Topic > The causes and effects of game industry exploitation

Games facilitate social connections between people, but there is a group whose social connections and personal lives are stolen in the name of development. I believe it is urgent and important for us as consumers and future business leaders to be aware of the causes of exploitation in this multi-billion dollar industry and think about how we can eliminate its apparent necessity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayThe most well-known problem that developers and issue management face in this industry is “crunch time.” Most developers report working “up to 20 hours a day and more than 100 hours a week.” This is an extremely unsustainable practice, which will lead to even the best talent burning out and leaving. The process is this: near a deadline, a company hires en masse if they are behind schedule so they can deliver on time, and as soon as they are done, there is mass firing to reduce costs. Old and new employees often don't get paid for overtime. Simply put, “crunching is the cheapest way to meet a deadline.” Telltale Games and Capcom do this, and EA has been cited twice for it. It is unethical to exploit developers' passion in this way. Big companies get away with this behavior by “pressuring the Canadian government to introduce overtime exemptions for software employees.” Indeed, “the desire to grow has perhaps the most perverse effect on strategy.” The loss of strategy changes the culture of a gaming company, leading to more psychopathic behavior. Furthermore, the strong sense of camaraderie, one of the most attractive aspects of working in this industry, is lost. For example, Telltale started out as a "tight-knit group...but never properly adjusted from its indie mindset to one more appropriate for its larger scale" after the success of The Walking Dead. Not only do people no longer recognize each other, but communication is also lost, and this is the beginning of the disaster. Having personally experienced game development from a founder and producer perspective, I know that it can be extremely difficult to stay on schedule even with superior collaboration and communication. The story can change endlessly, graphics radically altered, and fatal errors appear right before a deadline, when training someone from scratch is time-consuming and risky. However, poor planning is the leading cause of layoffs in pre-production and post-release. Publishers set a release date for a game well in advance for the development team. Instead of announcing a date, announce a time frame. This gives the entire team enough room to breathe, helps coordinate the planning of multiple projects in the acceleration and exploitation phases, and avoids cutthroat planning often derailed by unpredictable development issues. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay It also prevents hiring at the wrong times and, as a result, huge layoffs. Sensible and strategic management at the top is critical to the success of projects in this cascading industry. Few sectors arouse as much passion as this one, which is why I am sure that a balanced solution can be found.