Take Two CEO Trivializes Game Devs' Low Salaries & Disregards Unionization

[@YongYea]

"It's hard to imagine what would motivate that crew to unionize," says Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick. Dude, look in the mirror. Show your support on Patreon.com/YongYea or PayPal.me/YongYea or by clicking the JOIN button, and you can also follow me on Twitter.com/YongYea for the latest updates. TOP PATRONS [CIPHER] - Thelionsam [BIG BOSS] - FreedTerror - Michael Shuler - Vin Giorgio - BobaFett912 [BOSS] - Joe Hunt - Peter Vrba - Time Dragonlord - Zach Ansley - Jonathan Ball - Alex Moretti - Michael Redmond - Kyle Crawford - Alaryyn - Mitchell Mason [LEGENDARY] - Michael P. Reid - Jake Betts - PrismatDragoon - Darien Cunningham - Mark Taylor - Nezzalonius - BattleBrit - Theron Webb - Abdulaziz al Senaidi - Gerardo Andrade - Phoenix X Maximus - D Kurtti - David Doty - BattleBladeWar

[@jaseneffendy17]

I mean he already gave some reasons that'll MAKE workers unionize

[@handsanitizer2457]

I just want to say thank you for being honest about this issue. I'm a dev and I know how the crunch can feel. Other youtubers are so dishonest about this topic.

[@accelerator8558]

WAKE THE F**** UP SAMURAI!!! WE HAVE A CITY TO BURN!!!!!!

[@maybeitsyou1317]

Growing up my father owned a business. It was a tailoring business where providers would ship him materials and he would hem and sew them and ship them out to actual stores. It was a fully unionized shop. This is my take on unions...they are basically legalized mafia depending what form they take. As long as said union doesn't have any government backing it's fine. In such a case devs would simply band together and make demands. Perfectly fine with that. But in many states its straight illegal to fired workers regardless of what demands they are making. Such was the case with my fathers business, as his factory workers recieved hella good pay, weeks of paid and sic time, maternity leave and ALL THAT. Yet they would strike yearly because why not? Why not demand more and more. Again totally fine if my father was able to fire them, but he could not. So what ended up happening was he had to pay his 100 workers more and more money and benefits until the shop that had been providing for 100s of people now ceased to exist. But hey at least those workers got a little extra. just my take on it, unions are great as long as they aren't backed by actual force (government).

[@KaiserAfini]

Of course, he is so out of touch with his workers and the realities of his company. I wonder what he thinks leadership is.

[@danielwilliams7161]

"Sure, I made a million dollars and you made none, but we made an average of $500K, so what are you complaining about"

[@gabrote42]

Heh

[@aza.ak1ra]

Hahaha, exactly. Very few of even senior artists with 5-10 year experience make 400-500$ a day working in-house in AAA game dev or major VFX studios.

[@evan3635]

Every time a corporate CEO speaks publicly, its a speech to their stockholders, not their consumers.

[@MrInuhanyou123]

JP morgan CEO saying AOC and Bernie sanders are enemies of the people cause they criticized them shows this more than anything. They are trying to damage control worker and consumer advocacy and the obsession with capital that is destroying our system in general, gaming is just following the lead

[@420sakura1]

We know

[@starbird3939]

David Haaijema Where are these developers/play tester/lower totem pole peeps supposed to go? They are only doing their jobs while MANAGEMENT and CORPORATE are the ones pushing for shitty practices.

[@EvitoCruor]

@@MrInuhanyou123 The socialists some do dearly love are fully in the same boot as these CEOs. Globalism and corporatism isn't about profit but power and control and profits are merely a method of acquiring them. The solution isn't to enslave everyone to the state but reasserting control over the state and corporations. And one strong contender solution would be to kill the corporation as a form of business in the first place, it isn't a free market institution or competitive but rather a tool of control and monopoly power.

[@MrInuhanyou123]

@@EvitoCruor Democratic socialism and social democracy isnt "enslaving everyone to the state". Its saying the state should have a responsible role in providing for its citizens and shielding them from the worst excesses of cronyism and neoliberlism. Unless you think enslaving everyone to the private monopolist industry we currently live in is ideal, you should not be falling for stupid and easily debunked right wing talking points. The inherent contradiction of pretending your pro consumer yet against "state control" which isnt actually state control, but worker and consumer advocacy against the pursuit of excess exposes your world view as flawed. Research more.

[@Killicon93]

Lootboxes aren't gambling? Next up: Crack Cocaine isn't a narcotic substance.

[@AnymMusic]

Nuclear Weapons aren't weapons of mass destruction

[@nanoex2245]

That such a dumb lie that ill only believe it when Pigs start flying and Leprechauns start giving away free gold to children although if they did honestly speaking we'd be rich by now lol

[@Nicole7073.]

Anym they’re surprise explosions

[@Romanticoutlaw]

it's surprise weight loss!

[@NormanReaddis]

Weed is now legal in some states it's a slow process for crack to be legalized

[@nhagan001]

As I recall someone saying about Lootboxes and surprise mechanics... “It’s not pedophila, it’s early access”.

[@TheeOK1]

Wow this is underated

[@stevenwieland3810]

f me. you think i get in trouble for putting this on a shirt?

[@nhagan001]

@@stevenwieland3810 Well... it certainly may get you looks.... and maybe some questions from the authorities...

[@JoonasSariola]

I laughed 5 minutes with tears and breathing problems, thank you a lot 😂

[@admiralamel9563]

You're banned from my Home.

[@aramchek]

This is part of the reason why Epic's argument that "publishers need to be paid better" is such a failure. The actual devs don't get paid better, publishers just pocket the money.

[@nexuszen769]

That is... categorically false. Profits don't just get sequestered away into a void. They're reinvested in the company, directly, and through increased outside investment. Wages increase every year, and more people are hired every year.

[@evanjrclarke1079]

@@nexuszen769 Ah yes trickle down economics, the biggest method of improving the standard of living for the average worker since automation

[@atomixfang]

Someone drank the trickle down economics, haaaarrd.

[@Greywolf40BD]

@@nexuszen769 you are no doubt a "trickle down" fool. Wages are artificially held low by employers and money's are reinvested so share holders make more $. Trickle down is a Republican fairy tale that has been proven a failure.

[@walkermorales337]

Bill not sure if us directly related to the tax cuts (I’m personally against tax cuts) or other things, but wages have increased quite a bit where I live, a few years back most places were advertising 8$-9$ an hour as a high hourly rate, now the same companies are at 10$-12$ and it looks like it’s continuing to go up as it is some places are starting to offer better pay than the local school district that so people are leaving pretty quickly

[@bluebread567]

"$100,000 on average" Don't include your own salary in that lmao

[@OmegaF77]

The fact that they didn't use BLS figure already screams obfuscation.

[@TheMistyBlueLounge]

Yea averages are such an inaccurate way to show people the actual most common salary. Averages are always inflated because the top few earn SO much more than the actual average that it skews everything to make it look better.

