Red Dead Redemption 2 labor abuse

[Onkel Neal]

Looking forward to playing this game over the holidays. Visited Wired for a review.

https://www.wired.com/story/red-dead...t-impressions/

But instead of a game review, all this writer posted was a rambling rant about how much work was involved in developing the game:

But playing Red Dead Redemption 2 has another creeping dread, one that has nothing to do with the thematics of the story. A recent Kotaku expose have revealed stark information about Rockstar's working conditions during the creation of this game(and, likely, many of their others): long, brutal work weeks; limited time off; an abiding pressure to participate in a culture of overwork that people in games call "crunch." There's no need to mince words about this: Red Dead Redemption 2 was built on the suffering and exhaustion of many of the people who created it. Many in the videogame community are rightly calling this labor abuse, and suggest, not unfairly, that perhaps any game made this way doesn't deserve any attention at all.

Here's what I know, after playing some, but not all, of Red Dead Redemption 2: it might be a brilliant videogame. And I also know it might not be worth playing at all, due to how it was made.

Wow, this is not new, getting a game this big done right requires a ton of hard work and time sacrifice. In a way, this is funny as hell; the very same people who are sqwauking about "labor abuse" are the ones who cry bloody murder when a game is delayed or pushed back, or if a game is missing an expected feature.

The political correctness infection keeps getting worse.

[Skybird]

This now will reach just a very few readers here, I fear, since it is in German, sorry. It is a very classy, stylish review by one of Germany's mainstream weekly magazines, Die Zeit. For those who can understand German, reading it might be pure pleasure and a literaric joy.I intentionally do not post a bot translation like I usually do, for bots mess it up, I fear. this text is just too much fun and quality in the original, very very well-written.

https://www.zeit.de/digital/games/20...omplettansicht

I am not certain, however, that the game is that good indeed regarding regarding its gameplay, what I have seen of it at youtube, in the end looked like just another FPS with quite linear narration guiding: visually extremely polished, no doubt, and as they said: maybe good character depiction, but still: maybe just a repetitive FPS indeed. For 70+ coins minimum cost over here for the smallest edition, and needing to fiddle with the Playstation controller instead of keyboard and mouse of my PC, maybe too expensive.


So far no word on a PC converison. Still, I wait for a PS4 sale next year before considering this title seriously.

[Platapus]

Honestly, not sure I can muster up all that much sympathy. While any worker being overworked is bad. I am having a hard time believing that coders working long hours qualifies for labor abuse.

When I think of labor abuse I think of children working 18 hours a day in dangerous industries. I think of miners forced to work in hazardous conditions.

But video came coders? Eye strain and carpal tunnel syndrome, while bad, does not equate to the more unfortunate traditional forms of labor abuse.

I would be more concerned with the workers who assembled my computer than some coder.

Again, any time a business owner abuses workers is bad. But I am having a hard time imagining that game coders rank anywhere close to actual labor abuse.

[Rockstar]

Here's what I know, after playing some, but not all, of Red Dead Redemption 2: it might be a brilliant videogame. And I also know it might not be worth playing at all, due to how it was made.

Controversy & drama, it sells $$$$$$. It entices people to go out and spend money on the game and judge for themselves.

[em2nought]

Long hours spent at an air conditioned office in an ergonomic chair, oh the humanity! Feeding on swill such as sushi and $5 covfefe. ROTFLMFAO

[Gargamel]

I sure the devs were all compensated for their extra time. It may have been hard hours and grueling deadlines, but now their done, and they can relax and rest on their laurels. It's not like this is some sweatshop that offers no end in sight for these coders.

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

It's not like this is some sweatshop that offers no end in sight for these coders.

Good thing trusty steeds don't have flight models.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

Looking forward to playing this game over the holidays. Visited Wired for a review.

https://www.wired.com/story/red-dead...t-impressions/

But instead of a game review, all this writer posted was a rambling rant about how much work was involved in developing the game:



Wow, this is not new, getting a game this big done right requires a ton of hard work and time sacrifice. In a way, this is funny as hell; the very same people who are sqwauking about "labor abuse" are the ones who cry bloody murder when a game is delayed or pushed back, or if a game is missing an expected feature.

The political correctness infection keeps getting worse.

Long brutal work weeks with little time off....sounds like my work week. Thing is this...there was no one holding those involved in making the game to the chair until it was complete.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by em2nought

Long hours spent at an air conditioned office in an ergonomic chair, oh the humanity! Feeding on swill such as sushi and $5 covfefe. ROTFLMFAO

True...poor snowflakes. To quote Droopy:


The tech/semiconductor industry is the most over-pampered lot. I need to do stand-up comedy, where I do nothing but make fun of these over-pampered primadonnas. Do I need to tell my Intel stories? The posh break rooms, with playstations and 5 $5k message chairs? I can go on and on...