Great list Brandon. Having worked for game companies in the past I would echo most your thoughts except for the “fun workplace being bullshit” I see where you’re coming from and yes in grand scheme of things you may be right, but I think it’s important for employees to feel valued even on a superficial level. The fun workplace can be a huge morale booster and taps into your loyalty to coworkers rule. I made many wonderful lasting friendships and connections bonding over ping pong, foosball, laser tag excursions etc. The fully stocked kitchens and complimentary energy drink machines can get you into trouble, but it’s a wonderful gesture. Recently I’ve move way from games to creating illustrations for the paper craft industry and even though I enjoy the actual work I’m doing more and the increase in salary makes up for all the little freebees I got working at game companies I still miss it and although I have great coworkers now I usually don’t hangout with them outside of work. I can’t help but think that’s largely to do with the “big family” feeling many game companies offer.
Yeah, that could probably just be own cynicism speaking there. Maybe it depends on how those sorts of resources are used. I can see how they could be positive morale boosters, I guess I'm just a bit more of a curmudgeon about those sorts of things.
Brandon, I just want to say that I often come to your videos for tips, since you have a wonderful way of telling about your experiences. Basically, I'm just drawing and enjoying my coffee, listening to your videoes all afternoon. Love this channel!
so don't let the company manipulate you and care more about your team thank you, by the way a summery of your points at the end of a video really helps an audiences memory!
I'm currently in college taking up computer science as my major and looking into taking up graphic design as a major. Overall I love drawing ever since I was little and I've been told I'm pretty alright given that I have never took any drawing classes in my short life up until this current semester. I'm interested in being a video game designer but I feel like I have long long ways to go. I've discovered I've always been interested in anime and comics and simple to advance designs of a character. If possible I would like to create my own comics or manga but sadly I am not skilled enough to do such things as I still struggle with the basics i am currently being taught in my drawing 1 class. I've drawn more boxes than I have ever drawn in the last 2 weeks than I have ever drawn in my 19 years of being on this planet. So much to learn in this short lifetime, I fear I will never get to the better more artsy version of my self that I deeply desire
Hi, your experiences are those of someone who worked for a big "for-profit" studio. When you work on a smaller studio, that can change quite a bit, the projects are more inspiring and the workload can be significantly larger, as well as you very likely be required to wear many hats. Money will always be important tho, because games take a lot of time and work to get done, so they have to return the investment, it is a gamble.
Granted, there are others that knows lots more games than me, but I when it comes to game/art alignment I like almost everything from Valve. Journey is also great in this regard.