[@SkyeRequiem001]

@@TheMistyBlueLounge well yeah, if one employee gets paid what 300 other employees do...

[@notahuman369]

Yeah 100K is slightly high... But, even if the average is $80k/year that's still A LOT of money and doubles what the average person makes.

[@charlottebligh649]

But if they did that it wouldn't look for for them

[@scootza1]

When he says "It's hard to imagine what would motivate that crew to unionize," i hear "Boycott my games and don't buy anything from my company!"

[@MegaTeeruk]

People misunderstand what CEOs know. No one ever tells CEOs bad news because they are afraid of getting fired. In general they end up with the impression everything is great. Upper management is usually where your villains are.

[@hammadkhan450]

yeah sure, nobody is buying gta 6 and the next bioshock.

[@420sakura1]

And yet you buy R* and 2K games.

[@Zhort-rk9nd]

That's funny. I hear "Unions drive jobs overseas so why would my employees cut their own throats?".

[@Zhort-rk9nd]

@Esben M I don't know how unions are where you're at but in the states they exist to make union bosses rich. I have a great non-union job in the tech industry. Take a look at what unions did to the auto industry in Detroit for the point I'm making.

[@lucianonicolasgarcia7311]

Typical CEO stuff. They are so afraid of workers..... and states, and consumers, and everything that could barely represent a "threat" to their incomes and priviliges.

[@ronix9461]

moST 3xECuTiv3s c0Me fROm p0or b4CkGRounD Not most. But those who actually do know of the struggles from the people below their position and actually manage things to be better for everyone. It's not crying for socialism, it's crying for a broken system that no matter what we do, we can only help it grow bigger since straying from it is straying from a whole lotta people's way of life.essetially isolating those who seek change. And is almost impossible to renew the system, since changing it, even gradually, can fuck things up more than before.

[@Chris_FMS_Redfield]

@flying pandaz In capitalism you have greedy corporate CEOs. In communism you have greedy oligarchs whom there are less of and whom have even more money and power.

[@charlestrudel8308]

@flying pandaz Anrew Wilson got his CEO position only because of lootbox in fifa, yeah, very great effort there rolleyes...

[@charlestrudel8308]

@@Chris_FMS_Redfield and in a world of both, we get the china situation... very interesting if not apocalyptic.

[@Setixir]

@flying pandaz many? Lol. Most absolutely not.

[@daltongalvin9189]

"You cant cash out" yeah and thats what makes it 10 times worse. Your money is just gone.

[@miguelpereira9859]

Yeah lol I don't see how people see this as a benefit. In game assets are worth a few cents at most, they are 100% worthless outside of the game

[@SaurabhGhoshRCK]

Absolutely what I was thinking!

[@MasterDoctorBenji]

Well the argument is gambling is putting something in with the chance of getting it back or more back. They say it just like buying any digital product 'Put money in get a digital thing' but it's randomized and fun.

[@annacuevas2686]

WORSE than gambling. Never imagined that there Would be such a thing .

[@aaron.6923]

Do any of these corporates collars play any of there games ????

[@LopsidedMoz]

These CEOs are crooks, they need to be held accountable for their greed and the suffering it causes

[@5thdimension665]

A capitalist society in which greed is punished? Good luck on getting that to work

[@LopsidedMoz]

@@5thdimension665 There is a difference between being greedy and deliberate action which causes other people to suffer because of greed. But yes, idealistic thinking

[@YOTSUBA_desu]

LopsidedMoz They haven’t done anything illegal or immoral. They have made contracts with the full consent of themselves and their employees. What you’ve said is socialistic and borderline communist

[@mariophreak]

@@YOTSUBA_desu it's not ok if the employees agree to it if they're virtually forced to accept these kinds of practices because there is no better option.

[@YOTSUBA_desu]

Mariophreak You’re not forced to, nor are you entitled to a better option.

[@aeternusdoleo4531]

QA testers? These days QA testers pay the company to do work - it's called "early access".

[@omegasimp3983]

Wrong. I am a QA tester and there are a lot of us. We do our best to find all the bugs and we constantly repeat playthroughs to make sure games are solid when they come out. Sadly, we have no power and we are rarely listened to when voicing our opinion. Many games I have worked on that came out were completely bashed by the community, but when I look at the complaints in the forums, 99% of them were things we warned the Devs about multiple times. Most of us are gamers at the core and are passionate about games, but at the end of the day the Devs rarely listen. What often happens also is that the management is horrible and they get tied by launch dates so the creators are asked to sacrifice quality by higher ups who don`t understand (or don`t care about) their customers. So yeah, sorry for the rant, I love my job even though it can get frustrating. Just wanted to point out that most developping companies do spend tons of dollars on QA, internal and external. We do important work and you would be amazed at the actual terrible state of games during Alpha/Beta. But after that, it`s totally out of our control

[@omegasimp3983]

@@justsomeguywithnoeyes7303 Haha yeah I get it I am not really mad. I just didn't want people to think that devs release games and just have the players test it. It's much worse than that: devs spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on QA, disregard their concerns and then, have the public test it...

[@OwenOsaka]

@@omegasimp3983 wherever you work, are you treated badly there?

[@Hunterhunter1122]

@@omegasimp3983 lol dont lie, you definitely didnt get the joke

[@keselekbakiak]

@@omegasimp3983 i remember when alpha and beta in MMO is when players can play the game for free in order to test it. Nowadays it's called founder pack. And when they release the game, it had long queue, lag, and servers down for hours or even days.

[@weshuiz1325]

game dev: should we publish the game boss? *Boss:* yes but keep lootboxes out untill the ratings are good

[@TekkenShazam]

Am I out of touch? No! It is the workers who are wrong!

[@XeroFailGames]

@Decent Fellow because u need something called capital to create a business

[@rift1067]

@Decent Fellow I don't know how hard I should laugh at that joke....

[@jondoe7036]

@Decent Fellow I highly doubt that. Most, if not all of these current filthy rich middle-aged scumbags in the western world were born into their privilege and haven't had to work single day of their lifes just to keep themselves fed.

[@Zephyrs009]

@Decent Fellow Workere cooperatives exist. I say Game Developers should enforce ethic business practices and Unionize and Make a workers coop

[@jondoe7036]

@Decent Fellow Did you have some sort of point to that comment?

