That Time The Gaming Industry Worked Me To Death

Life Lessons & Moving Forward

I can’t attribute my entire ordeal to the circumstances I was in. To blame the games industry for absolutely everything that’s happened to me would be irresponsible.

I think it’s important to be self-aware, and to understand that, if you’re susceptible to a competitive and intensely addictive environment (with individuals who can perpetuate the cycle), then you can get drawn down the rabbit-hole to an extremely damaging place. Some people say that “this is true of all jobs - overtime’s not a game dev-only thing”, but until you’ve been a part of this industry, you can’t comprehend what it’s like to have hundreds of creative individuals surround you, all with the intention of making the best product they can whilst progressing themselves as artists, and not feel like you need to be working at your absolute maximum, all the time.

My story, sadly, isn’t a unique one and I personally know developers who have had similar experiences - one who developed severe complications from Crohn’s disease, another who attempted to take his own life in a deep depression, and another who developed agoraphobia which has persisted in her to this day.

The games industry is one of extreme creativity, fanatic-level enthusiasm and extraordinary skill, but it is also one of tremendous danger to those of us who feel the calling to be more talented, more productive, more endearing, more interesting... just, better. Can being good enough ever be good... enough? Well, that’s up to you. Just remember...

...it’s only a job.