My favorite things about EA are the fact that they are trying to be "the #1 people company" and "a one-class society." HA!
Does it surprise anyone that EA dropped off of Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2004 after it debuted at #91 in 2003? I was shocked they even made it on the list in the first place.
How much money did EA spend erecting that labyrinth on its main lawn? If they'd taken that money and, instead of wasting it on superficial gestures, used it to improve the lives of EA employees in a tangible way, wouldn't that have gone much further towards being "the #1 people company?"
But there's a reason why EA didn't. It's because EA doesn't really care about being "the #1 people company." They just want to give the appearance of being "the #1 people company." And the most tragic thing about it is I suspect they've swallowed their own bullshit enough not even to be cognizant of that fact anymore. It's a shame.
Used to work there, wised up and left.
anonymous
November 10 2004, 18:33:17 UTC
I had to laugh, my wife and several others were going to form a Wives Against Maxis and picket the building. As much as I would have loved that, I worried about what would happen. In the end I quit to go to greener pastures
( ... )
Re: Used to work there, wised up and left.ea_spouseNovember 10 2004, 19:15:39 UTC
I talked about calling the wives of other employees and picketing the office, too. I also asked if it would help if I showed up in my Halloween costume (a kimono and geisha makeup) with a sword and staged a rescue operation.
Thank you for your comment, it helps distinctly to have the opinion of someone who has been with EA for this long. It was part of my question, actually, in general... do you believe EA has been on a steady downward trend, or is this behavior something that's likely to bottom out and improve? Either way, I doubt we will stick around to see it, but we both wondered.
Re: Used to work there, wised up and left.ranchonmarsNovember 10 2004, 19:52:28 UTC
Not a sword; they'd call the police on you.
A cardboard tube. Phear the Tube.
Good luck on all of this. I have friends who works for various major game companies and I hear stories from them. Some you'd hear in any industry, and some make me wonder why the hell people aren't unionizing or suing.
As I would also like to know what help is on the way... especially when looking at the recent election. The scales are tipping in favor of the big corporations. My email is verbal007@ the same email account provider.
I can't say for sure since s/he didn't respond, but I believe what's being referred to is the class action lawsuit. The ghastly August alterations to overtime law aside, EA is based out of California, and California state laws override the new overtime legislation.
Well, I know this doesn't help you any, but you're certainly not alone, and EA certainly isn't the only publisher pulling this sort of crap. I've been wanting to leave my job for quite some time, but it looks like all of the major publishers are following the same plans, and the small ones can't take a chance hiring someone that doesn't have at least 10 titles published.
We really do need some sort of union in this industry. When those in charge are getting christmas bonuses larger than my annual pay (and working less than half the hours), something is seriously wrong. My christmas "bonus" last year was $40. (This was also the bonus they promised me to keep me from walking out.) I could have made that much begging for change instead of coming to work on a Saturday.
Hi, My name is Josh Pastreich. I am a union organizer and I am helping with the class action lawsuit against EA for overtime. If you are serious about forming a union in the games industry or if you are not being paid overtime please drop me a line at unionjosh@hotmail.com.
A union just for Game Developers or the entire IT industry? I have worked in the IT industry for 10 years now and while I know that its not nearly as long as most, I have seen my wages stay virtualy the same while my hours go up. We dont even get raises here, just bonuses. I am forced to work almost every day of the week most of the time. If you know of anyone willing to organize a union for IT professionals tell me where I can sign up.
White collar slavery is alive and well in the games industry.
anonymous
November 10 2004, 19:45:13 UTC
I worked at EA for over 3 years and shipped alot of product for them. When I started my own personal revolt against the crunch modes that are specifically the result of mis-management I lost favor really fast and I left for greener pastures only to find that the same problems exist elsewhere. The average game company manager is quite possibly the worst qualified leader of people in the world. They couldn't get a job managing a McDonald's IMO.
Re: White collar slavery is alive and well in the games industry.ea_spouseNovember 10 2004, 21:47:25 UTC
I think part of the problem is that, as far as I know, anyway, people tend to either revolt in ways that will enable EA to find grounds to fire them (I'm not saying that you did this, only that I've seen it happen on this very project), or they leave quietly to another job. It solves the problem for the individual in question, though they tend to be a little careworn afterward, but the machine just keeps on grinding away.