[@ofthemagiplays]

"It's hard to imagine what would motivate that crew to unionize." You are absolutely right to lambast Strauss Zelnick for that statement. But, I'd like to help you give him the full derision he deserves, based upon my experience. I spent 15 years as a production accountant on Studio Major features and tv crews. Zelnick has roots in the CBS corporation. Robert Altman of Zenimax is also Robert Altman, acclaimed Hollywood director. These and almost all other venture capitalist moguls of the video game industry know DAMN WELL why "that crew" would want and need to organize; it is the celebrated history of the family of industries that turned these men into venture capitalists! Crunch in video games is identical in almost every respect to accelerated production in features and tv. For almost identical reasons, both need to release on promised or projected dates, because so much funding has gone into making them, and the right release date vs. a wrong one can spell the difference between a blockbuster and a flop. Since the 1880's, entertainment unions have existed, and grown in strength to combat abuse and address adequate compensation for entertainment employees who are otherwise sacrificed on the alter of Crunch. From the production accountant armchair I can easily mention just a few things Hollywood set crew employees are given through collective bargaining, in an effort to adequately compensate them for a work/life balance thrown into tumult over production schedules. Most set crew unions have a 'turnaround violation'. If an employee is released from work on one day, and is called back in the following day without 8 hours off to let them sleep, they stay in overtime of at least 1.5x until they are given 8 hours off. Many set crew unions have 'night premium'. No matter when you are scheduled, you pay is a certain percentage above normal if you are working beyond the hours of 8pm and before 5am. Typically this percentage is +10%. Most set crew unions have overtime calculations mandated far in excess of State Law overtime calculations. Typically the first 8 hours is at 1x, the next 4 hours is at 1.5x, and anything beyond that is at 2x. If there is any time beyond 8 hours, lunch times must be deducted from the 1x hours, not the overtime hours. Working on a 6th day in a row or holiday starts at 1.5x and goes to 2x after 8 hours. Sometimes it goes to 3x after 12 hours on such a day, or on a 7th day in a row. The post production (editors, sound editors, etc) unions have rules that recognize they are often crunched in terms of days in a row with no days off, rather than length of time per day. They have the same rules for long days and 6th and 7th days, but also rules for going long stretches with no time off. After 19 days in a row with no full day off, even if the hours each day have been normal, they will go into gold time (2x) until they have a full day off, which resets this counter. These are just a few examples of union show rules that EVERY Hollywood executive knows; rules he doesn't lose knowledge of when he puts on a different hat to oversee the video game industry. "I don't know why that crew would unionize (despite earning a good living)." Bullshit. No other word suffices to describe a Hollywood venture capitalist at the head or on the board of a video game company making such a statement. But, now for the strange double-cross that the entertainment industry also practices. You may have noticed that the examples I gave above lacked a certain major contingent of feature and tv employees. The visual effects department -- the department most in common with video game production, even having crossover skill sets between the two -- don't have any of the collective bargaining rules in place I've credited Hollywood for. In Hollywood, visual effects payroll isn't processed by the production's accountants. It's usually lumped into a total contract payment, leaving them to do payroll under whatever system they have engaged their own employees. They don't benefit from unions. And, the reason this is allowed mirrors some of the reasons given by the video game industry for not unionizing yet. VFX artistry is a commodity bought and sold by various houses, with particular specialties or identities in their creative output. For these houses to win contracts doing effects on features or tv projects, they have to bid against each other, demonstrating their talent, and win. The industry's own stakeholders have successfully argued that unionizing works against their ability to bid, because if they were all playing by the same set of collectively bargained rules, they'd lose their ability to tailor bids for each project. Some of this same argument is given by small video game studios who might be shopping their services to develop someone else's IP for example. So, in the end, the reason 'that crew' would organize is well known, and part of the history of the entertainment field. It's certainly well known to any executive who came to games from Hollywood. Claiming to not know precisely, in time honored detail, how to adequately address compensating video game devs in crunch is an absolute falsehood, and deserves to be called out. Thank you for doing so. But, if the vfx and video game industry really wants to tackle the issue of work conditions it has to decide at the management level that it's more important to drive for creative fulfillment, as you put it, than to put a premium on being able to outbid each other for work. So long as that is in the mix, there will only be houses, like in some great game of aristocracy, weighing how much harm the serfs can abide before they die off at too great a rate, impacting the aristocrat's fortune.

[@neuro.weaver]

TAKE TWO is a very persistent CANCER of the gaming industry. Remember that they were the first to introduce the always online requirement for their Bioshock.

[@tygonmaster]

Sim City is the one that actually brought it to light though.

[@_LilRascal_]

Neuro Weaver They’re also responsible for season passes

[@Pointman11111]

@@_LilRascal_ how ?

[@CAPCOM784]

Take Two is on the hit list now!😉

[@rq5283]

Lil Rascal not really that’s just the entire industry

[@tc2241]

100k in San Francisco is below the cost of living, meaning you technically qualify for living assistance. After leaving, I ignored any job remotely situated around Silicon Valley.

[@DSan-kl2yc]

@Lord Sesshomaru yeah holy shit

[@Possiblekim]

"This time on dumb coopertaive saying dumb crap" I almost thought I was watching a reality tv news or something. That being said. is there a prestige award between CEO on "Saying stupid" award? It feels like they are competing for that award

[@JustaGuy_Gaming]

What I don't understand is exactly how they have a job. Seriously not a word out of their mouths in the last few years has done anything but hurt their companies. You would like to believe they would have to common sense to just keep their mouths closed. Or in the very least their investors would tell them. It's funny how companies always blame the investors for greedy practices but it's fairly obvious those investors have no real power or I am sure a vote of no confidence would of been called on more than a few CEO's lately.

[@ohnosmoarlulcatz]

There's probably a contest for who can get away with the most.

[@ramielsayed2614]

@Decent Fellow This act of judging people on a hobby they enjoy instead of the value of their words (arguements) discredits the whole point of what you said. A comment I just read shows that new CEOs are put into "power" with the help of old CEOs which if true explain why most CEOs in the industry seem like they know nothing or are just trying to make idiots of themselves. There is no need to defend those multibillion companies that milk off your money and the CEOs who say whatever they want while promoting anti-competition and a horrible work environment (I plan to study CS instead of game dev to avoid the industry)

[@ramielsayed2614]

@Decent Fellow I never claimed the source to be 100% percent correct and I do infact know the inaccuracy of KZbin comments however I thought the comment to be insightful and merely interesting. Furthermore I don't see you crictising me in "how far I would go in life" when you remain so judgemental for the most irrelevant of reasons (pfps) instead of looking at the value of someone's words and contemplating what's right in it.

[@rizkybima5372]

@Decent Fellow i don't see any value of calling people stupid though?

[@23kurtzy]

"I make big bucks so you can make peanuts that's just how it works boyo." - Strauss Zelnic (2019)

[@GOD-nx1yo]

Mr Scratch that Irish basterd

[@thisfreakingguy3833]

Boss makes a dollar I make a dime ... so I always take my shits on company time...

[@vincentdaniels2596]

@Decent Fellow or we can eat the fucking rich...just a thought. And CEO school? Really? Not a thing.

[@ethannaftalin2395]

Merriam-Webster's definition of "gambling": to bet on an uncertain outcome. Sounds like it's pretty clear to me what lootboxes are.

