The thing that would fix all of this is to recategorize game developers and software engineers as non-exempt employees. Once you're legally required to start paying 1.5-2x an employee's rates for excessive hours, you lose the incentive to force your staff to endlessly crunch.

Mike Bithell@mikebithell.bsky.social · 4d ago

Seriously. Even if you are a monster, a person driven to hurt other people, an absolute piece of shit… Even THEN all the data demonstrates that prolonged crunch lowers productivity. Those who cling to it are ignorant, and with the evidence available, actively and intentionally so.

Exactly this.

Sometimes I forget that there are people I know that have actually seen me IRL.

This BS, right here. If someone is breaking up with you over a mechanic in a game that HASN'T EVEN BEEN RELEASED YET... It was never actually about the game in the first place. But I guess we'll promote the ancient misogynistic idea that women are incompatible with video games while we can. 🙄

“Restoring Van Gogh's Ear & Mending His Broken Heart” 🎨 #asmr #satisfying #vangogh #papercraft #stopmotion IG: @paper_pepper (페이퍼 후추)

throng.cee.wtf i've invented a new way to browse bluesky

That thing where it's Friday, and you're waiting to see if you get an update today or if it'll be the next business day.... after a long weekend holiday. 🫠

Today, in "People are begging to help you make that game you keep thinking about" news: The Universal LPC Spite Sheet Generator. Got some specific ideas about how you would want the characters in a theoretical game to look? This is hella comprehensive. liberatedpixelcup.github.io/Universal-LP...

If you are somewhere in the Venn diagram of industrial music nerd and graphic design nerd, you might be interested in this book project on Kickstarter. They interviewed me a while back for it so it will apparently include some of my work and commentary. Looking forward to it!

Industrial Music/Graphics: A Visual History of a Movement

Industrial music built a visual language as confrontational as its sound—Throbbing Gristle to Nine Inch Nails, told by its designers.

kickstarter.com

"No work from home!" State proceeds to shut down major interstate sections and bridges, simultaneously, for repairs "to be completed over the next three years." But that water cooler, man!

I made a new t-shirt about the only unskilled labor that should be replaced with a chatbot. In my shop now in a variety of styles at robsheridan.threadless.com/collections/...

I'm not going to pull any "pick-me-girl" nonsense to appease alt-right trolls, and I'm also not going to give them the satisfaction of getting upset at their horseshit. You try to catch my eye, and you're going to get that script flipped so hard back on you that you'll regret playing stupid games.

These look great!

castpixel ⚧️⚢@castpixel.bsky.social · 2y ago

As trans girls, neither I or my girlfriend were allowed to play with cute stationery. So I'm crafting a brand called Lovely Bunny, and a series of stationery. (copyleft, free to print) I'm taking it as serious as if I was hired as brand director and illustrator.

To the "all games suck now" crowd: There are so many games out there, and you can't find a single one that you like? Maybe you're actually not the "gamer" you claim to be. All the gamers I know are perpetually suffering from too much content and not enough time to play it all.

Dorohedoro is giving me The Maxx vibes, esp. with how hard that tone shifted from the first season to halfway through the second.

The amount of people (not on Bluesky) that leap to the defense of quantifiably overpaid CEOs... www.asyousow.org/the-100-most... "We, like many other analysts, find very weak links between pay amounts and company financial performance. [1/2]"

The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs — As You Sow

asyousow.org

You're not allowed to work on anything on the side, but you also can't show any of your professional work due to NDA hell and cancelations. The death of the 'recent portfolio'. www.gamedeveloper.com/production/-...

Developers discuss the pain and prevalence of side work clauses

How an industry renowned for creativity is actively stifling it.

gamedeveloper.com

Sure, it's the 'game developers' that are too expensive. "Hight will continue to earn $800,000 annually in his new advisor role, as well as netting an annual cash bonus award."

Game Developer@gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Wizards of the Coast president John Hight is stepping down

My NES still reads the saved game data from my original Dragon Warrior cartridge (~1989), so... Yes, that would be the expectation. Unless they're positing that the goal of modern tech is to only be temporarily useful until it becomes e-waste.

Weebs Posting Their L's Online@weebspostingls.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I have a 20-year-old Gamecube that still works like a dream. So up yours, asshole.

Games that force lengthy interactive tutorials up front, without a reference on the controls, do not respect player time. Can't start the game over without re-suffering through the tutorial. Can't pick it back up after an absence because you have to go back to button mashing to relearn the flow.

The point of Musk claiming Grok will make an Odyssey movie per his own preferences isn't that he's actually going to do it. The point is to rile people up for attention, to reinforce that Grok is explicitly curated to his version of "truth," and an attempt to devalue artists and creative work.

The sad truth.

Pete Woods@thatpetewoods.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I think the thing I resent most about gen AI- and this is a selfish thing to say but it’s true- is that it’s put an asterix on my sense of wonder. What I mean is that now when I see an amazing or beautiful image I can’t have that initial “wow!” reaction. I doubt. I have to verify. I hate it.

www.polygon.com/id-software-...

Doom dev id Software issues official response to Xbox layoffs

Xbox's mass layoffs hit id Software hard, but the Doom and Quake developer says it will continue

polygon.com

It's telling that so many impacted game devs that have been in their recent role for 10-20+ years don't have enough savings to survive any kind of employment gap. Wages in dev hubs are barely adequate for the local cost of living, and it's not for the lack of hours worked.

The entire Cinematic org was included. Let me know if you're looking to pick up a Director and/or other talented cine folks at any level.

Jason Schreier@jasonschreier.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Bungie is laying off a significant number of people today. Exact number isn't clear yet, but employees are being informed this morning.

Well, I've been affected by the Bungie layoffs, and I guess I'm now looking for work. I'm a senior narrative designer on Destiny 2. I'm going to thread a little list of stuff I've done on the game; normally I go out of my way to avoid attention, but today I'd appreciate reposts.

Been working on this as part of my Levelling The Playing Field program for a while, as part of a mission of creating fairer access to knowledge. Eight 101 video courses for independent game dev, €40 each, available soon. Sign up for the launch announcement & newsletter at courses.ramiismail.com

Hey fyi @gracklehq.com is run by one extremely good hearted guy, and it’s still the best site for games industry job listings. It has a patreon that he doesn’t advertise because he’s that selfless. You can support it on patreon and/or kofi

So... The "physical" version of Guild Wars 2 was also just a code in the box. Which was awesome to discover, after having to track down a store with any stock left at the time, when they were "sold out of digital copies".