They Worked On The Game You Played, But Didn't Get Credit
polycounter lvl 12
What does everyone think about this issue?
http://kotaku.com/5427863/they-worked-on-the-game-you-played-but-didnt-get-credit
http://kotaku.com/5427863/they-worked-on-the-game-you-played-but-didnt-get-credit
Replies
Do they really think that line of reasoning sticks? One could counter, if their current employees are respected and happy where they are, being solicited by recruiters would garner no losses.
Look, even if this doesn't matter to you personally, you should still respect it for the sake of your fellow artist and developers that do.
but not as much as being told you wont be getting royalties (or paid at all) for versions of the game you spent a year on because it's been ported to differnet system.
EXACTLY!!!
I wasn't credited on anything I worked at Midway because I left and people got pissed. Contract work I have done I'm not credited but I never expected to be.
So yeah taking peoples names out of credits is just bs. I mean everyone down to the bimbo that sits at the front desk usually gets credited and seriously the amount of time spent in comparison from an hr person to a dev is ridiculous. You should be credited.
As for not putting peoples positions and what they did. I think thats bullshit. When I asked about this recently I was told it's so recruiters can't poach talent. Well treat people good and with respect and they wont want to bounce on you as soon as a phone call comes in.
Pretty simple logic on that.
What's the big deal if your being treated fairly at the company your working for temp or full they still should put your name and position in the credits, if they let you go wouldn't that be good form anyway if a recruiter picked you up after they let you go!?
The reason you are not given credit is so that someone else can claim it.
I was more than a little disappointed, but seeing as how I was working with an outsourcing company, I wasn't too surprised. But having something like that happen to you on a game you've worked on for a long time, and done a lot of work on, with the studio that made the game, is pretty stupid. For them, it's only text on a screen really. for you, it could mean a lot more. It just doesn't make sense to me. But then again, I can't figure out why I can't get hired these days either.......
But then there is the additional section.
It's the least that can be done for a person who has comitted a part of his finite lifetime to a game.
if its a paying job i condsider the credit as a nice perk and not something you deserve. your paycheck is whats owed for the work unless it is in your contract that you will recieve full credit.
if its that big of a deal for people, then negotiate it in your contract. and that would be the time to make clear any other things like this that you think you deserve or want.
Even if he stayed, he would not be credited on any of them.
I've worked on games I didn't get credit for, and I personally don't think it affects artists as much, as we still have the assets we can use in our portfolios after the game is released.
You can prove what you worked on by showing it after the game ships. You can further prove your aptitude by doing an art test. Just being in the credits doesn't prove anything.
If however you're a lying sack of crap and take credit for working on games you never worked on then that will probably be quickly apparent in the first (and last) few weeks on the job.
It's never about what's written down on paper its what you can do.
If you're really torn up about it put an asterisk by the titles you worked on but where not credited with. You can then turn your future employer off further by explaining the bitter back story behind why you where left off. But honestly if they looked at your resume for something other than contact info your portfolio let you down...
You should post a little image of the box art above what you did on each one to brake up the giant wall of text.
Luxury? No. Its part of a creative work that's done by a group. This isn't building a brick building following blueprints, lifting an putting items into layers and going home at the end of the day.
If this is going to end up being a argument about ego, so be it. Yes, everyone deserves credit for what they did. If that makes us self serving and selfish to expect such in return for the time and effort into a creative venture, so be it. It should not be denied, or used as a carrot on a stick.
Disney also isn't the best example. Beyond be an Antisemitic, he also did everything he could to attempt to stop his animators from Unionizing after they got paid so little. That and why use Disney? What about all the movies before then that used credits?
We make games. Like architects make buildings. It might not be apparent we built something but that doesn't mean we can't take credit for what we make.
Demonstrate what you can do, not that you where linked to XYZ game in some way. A credit proves nothing, actual assets created speaks louder than any name in a list. If the person being considered looks like they might be lying and the company still wants to pursue them as a candidate, give them an art test see what they can do. Researching the credits won't tell you what the art test will.
Why is it so vital?
What makes it so important?
What purpose does it serve?
Then make it consistent. Either everyone gets credited. Or no one.
This deals with how you see what you do. If its just a job. Then so what. If its something you put your heart and soul into, then yes, its very important (ie ego). Again, there is nothing wrong with this either. Its a different POV from those that just see what you do as something more of a skilled craftsman. Don't stand in the way or question the want of people who would seek this.
By all means demand away. It just looks like there isn't much merit other than creative vanity which is just as easily satisfied other ways.
I do agree it should be all or nothing and I'm not sure I would want to work for a place that played dirty pool with the credit list. Mostly because that mentality would permeate other decisions, making it a hard working environment.
That make any sense?
No road block here, champion on with your cause. I only explained ways to get around it and that you can still have your cake, even if its been taken from you. I view that as more meaningful than what they've taken away.
Coincidentally IGDA is working on standards for credits they hope the industry will follow. Until those are in place its just hot air, even then... But I won't be standing in your way, never attempted to. But that won't stop me from shaking my head at the tail chasing. =P
It's equally important to create a workplace where the people who work on the game can feel good working in, and giving them the nod that they actually contributed to the game, wether its a full on credit, or an additional.
This is all about getting the nod that you actually worked on the game, a thank you if you will, for the months or years you put into the prooject.
It's not just about getting paid in the end of the month, it's about spending a big part of your life with other equally creative in what should be a happy workplace where everyone respect eachothers time put into the project.
For example, look at the credits on the end of a valve game, all names in alphabetic order, no title masturbation, just pure aknowledge to the people who worked on the game.
And to everyone that says 'I don't care, it's only vanity', that's fine. Just don't rant about it in here. Some people do care. And on top of that, if they get selective with credits, there's never a way to defend that. Either list everybody or nobody at all