[@andregon4366]

As long as the law describes it differently, the corporates and CEOs will simply ignore the dictionary. Do you really think CEOs don't know lootboxes are gambling? Of course they do.

[@NelsonPimenta93]

The sole purpose of a billion dollar company will always be to maximize profit even at the cost of its employees, so when a CEO of such a company makes these types of comments its not surprising at all, and that is the sad part.

[@CAPCOM784]

Nothing wrong with making more money but not paying and treating employees right is another whole ballgame?

[@LocMuinne]

@@CAPCOM784 Profit is extra income after costs. So, same ballgame.

[@CAPCOM784]

@@LocMuinne No I'm saying how you treat the workers mainly.

[@LocMuinne]

@@CAPCOM784 And I'm saying that poor treatment of workers and maximizing profits go hand in hand. Yes, a company trying to be financially successful is a good thing. How they go about that is important thought, and if they do it by standing on the backs of talented people and don't even compensate them appropriately? Fuck that

[@CAPCOM784]

@@LocMuinne Yes agree

[@beoxsgaming9388]

" '... unions tend to develop when labor relations are not typically non-nonexistent,' [Strawman] Zelnick says". Are you just really that bad at grammar? Oh wait, you must be taking a page out of the sales manipulation playbook. ".....if you cannot convince them, then you must confuse them...."

[@Enduredtimes]

I swear Yong opens up with "Surprise Mechanics" every video now LOL.

[@xfsoz2011]

As he should. Remind everyone of the bullshit EA has us believe. Always remember EA is full of trash.

[@Oldstalk]

Surprise reminder of the surprise crap EA thrown to our face :p

[@xfsoz2011]

@@Oldstalk well worded, good sir

[@CAPCOM784]

Im glad he called them out on their BS!

[@GLDragon93]

"Surprise Mother****** !" I meant Mechanics D:

[@Bradderz407]

Lootbox's = you are buying something without knowing you are going to win or not = you are taking a GAMBLE which IS GAMBLING

[@jonprice3342]

You always win. You get something out of loot boxes, even if it's not the item you want; but at least it's something. With gambling, you get nothing back most of the time, so there's bigger risks involved with gambling than loot boxes.

[@MercerVerse]

Jon Price Defending lootboxes in 2019 LOL

[@jonprice3342]

@@MercerVerse Loot boxes provide an economy to the developer and publisher that helps support the current game long term and help fund other projects. As more people demand better games with better technology, the more demand there is for money. Loot boxes are a tried and tested thing, whilst it alienates core audiences theres no denying devs and publishes make a ton of money on the back of loot boxes and microtransactions. So you can argue your points further, until people stop spending money on loot boxes and microtransactions, they will remain in some form; probably disguised as 'Kinder-eggs'. Since devs rely on these 'schemes' I would like to ask the question: Where do we put these schemes in game that doesn't distract the player from the main story or pulls them out of the main game? The answer is: Keep it Online only. Most of the bulk work from developer's is making sure the online portion is up to date and stocked full of features. So I would use loot boxes to fund this activity with the money they get from sales and publisher going towards a brand new campaign/story for the next game. Loot boxes are OK to have as long as they are online and feature cool stuff. I will state that whilst I agree with the motives for having these in-game, the last thing I wanna see is loot boxes or microtransactions in the main story/campaign of the likes of Tomb Raider, GTA or the upcoming Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order. Developers should work on how to bring a good solid game out before thinking of how they're gonna fleece player's out of cash. I will not except being fleeced after buying a mediocre or rubbish game.

[@MercerVerse]

Loot boxes are almost exclusively online, aren't they? Being in mostly online games doesn't change how scummy they are.

[@fulnaz3164]

If its pay2win games those crap stuffs you get might as well be nothing

[@Vaultboy101]

The developers and publishers say unionization would be bad for the industry. What is the ESA if not a union/lobbyist for those same people. One rule for me, one rule for thee.

[@squatmufu6117]

Its unfortunately becoming VERY apparent that ESA now only represents the corporate interests within the industry, and has little care for the workers and devs. After their defence of Loot Boxes and now this.... it's clear we can't really trust anything the ESA says.

[@jordick8427]

"They make about $100,000 on average..." While the executives themselves make $10,000,000 on average + the bonuses etc. An desperate executive is a disgusting sight to see.

[@TheMistyBlueLounge]

Yea saying "the workers made about 100k last year!" doesn't sound very generous when the person saying that took home 30 million lol. Worth noting are the deplorable working conditions as well... that shit can affect someone even more than a questionable salary.

[@simonball6560]

Yep. Always the people who do the work get shafted and the hierarchy get the bonuses for doing fuck all.

[@TelosLore1]

@@TheMistyBlueLounge you have to account for living cost areas. Irvine and Silicon have a ridiculous living cost 100k = 60 k in average living cost area.

[@deltanoble32]

It’s not treating game developers poorly, it’s a surprise small paycheck

[@RandomBJJGuy]

Lmao

[@abudgie6909]

Activision Blizzard be dealing with those surprise retirements

[@dontsubscribetothischannel8395]

EA in private: YOUR FIRED, WE NEED MORE LOOT BOXES, I NEED TO INCREASE MY SALARY! EA in Public: Our new FIFA 2020 will have Suprise Mechanics. I -hate- love you all

[@lvbuckeye]

$13/hour is $26k. Before taxes. With $1200 rent, that means $14.4k is spent just keeping a roof over their heads, not to mention utilities and car payments/insurance. These QA employees are one missed paycheck from being homeless.

[@CAPCOM784]

Yeah these CEOs will lie and manipulate anyway they can to decieve others into thinking their employees will make more money than them?Meanwhile the CEO's are headed to the Bahamas for another vacation while everyone else is on crunch time...🙁

[@606hunter1]

Likely higher rent in LA and other comparable cities across the country

[@babablacksheep3950]

My work as kitchen hand 6 years ago were paid $5/hr more than that.... That's just sad...

[@Greywolf40BD]

Major city apartment rent for one bedroom will run approximately $1200 to $3000 a month. That between ~$14000 to $36000 a year for just rent.

[@dictatorrutte1604]

13 per hour that's so low and rent that high

[@Tormentadeplomo]

As a Localisation QA Tester and Team Lead for over 6 years, I can say that the salaries you mentioned are way too generous. At least here in the UK the situation is way worse, and that is the reason why I left the industry. Now I am making more money, working less hours and with less stress. Thank you for giving a voice to all those underrated professionals.

[@RoosSkywalker]

What work do you do now?

[@Tormentadeplomo]

@@RoosSkywalker Something that have nothing to do with games or testing or computers or anything like that.

[@huismands]

*CEO:* Complete Empathy Omission

[@the_bacon_god]

EA: Enormous Abomination

[@traplover6357]

@@yuuki3 CDRed being extremely customer friendly is destroying them financially... what are you talking about?

[@abudgie6909]

ゆうき you know “running on empathy” is vague as fuck right?

