When there is no fun in games, whats left?
How to make games developers happy again? Answers on a postcard…
Big mainstream games at the moment aren’t fun to work on… We are so stuck doing the non important stuff (1000 facial mocaps and shaders on 10 processors with actors and cameramen straight out of hollywood…) that the actual process of making the important bit (the gameplay) has becomes nasty…
It sucks, its no fun and given how much work everybody (code, art, design, qa and production) has to do to make a game, having it being no fun, really isn’t good. I’m not sure every big game development isn’t fun but I’ve never seen one (and I’ve worked on several).
The games industry has always had massive burn-out rates (see Games Development salery survey’s age demographics to see that… anybody who survives more than 5 years is considered a veteren, anybody who survives 10 is mad…) but its going/is getting worse because the huge teams are making it less personal and less satisfiying.
Being unhappy every day just isn’t good for anybodies health. I’ve seen so many good friends start as happy, bright, talented men and women and the current development paradigm (its seems to be prevalent across the entire industry) has turned them into emotional wrecks that just need to get out…
I’ve never really been a programmer in the traditional sense, I only ever taught myself programming so I could make (i.e. now called design) games, yet I never do any of that. Hell I do little programming these days either.
I’m sure I’ll finish this project but after this I don’t really see me wanting to do this again… What/how I’ll do I don’t know but my life is too devoted to games to have them become un-fun… for me thats basically a punishment worse than death…
I can’t see me leaving games, I have several chances to move in graphics and always turned it down because fundementally my passion is games and can’t see life without them.
So maybe like many of my colleagues I just have to go the small game route where I get some say in the games design when this project is done and dusted.
We need to get more good designers, and we don’t have to look far, there are talented people already in the industry but not in design cos traditionally the only people who got into design where those who weren’t particular good at anything else (thats not fair to the good designers out there, but many design and production roles have been filled simply by who-ever was most available) and ironically those who really want to do design are often stuck doing other jobs, because we all believed that it helps to be in the industry to get design jobs (it doesn’t)…
IMHO we need to promote cross-disciplinary skills, there are some great pure artists and pure programmers, but there are a lot of people who are artist/designer, programmer/designer, QA/designer. These people should be encouraged rather beaten into dispair by being told (and I’ve heard this several times…) that artist/code/QA can’t do design. 
The positive side of it all, is that fundementally its up to those of us who are in the industry to do something, otherwise there won’t be an industry worth working in 10 years…
I won’t give up on my industry, there has to be a way of making fun creative games that sell, that don’t have the burn-out and suckiness we have at the moment.
Anyway thats enough ranting for me… Its ripe for a change in paradigm, but how is the hard question thats going to take more than a blog rant…
Friday, March 3rd, 2006 @ 12:51 am 
Computer Games, Development
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March 3rd, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Yep does seem to have sucked the life out of a lot of games with everything needing huge teams and little actual programming. I’m hoping that things like xbox live arcade and the ninty revolution allow a bit of a renaissance for bedroom / small team games. Geometry Wars and Marble Blast are good examples.
m
March 4th, 2006 at 12:01 am
Yep Live Arcade does seem to be the big hope for so many developers… But I disagree with “little actual programming”, there is loads of coding on big projects its just not the ‘fun’ stuff.
Marble Blast is interesting, I like Garage Games ALOT and Its cool that they have basically managed to get that game shipped with Macs, available to buy on X360 and the normal PC indie market.
Very interested to see what Ninty do with downloadable games on Rev…. If they provide a marketplace like Xenon and cheap easy dev kits (the obvious flaw in indie games for Rev is access to the controller…) could be a raft of cheap, fun little games to go with all the ol’ school stuff they have already promised.
Please nice Iwatasan make it so
March 4th, 2006 at 1:25 am
Guess I meant less programming for the ‘Lead Programmer’ always found that title amusing
Yep controller might be difficult but I’m sure there will be various 3rd party copies once the whole things released and small developers can trickle games out after that. Hopefully they’ll also be able to strike deals with MS, Nintendo (and Sony if they really are taking this Live replica seriously) but will be difficult for them to get the same game on multiple platforms, or at least multiple console platforms.
