Games @sh.itjust.works nanoUFO @sh.itjust.works 1 yr. ago

As the WGA writers' strike looks set to end, a massive video game strike could be just around the corner

www.vg247.com As the WGA writers' strike looks set to end, a massive video game strike could be just around the corner

Sitting down with voice actors behind Baldur's Gate 3, Mortal Kombat 1, and Five Nights at Freddy's to discuss the case…

35 comments

There needs to be a strike and a boycott of video games. I believe everyone is absolutely sick of being beta testers for unfinished AAA game releases.

I have been a Diablo fan for years but my last straw was Diablo IV. Not only is the game incomplete, Blizzard is going to charge for yearly expansions. If there was actual content in D4 to start, I would have gladly bought an expansion later. If future seasons anything like Season 1, Blizzard can fuck right the hell off.

What is sad is that Blizzard threw so many employees under the bus by having them lie about the game as well. That is seriously fucked.
- I don't think a strike really has anything to do with that. It has to do with treating the workers better.
  
  Now if that also came with extending the time for releases (yes, even the really long AAA development cycles) that could probably improve the quality of said games.
  
  It’s for voice actors’ IP rights for AI and non-existent residuals, according to the article. It’s basically about the same issues as the writers/actors strikes.
  
  Though it’s interesting because games have a legitimate use for AI voiceovers. I hope they can negotiate for per-title AI training and residuals, and not just eliminating AI altogether. The potential situational and reactive voiceover seems amazing for games - or even just having an NPC speak your unique name.
  
  IMO the devs could stand to unionize and strike too. God knows gamers all have a backlog and many would hopefully support them for the long haul.
  
  My comment was more about adding fuel to the fire. Devs need to strike and we need to boycott.
  
  My last example of how Blizzard threw devs to the wolves over the course of many interviews is just another reason for employees to strike.
- Hate to break it to you bro, but the Blizzard you knew and loved is dead and has been for a good while…and it fucking sucks 😑
  
  And maybe don't look into what went on at "the Blizzard you knew and loved."
- I think 180k people disagree with you each day playing starfield.
  
  Tho I myself agree that lots of recent AAA games don't value their 60$ price or whatever. The low effort and quality put into them at launch is just not worth the money.
  
  Maybe sometimes in the future when they are fixed and on discount they could be better value.
  
  Tho hogwarrs legacy for example did not see any update since 4-5 months. And it's still cursed with bugs. Maybe it's what we could see with other recent releases too.
  
  I think 180k people disagree with you each day playing starfield.
  
  As a developer myself, I consider Starfield to be a fairly finished product in terms of quality. The outstanding bugs I've seen are uncommon and the type I would expect to end up in a production product.
  
  My complaints about Starfield are fairly specific. I don't like how they built the bounty and forgiveness process, as it's a bit unpredictable and simultaneously gamable. I can pirate a ship and rack up a $650 bounty, or get a $30000+ bounty pirating the same ship. The way stealth works is comical (if not buggy) in that it's stealthier to be seen throwing a grenade into a room and running than to shoot someone from hiding. But those (presumably) aren't bugs or incompleteness, they're side-effects of the designed systems working as intended.
- Yeah so money talks and that's just not true.
- Not everything is about you.
  
  I agree.
  
  However, my point is that we can boycott and employees can strike.
Strong doubt.

While a large chunk of game developers are in America, it's still a small fraction compared to worldwide.

A video game strike would probably slow down a few triple AAA projects. But rather than 10,000 games being released in a year, it might be 9,000 games.

I'm not anti-union or strikes. I just believe that if say Ubisoft America strikes, nothing will really change perception-wise as indie devs will fill in the blank, and Ubisoft shifts to Canada/Europe branches.
Good, I hope so. Heard a lot of horror stories of working conditions for game devs.
Good
Go team go!
Given how little I play AAA games, I'm not sure a strike would affect me at all
- Is it supposed to affect you?
GTA 6 getting delayed
Fascinating how swiftly it went from Unity absolutely ruining their rep to a overdue video game strike.
I don't care? I got plenty of games to go through, not to mention the free grind games I play already, if game devs stop making games then I'll still be fine
- I don't care?
If this delays Silksong again I’m taking the rest of the afternoon off in protest.
- The metroidvania games where saved by hollow knight. And now there are so many good options, even recent releases (some. May not have the tag).
  
  Get yourself something else in the meantime.
  
  Metroidvania Month on itch.io ended a couple weeks back.

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