An Introduction To The Games Industry

lay offs lay offs lay offs...The industry is currently going through recession. So how does the industry, us as aspiring game artists and the economy get effected by this? Well as past seems to put it not very much. gaming has come a long way from a few guys in a bedroom making a game the size of a 500 word e-mail. It has indeed matured and is now up their with film as one of the big dogs, a multi million pound professional industry. Bigger budgets, bigger and more experienced teams. In the modern world this mean jobs, salaries, and mostly profit. But with the recession doesnt this mean we just have more to loose? Apparently not since gaming CEO'S are convinced this is a recession proof industry and this deal shouldnt be too big.

But is gaming really recession proof? I think it could be because quite wisely put by NPD analyst Anita Frazier “The video games industry — like some other forms of entertainment — has acted as though they are recession-proof in difficult times” “People still want to be entertained and to enjoy a diversion from their everyday concerns.” During recessions people need an escape from reality, a mere 2 or 3 hours where they cannot be worried about the stresses of real life. Somewhere they can run away to and do as they please. If they want vent rage from a day at the office they can take a car for a joyride and mug and old lady in the process by playing GTA. If they want to feel more accomplished they can nurture and care for a pet dog on the DS.

Although their are exceptions to this though where people have apparently done these things in games such and been apparently influenced to do them in real life. Warren Leblanc was an example of this as manhunt allegedly made him commit a real 'manhunt inspired' kill http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6103718.html But us as responsible adults know that isnt possible due a little known thing called the justice system and prison thus why we are dependant on games so much to be able to do it. Kind of a VR therapy.

Im not a strong believer of game violence influencing people into re enacting it in real life. Souly because the game is their so you can escape reality and actually do these things so they dont have to be acted out in the real world with catastrophic consequences, they suppress, not agrovate. Society has tried this one many times in the past like how they blamed the columbine shooting on trenchcoat mafia's and Marylin Manson Lyrics (if you dont know about the columbine shootings read up, its another insight into teenagers apparently being influenced by violence in todays society) http://www.slate.com/id/2099203/ But i say humbug to this. Games are an escape from the reality which can influence this, they do not cause this.

But never the less professional artists are being layed off due to cost cutting measures. And although we shed a tear for them now, we have to wonder how does this affect both the future of gaming, and us as aspiring artists to be? Well i think it means that with the competitive nature of the industry we are now not only up against everyone including rival universities, American graduates and even our own classmates but now professional, more experienced and reliable artists. and trust me 180 professionals against us is stacking the chips up. Im just glad i have 2 years left before im in that position.
Plus those that are left must help but think they can see their jobs and themelves as expendable, leaving a lot of job security issues. Heres to us, because we got a lot ahead of us with this on our hands.