Ho hum,
m
March 4th, 2006 at 8:22 am
Yeah, the direction the industry was going really turned me off. Granted I do miss it, but if/when I do go back I’m more likely to try to get involved w/handhelds. It’s one of the few places that still offer that sense of a small, tight team where you have a lot more involvment (and can see more of the results of your work). Besides, the DS really tickles my fancy…
March 11th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
“1000 facial mocaps and shaders on [b]10 processors[/b] with actors and cameramen straight out of hollywood…”
What are those 10 processors referring to? (Cell, RSX [shaders])
Because that’s quite confusing… oO
March 11th, 2006 at 4:38 pm
It was a rant, I rounded it up, though you could consider each shader pipe as a processor and get a lot more than 10 in total…
March 11th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Recently everytime I go through a project I pretty much feel the same way, “why am I doing this, it isn’t fun any more”. I find on every project I have less and less input in design and less control over how the game is built, I work for a large publisher and half my time is spent playing politics to justify technical decisions and then someone who hasn’t actually worked on a game in years will come down and dictate the use of a piece of technology without regard for it’s impact on the project. It’s just plain frustrating. 5 or 6 months ago I came very close to leaving the industry and I’ve been doing this for 20 years.
Everytime the game is done I reassess and can’t see myself working anywhere else, sometimes it just takes a little longer after the game is finished to get back to that point.
March 12th, 2006 at 1:56 am
I sincerely hope that you and the team are giving all for HS for the moment, reading your little rant makes me unsure about your passion for this game or rather your hope and goal to achieve.
If its generally i agree but from the things i read in the buisness you were pretty glad Sony picked you up for this.
March 12th, 2006 at 9:36 am
I find it hard to complain about something when I’m getting paid fairly well to do it.
Perhaps you are in the wrong field. The over-used expression of “can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen” fits so well here.
I’m sorry things aren’t “fun,” but there are so few people in the word who truly have fun at work. The fact you can have any is a testament to the job.
Sorry, but I am an indie game designer myself. Come join us. You don’t like where you are, don’t stay there. They will find someone else to fill your position.
March 12th, 2006 at 10:42 am
[...] After reading this blog post by Deano – a Ninja Theory developer who’s currently working on the upcoming Playstation 3 title, Heavenly Sword – i’m starting to have some doubts. Now, I know i’m obviously not the best programmer in the world, so it’s pretty disheartening to read about people who are infinitely better than I am who have just as much passion about gaming as I do totally loathing their jobs. Being unhappy every day just isn’t good for anybodies health. I’ve seen so many good friends start as happy, bright, talented men and women and the current development paradigm (its seems to be prevalent across the entire industry) has turned them into emotional wrecks that just need to get out… [...]
March 12th, 2006 at 11:37 am
DeanO, big fan big fan.
So, is implementing HDR on the PS3 a disaster or whut?
lol
March 12th, 2006 at 11:50 am
Probably I understand what are you feeling.
I am not a veteran and I’m an average developer but I had in the past the ‘holy passion’ for developing games. I was for some time an indie, working in a 2m quare room with other 5 people. Having fun, getting experience and when I was paid for it I thought: ‘wow, it’s fun I can do what I like and buy geek stuff with money!’ ^_^.
But, as soon I was getting paid there were dates, there were things you HAD to do. Soon after that I realized that making games isn’t a game, it’s a profession. As every profession, having fun is a bonus. I thought all the games were like art. Well they aren’t… they are a product made to sell. A few games can say something new, but the others… just another eyecandy to squeeze money. And hardware is the same.
That’s it. I still have fun sometimes. But after all it’s a job. I do other things to have fun.
