree with you that you probably have to be a certain kind of person to survive there.

[Eraser]

But it ensures the people who do work there are the balls

You might think that, but all it ensures that you've got a certain type of person working there. Lots of people can do brilliant things but need to work within the confines of a framed context. I consider myself to be one of that kind of people. I consider myself to be relatively smart and inquisitive, but if someone told me "do whatever you like to do", I'd be procrastinating all day.

[seremtan]

if someone told me "do whatever you like to do", I'd be procrastinating all day.

yeah, if it was just by yourself. if there were other people working on things, with problems and ideas of their own, you'd plug into that situation without even really having to try

[obsidian]

Layoffs at Valve:

We don't usually talk about personnel matters for a number of reasons. There seems to be an unusual amount of speculation about some recent changes here, so I thought I'd take the unusual step of addressing them. No, we aren't canceling any projects. No, we aren't changing any priorities or projects we've been discussing. No, this isn't about Steam or Linux or hardware or [insert game name here]. We're not going to discuss why anyone in particular is or isn't working here.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/13/valv ... statement/


They have piles of cash and I don't think this has anything to do with any of their current projects. Perhaps they're just "cleaning house" and removing those who are less productive than what they are worth.

[bitWISE]

I can't believe some dude made half a million making hats. I'm in the wrong line of work...

[GONNAFISTYA]

They have piles of cash and I don't think this has anything to do with any of their current projects. Perhaps they're just "cleaning house" and removing those who are less productive than what they are worth.

Doubtful. They'd have removed them one by one individually long before it became necessary to "clean house". Game jobs are like any other: if you suck people see it very very quickly and then you're gone. There are some convincing liars out there to get the job, but they tend to get caught very quickly once they actually attempt to do work...unless of course they're a project manager, as being useless seems to be a job requirement for that position these days.

We had one guy in Denmark who lied his way through a phone interview and when the company flew him out for a face-to-face we knew within 5 minutes of watching him try to use 3DSMax that he was full of shit.

[Tsakali]

but that can be a really stressful situation. I totally bombed an interview of that manner. Horrible experience, having to perform on demand with 6 people looking over you. Not saying that guy wasn't worthless, but it's something to keep in mind... especially with "creative" positions.

[losCHUNK]

I'm guessing it was a bit more than thumbling, timewasters