Erin
@serinity.bsky.social
🎮 Senior Game Designer
👾 Game design consultation & education
❤️ Developer Relations
👾 Game design consultation & education
❤️ Developer Relations
Reposted by Erin
Every time.
EVERY time.
If the company you're working for gets bought, you WILL have layoffs, restructuring, and stripping of benefits within a year.
The only reason it took so long for Bungie is because people were playing more games at the height of the pandemic.
This WILL happen to you.
EVERY time.
If the company you're working for gets bought, you WILL have layoffs, restructuring, and stripping of benefits within a year.
The only reason it took so long for Bungie is because people were playing more games at the height of the pandemic.
This WILL happen to you.
October 30, 2023 at 9:40 PM
Every time.
EVERY time.
If the company you're working for gets bought, you WILL have layoffs, restructuring, and stripping of benefits within a year.
The only reason it took so long for Bungie is because people were playing more games at the height of the pandemic.
This WILL happen to you.
EVERY time.
If the company you're working for gets bought, you WILL have layoffs, restructuring, and stripping of benefits within a year.
The only reason it took so long for Bungie is because people were playing more games at the height of the pandemic.
This WILL happen to you.
Reposted by Erin
It's been a good year for video games, but maybe we should cherish this while it lasts given the massive number of layoffs, especially in the AAA space. www.gamesindustry.biz/over-6000-ga... And this was posted before today's layoffs at Bungie.
Over 6,000 games industry jobs lost in 2023 so far
Over 6,100 gaming jobs have been lost so far over the past year due to layoffs and studio closures, according to new da…
www.gamesindustry.biz
October 30, 2023 at 10:19 PM
It's been a good year for video games, but maybe we should cherish this while it lasts given the massive number of layoffs, especially in the AAA space. www.gamesindustry.biz/over-6000-ga... And this was posted before today's layoffs at Bungie.
Reposted by Erin
I'm approaching critical exhaustion with the passive voice around industry layoffs.
Who hit them? Point fingers. Name names.
Don't tell me how well Destiny sold. Tell me the average rent in that city. Tell me how many kids will be changing schools because mom's new job is 1500 miles away. Again.
Who hit them? Point fingers. Name names.
Don't tell me how well Destiny sold. Tell me the average rent in that city. Tell me how many kids will be changing schools because mom's new job is 1500 miles away. Again.
Bungie is the fourth PlayStation developer to be hit with layoffs in October.
The exact number of affected employees is currently unknown.
www.gamedeveloper.com/business/des...
The exact number of affected employees is currently unknown.
www.gamedeveloper.com/business/des...
Destiny, Marathon developer Bungie lays off staff
The game industry continues its layoffs throughout 2023, this time at Destiny 2 maker Bungie.
www.gamedeveloper.com
October 30, 2023 at 9:50 PM
I'm approaching critical exhaustion with the passive voice around industry layoffs.
Who hit them? Point fingers. Name names.
Don't tell me how well Destiny sold. Tell me the average rent in that city. Tell me how many kids will be changing schools because mom's new job is 1500 miles away. Again.
Who hit them? Point fingers. Name names.
Don't tell me how well Destiny sold. Tell me the average rent in that city. Tell me how many kids will be changing schools because mom's new job is 1500 miles away. Again.
Reposted by Erin
Weird how when big game studios need to save money, the solution isn't "dock the bonus of the guy who suggested we go really hard for several years on stuff that was demonstrably a terrible idea, which many of us told him at the time." but "lay off a bunch of non-executives."
October 30, 2023 at 10:25 PM
Weird how when big game studios need to save money, the solution isn't "dock the bonus of the guy who suggested we go really hard for several years on stuff that was demonstrably a terrible idea, which many of us told him at the time." but "lay off a bunch of non-executives."
Reposted by Erin
Incredible! Bravo @ravenben.bsky.social & team!
“The tool, called Nightshade, messes up training data in ways that could cause serious damage to image-generating AI models.”
Article by Melissa Heikkilä.
“The tool, called Nightshade, messes up training data in ways that could cause serious damage to image-generating AI models.”
Article by Melissa Heikkilä.
This new data poisoning tool lets artists fight back against generative AI
The tool, called Nightshade, messes up training data in ways that could cause serious damage to image-generating AI models.
www.technologyreview.com
October 23, 2023 at 8:43 PM
Incredible! Bravo @ravenben.bsky.social & team!
“The tool, called Nightshade, messes up training data in ways that could cause serious damage to image-generating AI models.”
Article by Melissa Heikkilä.
“The tool, called Nightshade, messes up training data in ways that could cause serious damage to image-generating AI models.”
Article by Melissa Heikkilä.
Reposted by Erin
For the record, arguing that workers don't need a union because they aren't some other group of workers who are more traditionally oppressed is union busting. All workers deserve the worker protections that unions provide. All workers need protection from capitalists.
Bandcamp Editorial Director: “Fuuuuuck Bandcamp United”
"Bandcamp United is privileged tech workers cosplaying as Amazon warehouse workers," he said.
www.404media.co
October 24, 2023 at 4:57 PM
For the record, arguing that workers don't need a union because they aren't some other group of workers who are more traditionally oppressed is union busting. All workers deserve the worker protections that unions provide. All workers need protection from capitalists.