[@Daniel-vo8wk]

this comment makes me want to buy another copy of witcher 3

[@darkthunder301]

Two questions, When were the CEOs of EA, Activision, Take 2, Deep Silver, etc. hired and what were their previous jobs, experience with games, and what they thought of games before getting their current job? When did developers nlfeel the AAA industry began to abuse employees and looking back, where there any signs of this happening?

[@rickylovesyou]

Yes, when the money men started pouring in from other industries to control the real talent and they let them. Signs were there, but programmers and artists were too naive and were doing actual work while the lizard money men made their moves.

[@haresmahmood]

It's been my dream ever since I was a young child to hopefully one day work in the gaming industry, but the recent developments in the industry have made me hesitant towards pursuing game development as a career

[@GoldLight73]

Well the indie path, while harder to walk, is still viable.

[@Jpzarde]

Gold Wade I second that opinion

[@ramielsayed2614]

I was planning to study Game Dev but now I'm planning to do CS

[@--_Rin_--]

Being an indie dev myself, it is more difficult to do. But if you're motivated enough, I definitely recommend trying the indie dev path as well.

[@sech1243]

Do general computer science, if you’re a good programmer you’ll have the skills to go into game development anyway if you choose. I just finished my CS degree and got offered a job making ~90k a year. Personally, for me, I’d never work in the game industry, I’ve only heard negative things, compared to doing app development or just doing general programming for a company (web, network, etc)

[@ryleybenson1009]

Most of these executives could legally qualify as Saturday morning cartoon villains. He also seems to not realize that one of the main points of forming unions is for safety regulations against major health hazards like crunch

[@NightmareBlade10]

I'm sure they know exacrly what they're doing and are just trying to cover their asses by demeaning unions. "Not sure why you'd want to create an organization meant to guarantee the safety and fair treatment of our workers, but we'll be so gracious as to comply with the incessant demands of the masses. Look at how benevelent we are!"

[@YOTSUBA_desu]

Ryley Benson Unions are anticapitalist cancer. The only reason they should be allowed to exist is because not all of them authoritatively use the governemnt to force their ideals. The ones that ONLY do bargaining (and are in support of businesses being allowed to use yellowdog contracts) are okay, but still cancerous

[@ryleybenson1009]

@@YOTSUBA_desu Without unions, there wouldn't be adequate safety regulations for many jobs

[@YOTSUBA_desu]

Ryley Benson And the free market would solve the issue. If it doesn’t, there isn’t an issue. You’re not entitled to that (or any) job.

[@ryleybenson1009]

@@YOTSUBA_desu The health and safety of people is more important than money could ever be. The free market results in people becoming consumed by greed and actively harming others

[@jmanroxjj]

It has not been a good month to be a greedy game publisher CEO. Misstep after misstep.

[@rickylovesyou]

Huh? Not a good month? They could care less or give a shit about what everyone else thinks, when your net worth is 100+ mill a year, the last thing on your mind is what everyone is crying about on the internet. Know why? Cos those same fools complaining arent doing a single thing about it. They still anticipate the next dragon age, they all "hope" that bioware makes a better game next time, or they "hope" the next star wars game is finally going to be a good single player, or they "hope" that etc etc, Its hillarious, people complain, but then turn around and will still buy a AAA title anyway, the hypocrisy is astounding. Its like getting reamed in the ass, then being absolutely disgusted by it, but two seconds later ask for seconds. LMAO.

[@x3seal133]

@@FleshToDust That game Robot chicken mocked?

[@lukebytes5366]

@@rickylovesyou true af. literally nothing is going to change if gamers aren't willing to do anything about it.

[@severteran9897]

@@rickylovesyou Speaking the real truth around here.

[@greyfox2401]

"loot boxes are like Kinder Eggs" Kinder Eggs are banned in the U.S.

[@79thinline]

Nah there’s kinder eggs at least here in Illinois they just lack the toy I think (never ate one they sound gross to me but I do see them)

[@cracmar03]

@@79thinline Lol, Kinder Eggs only annoyance was and will be how small amount of chocolate there was. There is literally nothing gross in Kinder Eggs, it's just Chocolate shaped like shell of egg, with capsule inside which has toy. I still don't know how one can ban kinder eggs though. The toy is always there and Kinder never discloses their full catalogue of toyrs, the ones you could see on commercials are newest collection. There are people who would collect Kinder Eggs toys due to how creative, fun and pretty they are. I am also yet to see child out here who would hate Kinder Eggs.

[@davidfitzsimmons2451]

@@79thinline there are two kinds of kinder, the original Kinder surprise are banned in US due to an obscure law regarding non food items not allowed to be enclosed inside of food. Then there is the kinder Joy which is in America, one half of the egg has the toy, the other half is some weird cream substance with chocolate balls submerged within, it's definitely NOT a proper kinder. I heard a rumour that ironically it was originally kinder themselves who brought attention to the obscure law in the 90 in order to squash the rise of the Nestle Wonderballs.

[@davidfitzsimmons2451]

@@cracmar03 no one is banning Kinder due to surprise mechanics, they are banned for an obscure law. Also the kinder eggs most Americans are aware of do NOT look appealing. Look up Kinder Joy line, and prepare to be disappointed. The law that bans them is that non food items should not be contained within a food item. It's a rather obscure law that no one really have a shit about until Nestle came out with the WonderBalls in late 90s. I once heard a rumour that Kinder themselves at the time had NO interest in the american market but they feared Nestle's new thing becoming popular enough to go over seas which would directly compete with kinder. Rumor goes that as a result, kinder themselves brought attention to the existence of that law in order to stop Nestle before they could think of expanding to Europe.

[@topramen3795]

Yea kinder eggs where banned in the us cause kids would choke on em

[@Asubatsu]

Shortly after video is published: "Take Two CEO renames company to Take Three."

[@nicmad1784]

Microtransactions? Grinding is a right of passage, passed down from generation to generation, like building a fire. Or negotiating with a hooker.

[@fakenamerton2568]

Nic Mad I am starting to think my father failed to teach me many things.

[@Starlingg]

Now I don't know about you but... I don't think that the 1st Amendment protects gambling.

[@cementbox4430]

It seems much worse for more Americans then anyone else from Europe, Canada etc. The CEOs keep digging their own graves.

[@RazerBandit]

At least here we have memes.

[@ashuradragosani5960]

QA tester, 7+ years and NEVER made 65k a year.

[@Walamonga1313]

Only 64

[@Mike.Garcia]

Testers are unskilled... Like roadies in a band.

[@rickylovesyou]

@@Mike.Garcia incorrect, your ignorance is quite literally astounding.

[@Mike.Garcia]

@@rickylovesyou what do you know?

