SuperScript29
Registered User
- Nov 17, 2017
- 2,135
- 1,753
Shutting down isn't really a solution, though, is it? I'm not necessarily for or against unionization (also not at all my decision and thus any opinion I might have had is pretty much irrelevant), but the problem remains that developers are being pushed to their limits in a clearly unsustainable development cycle, they suffer, and (the part that directly impacts us as conusmers) the product suffers.
I think the other problem with that idea is EA isn't the only problem in this regard.
Being a developer myself (Not gaming related), I completely understand when an actual burnout happens. This is the case when you're working to meet ambitious unrealistic goals, or your time is being wasted on multiple projects that you're juggling and you have deadlines to manage. Whatever the case is, this kind of pressure sucks on the developers, and not only does it effect the end product, it also effects the health and life of the individuals involved. With that said, crunch does exist and will always be around, the point is to have good management not to let it exceed to that unhealthy territory.
In the case of BioWare, I'm not sure what their company culture or management style was like before signing with EA, but having worked with smaller companies in the past, I can tell you that when employees reach that kind of boiling point, there's usually communication with the management about it, in which if you have a good manager, measures will be taken to change things up for the better. With bigger companies you're like a cog in the machine, can't get the job done? No worries, there are plenty of other developers looking for work.
Signing with a company like EA adds another layer on top when it comes to freedom. Meaning BioWare needs to do what EA wants, there may be a push back here and there, but in the end, you still have someone over your head that is dictating a lot of what's going on in your company.