Reposted by Erin
yeah I think it's really shitty that the "answer" to crippling unaffordability is to move to a place where my kids will have essential diverse reading material ripped away from them, my bodily autonomy will be taken away, and I'll have to fight for every right. No thanks.
October 24, 2023 at 5:37 PM
yeah I think it's really shitty that the "answer" to crippling unaffordability is to move to a place where my kids will have essential diverse reading material ripped away from them, my bodily autonomy will be taken away, and I'll have to fight for every right. No thanks.
Reposted by Erin
Twitter's dead, so here's a repost of my thread of articles based where I go over everything from writing a resume to setting your freelance rates as a game artist!
🧵 1/6
🧵 1/6
August 13, 2023 at 4:54 PM
Twitter's dead, so here's a repost of my thread of articles based where I go over everything from writing a resume to setting your freelance rates as a game artist!
🧵 1/6
🧵 1/6
Reposted by Erin
As well-meaning publishers try to navigate the coming storm of state laws against diversity, I hope they'll consider Timothy Snyder's Rule #1 (from his slim book ON TYRANNY).
October 20, 2023 at 11:38 PM
As well-meaning publishers try to navigate the coming storm of state laws against diversity, I hope they'll consider Timothy Snyder's Rule #1 (from his slim book ON TYRANNY).
Reposted by Erin
Layoffs cost exponentially more than they "save" on paper (they've done studies!). The brain drain and loss of morale cause even more people to leave, until all the creativity and expertise you actually built your business on is gone, and you start again from scratch. The people ARE the business
What a novel idea—not laying off your staff as soon as a project's over, and letting them cook the next game with all that hard-earned experience, chemistry, and pride.
From @jasonschreier.bsky.social's latest Bloomberg newsletter:
From @jasonschreier.bsky.social's latest Bloomberg newsletter:
October 20, 2023 at 9:58 PM
Layoffs cost exponentially more than they "save" on paper (they've done studies!). The brain drain and loss of morale cause even more people to leave, until all the creativity and expertise you actually built your business on is gone, and you start again from scratch. The people ARE the business
Reposted by Erin
What a novel idea—not laying off your staff as soon as a project's over, and letting them cook the next game with all that hard-earned experience, chemistry, and pride.
From @jasonschreier.bsky.social's latest Bloomberg newsletter:
From @jasonschreier.bsky.social's latest Bloomberg newsletter:
October 20, 2023 at 7:12 PM
What a novel idea—not laying off your staff as soon as a project's over, and letting them cook the next game with all that hard-earned experience, chemistry, and pride.
From @jasonschreier.bsky.social's latest Bloomberg newsletter:
From @jasonschreier.bsky.social's latest Bloomberg newsletter:
Reposted by Erin
"Between 80% and 90% of the Final Fantasy VII Remake development team stuck around to make Final Fantasy VII Rebirth"
Retention is how you got Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur's Gate 3, too. This isn't some state secret - studios need to keep their staff.
Retention is how you got Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur's Gate 3, too. This isn't some state secret - studios need to keep their staff.
Spoke to the director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth about working with his idols at Square Enix, the importance of retaining staff, and much more: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
October 20, 2023 at 7:49 PM
"Between 80% and 90% of the Final Fantasy VII Remake development team stuck around to make Final Fantasy VII Rebirth"
Retention is how you got Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur's Gate 3, too. This isn't some state secret - studios need to keep their staff.
Retention is how you got Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur's Gate 3, too. This isn't some state secret - studios need to keep their staff.
Reposted by Erin
very difficult to celebrate all the new games coming out when the developers who make those games are getting screwed by poor/short-sighted business decisions made by people who will not be affected at all except maybe they have to dig deep & try to sound empathetic in a public statement
September 28, 2023 at 5:29 PM
very difficult to celebrate all the new games coming out when the developers who make those games are getting screwed by poor/short-sighted business decisions made by people who will not be affected at all except maybe they have to dig deep & try to sound empathetic in a public statement
Reposted by Erin
The #videogame industry persists and thrives on an endless series of replacement workers, because they burn experienced workers through overwork, low pay, random firings and terrible treatment. They do this on purpose to increase profit.
Most roles are ~2 years. Most workers don't last 7.
Most roles are ~2 years. Most workers don't last 7.
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
I'll start: Amazon makes more money out of their Cloud services than out of their e-commerce platform.
I'll start: Amazon makes more money out of their Cloud services than out of their e-commerce platform.
October 15, 2023 at 7:16 PM
The #videogame industry persists and thrives on an endless series of replacement workers, because they burn experienced workers through overwork, low pay, random firings and terrible treatment. They do this on purpose to increase profit.
Most roles are ~2 years. Most workers don't last 7.
Most roles are ~2 years. Most workers don't last 7.
