So what is the best mentality to have if youre looking to be in the games industry? Do you just put up and shut up or do you take a stance?
Id like to think every employer would give their employee's the chance to make the project theirs as you say but do they really? Its mentioned in the article about EA and you see it with the NFS series seemingly changing hands every round which really effects the quality of the franchise on a whole.
Maybe the indies really do have something to show bigger studios especially in regards to AAA titles in that they have more control over, how, what and when things are released. Valve seems to be kinda in the middle ground being able to hit both, they got the frequent updates and delivery benefits of the PC which they exploit, they are independent so they can release when and how they want also. Not only that but they take things to the other platforms when they feel its right and they know things are ready for certification.
I wouldnt know about the intricacies of crunch in their regard, they have fumbled a few times with patch/update releases but its always quickly rectified with a public announcement and patch.
I spose you can be in it as just a job but theres certainly some of us out there who live and breath it, maybe it gets us into trouble because we get overly passionate about it. Mentioning things other people would rather let slide or perhaps just ignore for the benefit of the many. I dont think complacency is a good trait to have especially as a creative, you always have to be pushing the bounds. If you can do that in normal work hours, more power to you I say, if not I dont think it makes you any less dedicated or motivated.
I do think people should push things, question the so called authorities and challenge general consensus. Maybe games arnt the place for political views but we have seen plenty of games which do this, they make you question your morals and your stances. Desensitization certainly isnt limited to interactive media at all, so if someone wants to exploit that in a product I say go for it. The more questions you raise, the more people think about things which is always good, a puzzle game can certainly challenge the mind but how far does it really challenge your mind and your perception of the world?