Re: White collar slavery is alive and well in the games industry.wilywombatNovember 13 2004, 02:46:40 UTC
Well, I can tell you I didn't go quietly. My team knew what my feelings were. I certainly wrote up a lengthy exit report, which I felt I owed the company, after all I had been there for 10 years. I also told the HR person exactly what the problems were that I had observed. I am also sure that those notes were never presented to anyone who both cared and could change the ways were done. I was finally tired of trying to make a difference and getting slapped for it. Also, I know of at least a few others who left under similar loud circumstances. But it just doesnt matter. The guys who can change things have no incentive to do so. And they never ever meet those whose lives they are ruining. Maybe they viewed us as "dissendent Turrists".
Re: White collar slavery is alive and well in the games industry.jj10November 17 2004, 09:16:50 UTC
Hi all, I've worked for several years as Producer at Vivendi universal games in France. It was my first experience as manager in this area and I've been very surprised by the "management methods". I remember one of my projects for wich the delays were ok. The higher management asked me to incite people to come to work on week-ends. Why ? I think it was a kinf of cultural heritage. People in this business must work night and day and week-end. Bad habits in project management methods generate a lot of wasted time. But programers and designers behaviors are sometimes immature (Video games are all my life, being paid for playing is so exciting, etc.)
Comments 4630
Does it surprise anyone that EA dropped off of Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2004 after it debuted at #91 in 2003? I was shocked they even made it on the list in the first place.
How much money did EA spend erecting that labyrinth on its main lawn? If they'd taken that money and, instead of wasting it on superficial gestures, used it to improve the lives of EA employees in a tangible way, wouldn't that have gone much further towards being "the #1 people company?"
But there's a reason why EA didn't. It's because EA doesn't really care about being "the #1 people company." They just want to give the appearance of being "the #1 people company." And the most tragic thing about it is I suspect they've swallowed their own bullshit enough not even to be cognizant of that fact anymore. It's a shame.
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They changed "the #1 people company" to "the #1 people company for high performance individuals and teams" a couple of years back.
I took that as "if we treat you like crap it's because we don't think you're working hard enough."
Wild horse couldn't drag me back there.
- Five year veteran.
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Josh Pastreich
unionjosh@hotmail.com
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Thank you for your comment, it helps distinctly to have the opinion of someone who has been with EA for this long. It was part of my question, actually, in general... do you believe EA has been on a steady downward trend, or is this behavior something that's likely to bottom out and improve? Either way, I doubt we will stick around to see it, but we both wondered.
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A cardboard tube. Phear the Tube.
Good luck on all of this. I have friends who works for various major game companies and I hear stories from them. Some you'd hear in any industry, and some make me wonder why the hell people aren't unionizing or suing.
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Thank you for the well-wishes, and nice user name. ;)
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Though, to borrow a phrase from our most recent presidential candidate, "Help is on the way."
Trust me on this one.
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We really do need some sort of union in this industry. When those in charge are getting christmas bonuses larger than my annual pay (and working less than half the hours), something is seriously wrong. My christmas "bonus" last year was $40. (This was also the bonus they promised me to keep me from walking out.) I could have made that much begging for change instead of coming to work on a Saturday.
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My name is Josh Pastreich. I am a union organizer and I am helping with the class action lawsuit against EA for overtime. If you are serious about forming a union in the games industry or if you are not being paid overtime please drop me a line at unionjosh@hotmail.com.
Josh
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I have worked in the IT industry for 10 years now and while I know that its not nearly as long as most, I have seen my wages stay virtualy the same while my hours go up. We dont even get raises here, just bonuses. I am forced to work almost every day of the week most of the time. If you know of anyone willing to organize a union for IT professionals tell me where I can sign up.
-Izzy
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Also, I know of at least a few others who left under similar loud circumstances. But it just doesnt matter. The guys who can change things have no incentive to do so. And they never ever meet those whose lives they are ruining. Maybe they viewed us as "dissendent Turrists".
Reply
I've worked for several years as Producer at Vivendi universal games in France.
It was my first experience as manager in this area and I've been very surprised by the "management methods".
I remember one of my projects for wich the delays were ok. The higher management asked me to incite people to come to work on week-ends.
Why ? I think it was a kinf of cultural heritage. People in this business must work night and day and week-end.
Bad habits in project management methods generate a lot of wasted time. But programers and designers behaviors are sometimes immature (Video games are all my life, being paid for playing is so exciting, etc.)
JJ
Reply
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