[@blacksantagaming7009]

No shit i assume you pay bills and have to get food for yourself. If you got to save you checks not spend your money it should add up to that. If not find a new field to work in and better yourself and stop bitching

[@TheSpliffinatoR]

8:48 Keep in mind. These are salaries in places where 120K a year is considered low income. Rent is 3K a month for seedy garbage apartments; houses are ALL over 1million. Or put up with 2-4 hours (one way) of commute time per day. 120K a year in LA/BayArea is like 40K a year in Alabama.

[@duchi882]

*Mafia City:* Just rob a bank and turn yourself into a Lvl 99 Boss

[@SolidSnake240]

That's how Mafia works

[@nobodys_winds6580]

*Valentino Khan - Pump earrape plays in background*

[@RamdomView]

4:11 "Average" here means "mean", inflated by executive pay. Median is the preferred metric to see pay inequality.

[@traplover6357]

Yep, especially when comparing income.

[@intensellylit4100]

Considering average and mean refer to the same thing (I think), if he wanted to talk medians he'd say median pay.

[@DeathBringer769]

Yea, the average here is skewed by those fewer that make the big bucks. The random person if you pick isn't making $100,000 usually as the graphs showed. Most of the bulk is in the 50-80 grand range, with contractors (which they use a lot of) and QA testers being even lower. Meanwhile they are working down their health negatively 100x more than an executive making 10-100x more, and yet Strauss still wants to use the money argument... so out of touch.

[@Gonzalo_105]

iam a 90s kid, and i am super sad at the state of this industry, the quality of the new triple A titles is just awful, unfinished games with full macrotransaccions, generic stories, boring gameplay. :´(

[@_LilRascal_]

Unfortunately this is the dark side of capitalism. It has a tendency to strip the soul of whatever industry it touches. When game publishers started becoming giant corporations instead of the niche market caterers, gaming started going downhill. As it stands, gamers are not the customers of the giant publishers. Their customers are the shareholders. Game sales are just promotional material

[@asisin2]

Lil Rascal Capitalism also made these games possible, capitalism on itself isnt bad it just needs regulation.

[@nanoex2245]

You best stick to older games or games that aren't Triple A cause they have a better reputation right now than triple A games.

[@deadfIag]

"I'm a 90s kid" 👌k

[@drogozi3308]

There are so many good ones, yet you focus on garbage.

[@StronkiTube]

Averages are always so flawed. Two people: 1: Makes 100k 2: Makes nothing Both earn 50k on average. See why it's flawed?

[@faroosiexe]

American game devs man I'm surprised how they can keep it together . Meanwhile in Poland Edit: I just found out that cdpr isn't as clean as I thought so ya fuck

[@Apocalypse2000]

@Orga777 it'a sad but Cyberpunk 2077 has been equalized to the SpaceX rocket launch for the complexity and ambition of the project by the same devs that admitted the crunch problem. It's another world.

[@stoicvampirepig6063]

Japan.

[@sirravixfourhorn7681]

To achieve perfection you have to go the extra mile. Their passion, blood, sweat and tears make the games they create stand out as works of creative genius that are timeless.

[@mrrey3481]

@Orga777 well, yes, but I think there is a difference. I can understand, and kind of support crunch when you actually like what you are doing, but when it's mandatory...That's a topic for another discussion

[@mrrey3481]

@@FleshToDust that's what I am talking about either. My point is: crunch is disgusting, when you are obligated to do it, but if you are working in a field of art or whatever, you kind of have to do it in order to have the best use out of fresh ideas and to make it until deadlines

[@neoengsheng]

I use to work as a contracted QA tester. Not only the core staff not interacting with us, they actually actively try to alienate us. Core staff will not sit on the same table as us during a meal, there was even once that the management try to push for seperate parking space for contractor and core staffs. We worked on the same project, work much longer hour yet our pay is just fraction of what the core staff is paid. Longest I have worked is for 24 hours with only hour of break time for meals in between. We are also not entitled for whatever performance bonus from a successful project. Frequently our suggestions are not taken seriously by management, bugs and glitches we reported are classified as non-issue as management push for release, we are to be blamed for any issues not within our control and we can be dismissed at whim for any issues even when it is never our fault.

[@sword4005]

we need a second video game industry crash pronto

[@DomR1997]

@Orga777 like...coding..?

[@captainanus8131]

Dominic big oof

[@OmegaF77]

@Orga777 But programmer are as high if not higher in demand. So I don't know why they need to pick up a trade when they're needed by non-entertainment software companies.

[@3Guys1Video]

you know that's gonna hurt us more as it will to them

[@NormanReaddis]

@@3Guys1Video the crash will only affect the US like last time the rest of the world still goes on with life

[@clarkb2697]

Why don't these companies just let the consumers QA test it *looks over at fallout 76* Oh right now I remember

[@walkermorales337]

clarkb2697 Microsoft is doing it by letting people play the reach remaster thing early

[@NightmareBlade10]

The fo76 beta was a just such a shitshow on bethesda's part. The way they did it just showed the amount of sheer incompetence that went into the game and how they put it all together as a whole (except for the marketing team, they did fantastic on the trailers) I mean what type of beta is only two weeks behind launch but in actuality lasted six months after release?

[@cracmar03]

@@NightmareBlade10 The game was definately pushed too early. I also do agree with Todd Howard making later statement, how they should have allowed 4's owners to early access 76. Not only to show the game, but as such get feedback on testing 76 mechanics. Still, they are fixing 76, Triple A already would close project and run away with money, so I give plus to Betha here for being themselves and not Triple A. About Beta, ehm RDR 2 Online still in Beta, 6 months after premiere, but microtransactions are in said 'beta' since premiere of Online.

[@TealWolf26]

Why pay contractors to QA when we can charge consumers to do it?

[@ryostu1]

In the name of Greed, these CEOs are losing their souls. They don't deserve the name 'Human' anymore.

[@NightmareBlade10]

Little more than criminals and con artists aren't they?

[@Volthoom]

A big topic in the gaming industry recently is development crunch. Some studios make their teams work 14 hour days to pack every patch full of the most fixes and improvements possible. Sometimes when we read our own Patch Notes threads and community feedback, we feel that we are being asked to do the same. I will not run this company that way. (c) Chris Wilson, CEO of Grinding Gear Games, 2019.

[@NightmareBlade10]

That's freaking cool. Never got into Path of Exile but I do know that the game is pretty highly rated and is well recieved by the community. Definitely need more people like him in the gaming industry.

[@skullcapton499]

Remember: if it come from Take Two or Tencent, don't believe it.

[@Nicole7073.]

Or Ea or Activision

[@nero1345]

CEO dont care about the payment of the developers as long as they million s as a „welcome gift“ for doing nothing am i right patrick söderlund ...20million as a gift ...

[@huismands]

Strauss Zelnick looks like Dexter. Makes sense, psychopaths tend to have a similar look in their eyes.

[@SonOfHubris]

For a sec there i tought u meant dexter from dexters laboratory

Sociopaths make great CEOs this is why they are vastly over-represented at the top of corporations. Just think of Zorg from The Fifth Element.