Unfortunately I think that cross-disciplinary skills will not be the answer. Maybe you could have more fun trying to get your ideas in the game but, really, that’s is the work of designers. Developing a big game would take 5+ years if everyone in the staff wants to add something in it. And, at last, the game would be like a puzzle without coerency. It would be the end of big games as we know them now.
What I hope is that, in the future, there will be a standardized 3D engine. So that gamers will start to see gameplay first and not the ‘hyperbumped-normal-mapped-thingy-hdri-that-uses-100%-my-last-card’.
But, until we get to the point that realtime images will not be different from reality… I think my solution is not feasable ^_^ since every graphics developer will want to be the best.
So that’s just my $0.2
Bye!
March 12th, 2006 at 11:59 am
Agree 100% with your thoughts there. I was saying to someone just recently how much more fun it was back in the N64 days.
March 12th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Get over yourself. Writing code is fun. Just because the console is ‘hard’, you want to quit? Games must have been a cushy job for you mopes who managed to be good at math in school but have no passion for coding. I’m the other way ’round. I LOVE writing code, but I was born bad at math, so I get to be jealous of fools liks you who have great jobs because you have ‘qualifications’ but aren’t really passionate about what you do. I don’t know, maybe the comment about wishing you had gone into mobile games just irks me – just makes you sound like a John Carmack wannabe, only he is actually CAPABLE of doing whatever he finds interesting and being good at it. I’m sure I’ll get flamed for being blunt about my opinion, but whatever.
March 12th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
Wow, some people here are quite harsh and jaded. Though you’re pretty wrong for many reasons (you being the jerks leaving bad comments). First off, everybody should enjoy the work that they do. Work is something you spend 50 hours of your week doing, and in game development the average is closer to 60/70. That’s a huge part of your life, so if you’re not enjoying that, then how can you enjoy life in general?
Secondly, making sure game developers are enjoying making the game is better for the people PLAYING the games. Do you think a game is going to be more fun to play if the devs enjoyed making the game? Or if they had to slave through it hating every step of the way? It’s in OUR best interest that devs can make the games they want, in an enjoyable manner. Of course there’s going to be the hard days and all of that, everybody already knows and expects that, but there still has to be a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment.
The problems that HS people are going through right now are the same of not only games, but most software development in general. There is a severe lack of proper project managers and people who can plan a project accordingly. The game industry is just even further back than other software industries, and then there’s the immaturity of the medium itself, in terms of focus, identity, etc.
I’ll say this too, after working in a 200+ team for the Godfather, it was a beautiful change of pace to move to a situation where I work with only 2 other people.
March 12th, 2006 at 5:06 pm
You should get some Omega-3 rich fish oil, it keeps the spirits up, and your mood high even when dealing with tedious mundane and boring things, make sure it’s low or free of contaminants. It also helps with your cardiovascular system, so that’s another plus.
March 12th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
Welcome to the real world is all I have to say. You game creators really sound like spoiled children sometimes. Get over yourselves already.
March 12th, 2006 at 6:02 pm
Don’t listen to Red Cloak. Hes a dick and posts on Rei-Rom aka Opa Ages (a known graveyard for Sega fanboys). Thanks for keeping us updated through your blog Deano and I hope things become less stressfull for you.
March 12th, 2006 at 8:59 pm
Ooooga Boooga! I am the creature that lurks under DeanO’s bed.
I’m gonna getcha Dean!!!
March 12th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
Pathetic rant to say the least.
March 13th, 2006 at 9:46 am
I aint got no shins! stop your crying and go back to typing letters on a screen.
March 13th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Looking at the responses one gets, one has to question whether blogging is such a good idea. Maybe it’s better to keep the rants to one’s friends down the pub where they understand where you’re coming from, and not open up to the mindless jerks who don’t understand the difference between ‘earning money’ and ‘living a satisfying, rewarding life’.
March 13th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
Don’t listen to Anti red cloak, He’d be right if he was flamming or any thing. But Red cloak is asking a valid question.
