Battuta left Bungie a few weeks ago and moved(/is moving?) back to New York to focus on writing.Is that the norm in the video game industry? I feel like many HLPers who have worked for a video game company only works on a single project and then moves on.
Oh wow. I believe you, but is there a source or is this IRC?We met in person a couple weeks ago.
I've had some semi hands-on experience in the past half year now. You work for the people above you, who work for people above them, leaving no room to put much of yourself into your work. You get the design or idea they want and any suggetion to improve it with your creativity is cut short with your boss not knowing if his boss's boss would approve, ending up with being told "no!" in advance.
It's another reason to freelance in the videogame industry. People are quickly impressed by the number of titles you've succesfully worked on, NOT the amount of time you have worked on a single title. Do a job, quit and demand you get recommended for a good job done. Then repeat.
I've had some semi hands-on experience in the past half year now. You work for the people above you, who work for people above them, leaving no room to put much of yourself into your work. You get the design or idea they want and any suggetion to improve it with your creativity is cut short with your boss not knowing if his boss's boss would approve, ending up with being told "no!" in advance.
The VG industry is like prostitution: working for yourself can be rewarding, while long term contracts wear you out. To stick with the metaphore VG companies are like seedy brothels and it's hard to get out once you start to believe it's the only way to work. Battuta did right.