[@Kris-ck2md]

@@privaterose5021 To be fair, there seems to be a tendency for assholes to luck out on said ladder.

[@TheFlipsterGoodfella]

You do realize Dexter is fake and that the actor isn't some psycho killing people?

[@krzykoopa]

Yong, I admire how thorough your vids are. I am so glad I found your channel.

[@Dadahara]

You’re DAMN right they wanted to avoid RDR2s release window lmfao, everyone did. Fun fact, did you know that EAs BFV sold worse than GTA V did last year?

[@sneakysnake7695]

GTA V still selling that good? Damn that game has longevity

[@Dadahara]

Yes, it has also sold over 100 million copies. Making it the 3rd highest selling game of all time, behind Tetris and Minecraft.

[@ferchango6359]

That's rough.

[@NightmareBlade10]

@@sneakysnake7695 It's not like GTA doesn't deserve that reputation though, it's a wonderful game fully fleshed out and consumer friendly. The same can't even be said about anything EA touches.

[@sneakysnake7695]

@@NightmareBlade10 yeah even with the shark cards the game is still alot more consumer friendly and at least you know what you're getting in the multiplayer aspect

[@asianboi021]

Like, do they really think we say yes to everything that comes out of their mouth? I want the same drug they're having really.

[@yoshidasaki17703]

Pay isn't bad like you all thought. But the rush of project to be done and tax that getting horrible each year crapped them. No matter how much resources or man power devs had. They can't just rush a project that need more dedication, passion, time, focus to create great quality product Those high tables just sit and order shit this and there while workers brain goes shit from the stress they get

[@Nionivek]

There is a saying: "You can't produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant."

[@yoshidasaki17703]

@@Nionivek lol that's true But rat can

[@Brian_Tabor]

Salary always needs to be weighed against cost of living. And in this case especially. Student loan payments on top of that. 100k in most major US cities. Is not living in the lap of luxury. Much less if you're paying off student loans while you do it. And that would be the upper end of the spectrum.

[@DSan-kl2yc]

that's a problem with the way areas have centralized. And the main reason they have is that people with talent being in the same area and being mobile. I think companies should have a small HQ in that area. But then the programmers live somewhere else. Like Sports teams.

[@thiagounreal]

Buddy, I'm in the industry and I don't want Unions. Hear me out. Unions are not the answer, they will end up with people losing their jobs because it will go elsewhere like China and India. Plus schools pumping out passionate JR artists every 6 months, willing to work for pennies and on crazy hours.. Taking away every other artist bargain power to negotiate their contracts. The only solution is getting good and have some kind of skillset that is in extremely demand in the industry or leave Games and VFX for other more sustainable industries that use the same skillset, like ArchViz, Medical Visualization, VR, etc. As soon as a union is created the salaries will halt and people will be paid less. Taking the competitive salaries away from an already high skilled industry that rewards people who put in the time to sharp their skill set. The CEO is right on his assessment of Unions and the game industry. He's still a piece of shit, but he's right. If anything, we should be teaching new artists how to proper negotiate and we should ask them to be mindful that "I LOVE UNCHARTED, I WOULD WORK FOR FREE FOR NAUGHTY DOG IF I COULD" is the wrong way to approach this problem and probably is the very reason why this industry is in the sorry state it is. Work is work, doesn't matter if you work building houses or doing games. People need to understand this shit ain't a hobby. That's the problem. Artists are too passionate to be critical about their needs. Well.. until they reach 30 and figured out that this industry is bullshit.

[@metadude1234]

Testers genuinely need to be appreciated more. Imagine having to replay the exact same slice of gameplay multiple times, looking for cracks. Then having to replay over and over again, once it gets updated.

[@Warcanz]

What in the actual hell is happening to publisher CEOS?? why do they have no damage control filter on the stuff they say.

[@Mr_Meatbox]

Because they think they're untouchable, and they'll likely be so until A. Government regulations crack down on this shit B. The workers break out the Guillotine

[@sludgegulley]

Corporate suits are so fucking out of touch with the industry, they either genuinely believe the shit they’re spewing or are dumb enough to think anyone would buy their excuses... which one is scarier?

[@Greywolf40BD]

Unfortunately, it's all CEO's

[@YOTSUBA_desu]

Shaun Zafar You commie bastard. How dare you try and force your ideals via government. The CEOs haven’t coerced anybody into anything. The only thing the government needs to do is not bail them out

[@RyojinOrion]

As a former QA tester for Microsoft (Through Volt), I gotta thank you for calling out that job specifically. QA guys are often treated like shit, especially if you're not a lead. You often get treated like some moron who is just there to have fun and play games instead of work, despite all the work put into the job. And that's before you even consider the low payment for something so essential...

[@Trendkilla]

So tired of rich privileged people telling me I'm wrong..

[@bopbipp9896]

You're wrong.

[@nexuszen769]

I'm not rich, but I can say this video is wrong.

[@Trendkilla]

@Decent Fellow Totally dig that prideful hubris worldstar.

[@Trendkilla]

@Decent Fellow Although I appreciate the advise I put little value into the opinion of the self-important. My solace is it's a numbers game. All empires crumble.

[@Trendkilla]

@Decent Fellow Coming from a country That was threatened both by German fascism and Russian Communism I find your ignorance less amusing. But I challenge you to find an example of an empire to stand the test of time?

[@LloxieFox]

Thank you for being the best game industry commentator/journalist on the net, Yong!

[@darrylaz3570]

"Cooperate Executives Saying Dumb Crap" should be the name of your daily news show, Yong (if you one day decides to give it a name).

[@Xayjohns]

2019 is really the year of AAA ignorance.

[@emmanuel1163]

I almost made the mistake in HS of thinking the games industry was worth working in...dodged a bullet.

[@TealWolf26]

Me too

[@DSan-kl2yc]

maybe if you're very creative and it's a small studio? I doubt all positions are that bad either.

[@Corrderio]

I remember learning programming because I wanted to get into game development. Thank god I never went down that road.

[@tccaltasgary7209]

This issue isn't just gaming its everywhere

[@34marmarmar]

Oh lizard people, when will you learn.

[@LopsidedMoz]

When they are dead.

[@YOTSUBA_desu]

34marmarmar commie

[@34marmarmar]

@@YOTSUBA_desu ??? Communism = lizard people?

[@YOTSUBA_desu]

34marmarmar You’re the commie

[@mada1241]

When will you learn... When will you learn! THAT YOUR ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!!

[@Jevgein]

How to be rich and hated, while making what people once loved hate by using people, which are driven into slavary. 21century entertainment.

[@MezunaKua]

I feel like this is a good reason to pretty much abandon the triple A industry and support companies who actually care about their games. CDProkjectRed (sorry if I misspelled their name), Nintendo (generally as far as I know), and respectable indie devs.