Burnout rates in the gaming industry are high, and all these big name studio’s are gonna find them selves sue’d because people just can’t work under the 60-70 hour work conditions for the pay they are geting.
and what does it get them? faster game releases? hell half the games suck released by big name devs, and they aren’t released any faster under the 60-70 hour work weeks.
So its in the best interest of game devs to sit down and find a better way.
March 13th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
I think you’re spot on. The hardware is stale, the expense of developing games is immense, and the development process has become more of a technical exercise than anything to do with games. Join La revolucione my friend, Nintendo are still the best in the biz and you wont be sorry.
March 13th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
I know exactly where you’re coming from mate. Screw these clowns who are saying “Suck it up, it’s work…” There’s more to life than just earning a bloody paycheck and the software industry can be bitch to work in. I do software testing for elections systems and let me tell you, I am definetely considering a “change of pace.” Real-Estate is starting to look pretty nice.
Anyways, good luck to ya, hope you find that holy grail of job satisfaction and earning potential. Oh, and when you do find it, let us all in on the secret.
March 13th, 2006 at 5:42 pm
How much time is actually spent programing a game (during development cycle, is it from year 1 to 3/4 pedal to the metal, or is it sporadic when design, play mechanics, and direction are finalized or at the very least agreed upon?). It’s a shame that it sounds like office politics interfere with decision making.
March 13th, 2006 at 6:59 pm
I am surprised by the number “can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”, type responses are here. Perhaps those of you who feel that way should re-read the post. IMHO the blog is more about artificial impediments with suggestions for improvements. Is there a note of frustration, of course but sometimes a jackass is really a horse designed by a committee.
March 14th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
Making games and being an accountant are drastically different. Making a game requires that you produce something that will entertain other people. A comedian in a good mood would entertain people far more than one who is depressed and not feeling very “funny”. A rebel without a cause is known as a prat. A musician who is psyched up to play in front of 30,000 will deliver far more than if he’s not enjoying himself onstage (Oasis at Glastonbury 2004, poor). The passion and enjoyment a games development studio get from a product is evident in the final product. Games development shouldn’t be an average office job; it should be about generating a world or premise that creates a feeling, not solely within the game, but within the end user. That feeling should be one of fun, of good humour, of involvement, of courage, or of self-progression. That is best translated by a talented developer who feels the same way when they put themselves into the game. If they suffer from a feeling of listlessness or detachment, then it’s very easy for that to be translated to the gamer.
Make sure you avoid that Deano
March 14th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
It’s just that the industry is very young right now and so the publishers still all want to command the mainstream. Which means teenagers, which means our ideas about gameplay aren’t nearly as important as appearing to be the biggest thing out there, i.e. setting trends and making the teenagers feel a part of them. Unlike more established industries, a single great game can transform a little publisher into an international one. It stands to reason that publishers will see this and want to push for it every time. You don’t see Lotus trying to take on the Ford Focus, do you?
Well, ok, when I say teenagers, I really mean casual gamers – something that will always form the majority.
But even apart from this, big games are only going to get bigger and bigger – we’re on the tip of the iceberg on that one. Which means bigger teams, and therefore more specific roles within the team. I have some faith though, in the fact that the bigger the biggest games get, the more space there is below them to find or create another ‘tier’ of development ambition.
The long term will sort itself out I think, but in the short term things like 360 Marketplace are a great step forward. In our industry, for now (and unfortunately), one of the main ways we can create very distinct options for the consumer is by price point. For our part, we just need to produce games of genuine quality that don’t need huge budgets, and therefore huge retail price tags – the public don’t realise that cheap games needn’t mean crap games, but with any luck, they soon will.
Have faith Deano, the revolution is on it’s way!! note the lack of capitalisation!!!
)
March 14th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
I’m a developer too and I agree with the post. Being working on Java games for phones is killing my love for gaming.
To develop isn’t as fun as being a gamer and dream about you own games.
April 4th, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Kjempe kuuuul hjemmeside du har.