"John Riccitiello will retire as President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately"
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
October 9, 2023 at 8:56 PM
"John Riccitiello will retire as President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately"
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
Reposted by Erin
Scholastic asks, "Do you want to opt out of 'diverse' books at your school's next book fair?" Your participation in white supremacy has never been easier, just uncheck the 'diverse' books box– poof, no problems. 🙄
Scholastic Under Fire for Allowing Schools to Opt Out of ‘Diverse Books’ for Book Fairs
Scholastic has been accused of bending to right-wing pressure, making having diverse books optional for school book fairs.
www.themarysue.com
October 9, 2023 at 1:47 PM
Scholastic asks, "Do you want to opt out of 'diverse' books at your school's next book fair?" Your participation in white supremacy has never been easier, just uncheck the 'diverse' books box– poof, no problems. 🙄
Reposted by Erin
Happy Spooktober! It's my favorite time of year.
Here's two gonk droids trick-or-treating as an AT-AT.
Here's two gonk droids trick-or-treating as an AT-AT.
October 6, 2023 at 2:53 PM
Happy Spooktober! It's my favorite time of year.
Here's two gonk droids trick-or-treating as an AT-AT.
Here's two gonk droids trick-or-treating as an AT-AT.
Reposted by Erin
To help save time, I wrote every video game company's weird layoff announcement.
Every Video Game Company's Layoffs Announcement
Here at Game Company, we love our developers. That's why it was so hard to fire them.
www.thegamer.com
October 5, 2023 at 5:11 PM
To help save time, I wrote every video game company's weird layoff announcement.
Reposted by Erin
Wizards of the Coast is looking for a Lead Narrative Designer for Digital D&D
boards.greenhouse.io/wizardsofthe...
#gamewritingjobs | #gamewriting | #gamedevjobs
boards.greenhouse.io/wizardsofthe...
#gamewritingjobs | #gamewriting | #gamedevjobs
Lead Narrative Designer (Digital D&D)
Fully Remote
boards.greenhouse.io
October 5, 2023 at 2:27 AM
Wizards of the Coast is looking for a Lead Narrative Designer for Digital D&D
boards.greenhouse.io/wizardsofthe...
#gamewritingjobs | #gamewriting | #gamedevjobs
boards.greenhouse.io/wizardsofthe...
#gamewritingjobs | #gamewriting | #gamedevjobs
Reposted by Erin
so today we discovered there's a way to create a "jump to" arrow in miro, where when you click it, it can jump to another spot on the miro board, which means that you can do choice-based interactive fiction games in miro
October 5, 2023 at 12:12 AM
so today we discovered there's a way to create a "jump to" arrow in miro, where when you click it, it can jump to another spot on the miro board, which means that you can do choice-based interactive fiction games in miro
Reposted by Erin
I think the best response I've seen to AI anything has been, "Why should I bother reading something that nobody could be bothered to write"
October 1, 2023 at 4:26 AM
I think the best response I've seen to AI anything has been, "Why should I bother reading something that nobody could be bothered to write"
Reposted by Erin
Dear Tech Companies,
Don't let Atlassian be better then you, let remote rule
Don't let Atlassian be better then you, let remote rule
A software CEO worth $12 billion says he goes to the office ‘once a quarter,’ bucking Big Tech's...
Atlassian CEO Scott Farquhar says he hasn't seen a productivity change from letting employees work from home.
fortune.com
October 2, 2023 at 3:56 PM
Dear Tech Companies,
Don't let Atlassian be better then you, let remote rule
Don't let Atlassian be better then you, let remote rule
Reposted by Erin
Tickets for the next Writers' Guild #gamewriting online panel are now available!
6.30-7.30pm, 5 October 2023
This time we are looking at accessibility and writing.
RTs welcome and book your free tickets now! (This event is open to non-members.
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
6.30-7.30pm, 5 October 2023
This time we are looking at accessibility and writing.
RTs welcome and book your free tickets now! (This event is open to non-members.
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
September 29, 2023 at 11:11 AM
Tickets for the next Writers' Guild #gamewriting online panel are now available!
6.30-7.30pm, 5 October 2023
This time we are looking at accessibility and writing.
RTs welcome and book your free tickets now! (This event is open to non-members.
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
6.30-7.30pm, 5 October 2023
This time we are looking at accessibility and writing.
RTs welcome and book your free tickets now! (This event is open to non-members.
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
Reposted by Erin
For workers affected by lay off, below are some useful resources and job offers sites :
workwithindies.com
remotegamejobs.com
gamedevjobs.io
gracklehq.com/jobs
hitmarker.net
gamesmith.com
gamesjobsdirect.com
jobs.gamesindustry.biz
workwithindies.com
remotegamejobs.com
gamedevjobs.io
gracklehq.com/jobs
hitmarker.net
gamesmith.com
gamesjobsdirect.com
jobs.gamesindustry.biz
September 29, 2023 at 8:14 AM
For workers affected by lay off, below are some useful resources and job offers sites :
workwithindies.com
remotegamejobs.com
gamedevjobs.io
gracklehq.com/jobs
hitmarker.net
gamesmith.com
gamesjobsdirect.com
jobs.gamesindustry.biz
workwithindies.com
remotegamejobs.com
gamedevjobs.io
gracklehq.com/jobs
hitmarker.net
gamesmith.com
gamesjobsdirect.com
jobs.gamesindustry.biz