Living comfortably in the Games Industry as an Artist? Possible?
polycounter lvl 7
Hello everybody,
These is another one of these noobish threads, but this questions has been bothering me for quite some time. Of course there are tons of threads out there covering this but I feel that I haven't quit found the answer yet. I am wondering how the Game Industry is as a career path from an artists perspective. With that I don’t mean the experience but rather in terms of going up ranks and so on.
I would Imagine as one gets older one has a desire to have family and a stable life. Is it possible to raise kids and have a family while also living comfortably? Of course here I am referring to like Lead or Senor positions(I highly doubt that’s possible with a Junior paycheck). And even for Junior positions, can you live comfortably or do you have to worry about bringing food on the table every month or buying that awesome new videogame that just came out(even if you are single). Now, don’t get me wrong here money isn't everything and I would certainly still pursue this path if you would tell me that I need to beg for money on the side of the street in order to come through, because I just love making art so much, but I am still very curious and also kind of torn: Some people say yes and some people say you will need to collect pennies on the street.
I don’t want a number, I just want to know if you feel that you can live comfortably - in other words without having to worry about spending every single dime wisely and economical, allowing you to have fun with your friends outside work and most of all enjoying life without having that money always factor stabbing you in the back.
I know rising up the ranks mostly depends on ones skill and motivation, and its definitely my goal to become an Art Director one day or some sort of high position, in order to make that mad cash(do they make mad cash?) one day and of course primarily helping to create amazing games
Anyways, thank you for reading and sorry for this noobish question
Cheers!
PS: sorry for grammar mistakes, was written on a smartphone
These is another one of these noobish threads, but this questions has been bothering me for quite some time. Of course there are tons of threads out there covering this but I feel that I haven't quit found the answer yet. I am wondering how the Game Industry is as a career path from an artists perspective. With that I don’t mean the experience but rather in terms of going up ranks and so on.
I would Imagine as one gets older one has a desire to have family and a stable life. Is it possible to raise kids and have a family while also living comfortably? Of course here I am referring to like Lead or Senor positions(I highly doubt that’s possible with a Junior paycheck). And even for Junior positions, can you live comfortably or do you have to worry about bringing food on the table every month or buying that awesome new videogame that just came out(even if you are single). Now, don’t get me wrong here money isn't everything and I would certainly still pursue this path if you would tell me that I need to beg for money on the side of the street in order to come through, because I just love making art so much, but I am still very curious and also kind of torn: Some people say yes and some people say you will need to collect pennies on the street.
I don’t want a number, I just want to know if you feel that you can live comfortably - in other words without having to worry about spending every single dime wisely and economical, allowing you to have fun with your friends outside work and most of all enjoying life without having that money always factor stabbing you in the back.
I know rising up the ranks mostly depends on ones skill and motivation, and its definitely my goal to become an Art Director one day or some sort of high position, in order to make that mad cash(do they make mad cash?) one day and of course primarily helping to create amazing games
Anyways, thank you for reading and sorry for this noobish question
Cheers!
PS: sorry for grammar mistakes, was written on a smartphone
Replies
I'm able to afford a car, an apartment, food, and everything that goes with having a girlfriend on a junior artist's salary in the San Francisco Bay area. This may or may not be viable in other areas or at different companies, but it's certainly doable given my current situation.
Lamont says it best, just live within your means and you can certainly do it.
Back when I worked at my previous employer, there were a ton of families, and the studio was very family-centric - we had in-office trick or treats for the kids, etc. At my current employer, I think we have a few less families, but that's largely due to our recent growth leading to picking up more juniors, rather than a cultural thing - and I think we've got about as many families as any other average developer, and I think for the demographic you've probably got about as many families as any other industry.
The real issue with raising a family while working in the games industry is that the nature of the industry means that it is very possible to move for a job and not be able to stay in the area if you get laid off/fired. It is relatively hard to set down ties forever, which means you're likely to be uprooting your family at some point, or taking a job that is less than ideal to remain in the same location.
At this point I may even know more artists in the industry that have families then those that don't, or at least it's pretty close to even.
In all seriousness it's really fine. I have never worried about money. I worry about my art more than money. I would be alot more happy if I didn't have student loans tho.
Just like others have said. The key to anything, any job is to live within your means...
A second income from being in a serious relationship really helps.
Before we had a baby, and the wife was working, money was looking pretty good. But since having a kid, and my wife now having no job, things are very tight being a single income family. It doesn't help that I live in extremely expensive London. Hmmmf. I need a raise...
Amen brother, damn hard making a living here XO
Yes its definitely possible to live comfortably if you're good at what you do
Agreed, don't know what it is about London and the southeast that sucks up so much cash, I'm looking for freelance work just to make ends meet
This is why I'm too scared to even apply around down south... I visited my friend in Guildford and his flat is half the size of mine for £200 more a month.. I hope you find some awesome freelance though dude
the hardest part is landing that 1st job, then, luck and hard work will help you keep it.
that's almost cheaper than in Shanghai...
I have come to the conclusion that as a single guy living in London and working as a lowly artist in the games industry won`t afford you to live comfortably. And by comfortably I mean having your on space(one bedroom apartment in a decent area) while trying to save money for the future(mortgage, pension etc.) Renting is just way too expensive here.
So location matters ... A LOT!
Is that before or after tax?
I'm still considering a move to Canada...
Well you won't be downtown in a 4 1/2 at that price
Damn wherever they were living that 3 people full-time employed couldnt afford a place is absurd. I've lived in LA and the Bay Area in California and I've been able to live by myself somewhat comfortably whether I was a student living off of very limited income from loans or working full time. Like any expensive area, don't rely on craigslist 100%, the best and cheapest places I've found for rent was just me driving or walking around neighborhoods. Also helps you get a good feel for the area you'll be living in.
That being said, California in general is an expensive place to live in comparison to many other states but if the company you're working for is decent the salary will be comparably higher to those of other states as well.
I don't want to give up on this, well every industry is bad. Should i stick to it? Do you think in future, will be better place to work or worst?
Where do you live? How old are you? How long have you been working on your portfolio?
Also, this:
http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/1108/game_developer_salary_survey_2012.php
Between 3-6 years your salary should be in the $60-$80k range. After 6 years, you should be in a very strong senior position that will pay over $80k. Lead positions will typically pay close or over $100k. These are for large AAA studios, mind you.
Honestly, my only financial "worry" is student loans. Once those are paid off I'll be "rich"!
My wife and I have been able to live in some really nice places, ( Riverside apartments / inner city high rises ) drive nice cars - eat great food, and travel a lot and hopefully weel be able to buy our first home soon. If that's the kind of thing that you think qualifies for a comfortable life - then its absolutely possible.
I don't know if I totally agree with this. Sure. You "should" be paid that. But if the choice is not having a job and having one below 40k I would say that getting your foot in the door is worth the low wage. I don't have alot to back this up but I would say that there are a few small/medium studios that offer less than 40k. After a year or so start looking for another job that pays more.
Now if you have some XP and are awesome then that is a totally different story...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyXXLKkEyPQ
If you don't mind living as a Nomad™,go foward. This is industry is not for all people, you must love what you do, for real, and like too many of us say: "to live for the work". You will not care to share a flat with 5 colleages being young
Living for work... yeah. well. live for what you love doing, but don't equate work with job.