[@NightmareBlade10]

Also Larian Studios, they made Divinity Original Sin 2 and are going on to make Baldur's Gate 3

[@HurtyTeefs]

CDPR actually doesn't treat their employees very well, or at least that was the case a couple years ago. They make good games and treat their customers well though

[@Tekuto1]

You do realize, that CDPR crunched THE HELL out of their employees during TW3 development? God knows how bad it is now, when we are 1 year away from Cyberpunk 2077 release date, but you can be sure, some crunching takes place. They make great games, but CDPR are far from being ''the angels'' of the industry.

[@JC-ze2et]

"You can have the money, or what's inside... The Mystery Box" - Montgomery Burns

[@MagicIsaacSage]

I like how EA's excuse for loot boxes not being gambling is essentially the same as the Yakuza's excuse for how pachinko parlors are legal: "Well you can't cash out DIRECTLY, so...."

[@Ghastly10]

One day while at work you receive a "surprise loot box" opening it up you are greeted with a pink slip..

[@sargrules3501]

Ghastly10 Raises are ‘epic’ rarity

[@theratking013]

And then you get fired for MeToo Reasons as Surprise Vacation.

[@chrisdodd4014]

I worked as a programmer for a studio from 2009-2013 and honestly, it was the worst job I ever had in my life. Constant threat of being fired if I asked for time off. 100 hour work weeks were common place, pay was so bad, I had to apply for food stamps in 2010. We ate lunch at our desk while working. I quit in June of 2014 when they wanted me to work at the hospital when my wife was having a kidney transplant. I'm still working as a programmer, but not in games anymore. My life is more balanced, I'm enjoying life more and stressing less.

[@LeoElGDT]

These bozos have no idea how their own industry works other than the surface outlook they have on it. If you watch his financial interviews, he talks about "AVID gamers playing 43 hours a MONTH" while the TV industry has "people watching 145 hours a month". He also can't pinpoint what are the benefits he brings to the company as a CEO or Chairman. It's absolutely insane that anyone being this clueless about their sector can get a job at all.

[@Lionlovesunity]

On a positive note, I’m happy you kept the long hair for E3 2019 you looked epic on the floor giving interviews with that flow. Let it grow back my friend. Cheers! 🦁🙏❤️👍

[@supernova743]

Why would anyone want to unionize? 1 word is enough "CRUNCH"

[@demonicmind1242]

supernova743 yea everything has due dates... now getting compensated for the crunch then yes it’s shit

[@RemiScutlet]

Your intros are keep getting better.

[@stevens.4148]

Shows u how much a developer appreciated in the West nowadays really. From my point of view, they're treated exactly like slaves Here i thought i wanted to become one when i was a child. Glad i didn't Capitalist much i guess. Nintendo on the other hand...

[@ShimaS-0079]

Exactly like slaves???

[@winifridal]

@@ShimaS-0079 The word 'slave' is triviliazed so much these days

[@yoshidasaki17703]

You call it slave? *Laugh in Asian worker in Asian country* Dude.... I have 18hr/day 6 day/week job. Western job is like heaven for me

[@tommybro5313]

@@yoshidasaki17703 no one cares about your payroll

[@yoshidasaki17703]

And the pay is suck -_- 3$/hr in American money

[@druidboy76]

Unionization of the video game community would have the inevitable result of drastically raising videogame prices across the board while also reducing quality since developers could not be fired from their jobs for producing a shitty product. Period the end.

[@TheScratcherStudios]

Live and work in one of Europe's biggest and most expensive cities and would count myself rich if I'd ever earned 30K.....

[@uetzel]

What? How? Earning 50k euros in a wealthy European city does not make you rich. You can't even buy an apartment in the city for that wage!

[@TheScratcherStudios]

@@uetzel by being born into a poor household and never being able to get into a higher social standing. by always only getting low paying jobs. thats how even in munich you cant even make 30K. notice I used the word "consider" in the original post. just because i would "consider myself" rich wouldnt mean i would be on any statistic or the eyes or society

[@dictatorrutte1604]

@@uetzel just rent a small apartment for 1000 they have good ones for that money

[@Tuber12334]

That intro made me laugh. I know it will never be but I wish this would be a series.

[@texasdavis2367]

I thought it was already an unofficial series?

[@Thelango99]

If Activision would have had their operations in Norway, then the government would have chewed them out for this a long time ago... Unions are taken VERY seriously in Norway and it is not legal to treat employees that way over here.

[@croissant3000]

And that is exactly why they're not there...

[@LikaLaruku]

Developer - Does all the work, loses sleep & health over crunch time, barely gets to see family, no time for friends or hobbies, spends every day wondering if he or she will be let go the next day, lives on pocket change. CEO/CFO = Spins around in chair, twiddles thumbs, signs papers, has boring meetings about money, tosses a little money into minimal advertising, says stupids things that creates controversy that hurt sales of game, makes developer's yearly salary in one month.

[@SlurpeeTheUnholy]

Damn Yong, I know that intro was just a quick gag but you could be an actual DBZ narrator with a voice like that.

[@michealcarr5134]

In California apartments cost around 9-1200$ monthly with electricity ranging 80-200 montly depending how much you use heaters and ac, and houses will run around 3k per month with upto 400 month in electricity

[@axlse]

Please make this a continuous gag that first three seconds made me laugh so goddamn hard you can’t even imagine it oh my God it was so goddamn good.

[@bioburn1915]

The thing with Treyarch QA is, we applied directly to Treyarch for the position. We were reached out to by Treyarch managers. After we passed the interviews and received an offer, we were forced to sign as employees under Volt. Source : I used to work QA on blops4

[@TheAneova]

When you say "Contractor" do you mean Temps?

[@Greywolf40BD]

Yes

[@Dogman_35]

Somehow the only thing I can focus on is how the camera is so high quality that I can see the individual mustache hairs.

[@dekky3908]

QA Testers getting paid? I thought the QA Testers were the suckers who pay for early access.

[@LikaLaruku]

"Are you fffffff serious?" When a CEO says something so stupid that YongYea has to censor his opinion.

[@iLupi]

“They’re high paying jobs” like your GTA payouts?

[@darrylhamlin7475]

GTA V missions pay so little I bought the towing company and went legit.

[@sosasees]

The AAA industry became the Triple-Shit industry, because all the corporate executives lost the ability to see past the numbers. EDIT: Contrary for Indies, they are really good at seeing past the numbers, and focus much more on long-term trust, and healthy creative employees (This is also why Indie studios hire much less employees than Triple-Shit studios: So that they're actually able to care for each employee individually).

[@Felle634]

Now every time I open Star Wars battlefront 2 loot boxes are gone has this happen to someone else or has Sweden ban loot boxes

[@jaku9730]

Battlefront took that out over a year ago, nothing new

[@murakumozetsu5982]

I've enjoyed your content for a while now Yong, but I'm digging the edge you've given the discussions and critique. Keep it up!