5 ms·

Your salary number is bit too high, in general, game developers make less than your average software developer. Also, there is no way they have 350 programmers

Your salary number is bit too high, in general, game developers make less than your average software developer. Also, there is no way they have 350 programmers working on that project. That number has to include various types of designers, artists, and programmers.

sk3tch 14y ago
>In general, game developers make less than your average software developer. Interesting. Can I ask where you read that or how you came to that conclusion?
- seanmcdirmid 14y ago
  If I can chime in, my opinion is anecdotal but I think generally true: many programmers dream about building games and so are less driven by money; the game companies then take advantage of that. In contrast, if you are programming databases or sharepoint, you probably have less passion about the domain your working in and will want more money for your trouble.
  - bluedanieru 14y ago
    I don't know why you have to shit on developers outside the games industry as you've done here (perhaps it wasn't intentional?). I love games, and I have plenty of passion both for them and for programming in general. But the games industry is saturated with developers who got into programing solely to make games, and who only want to make games, and is famous for taking advantage of that. I'd rather not be taken advantage of, and 'passion' has nothing to do with it.
    - seanmcdirmid 14y ago
      I don't know why you think I said something derogatory or even controversial. I mean, developers might have passion for programming, but sharepoint? There are many jobs out there whose domains are overtly uninteresting to many of us, but they still need to be done and the work itself can be interesting; but companies will still need to pony up a bit more money in a competitive market to get us in the door. Now game developers wants to be game developers. They don't need much extra incentive. Its like acting in LA or NYC; it takes talent and training, and you can get paid for it, but maybe not as much as being a claims adjuster. Are those actors being exploited or is it just a supply and demand thing? Now, in contrast, how many kids dream of being claims adjusters?
      - bm1362 14y ago
        That guy must really like Web Parts. I did not find your statement offensive. I agree- look at how much money is in mainframe consulting. There is truth to the argument that the more attractive the discipline + focus, the less you have to incentivize.
        bluedanieru 14y ago
        I took the statement to indicate a lack of passion in programming in general rather than a particular domain. Re-reading I can see the intent. But, thanks for the downvotes anyway.
        Dylan16807 14y ago
        You tend to get downvoted for being wrong, yeah. Best not to complain about downvotes unless they're really confusing.
ardacinar 14y ago
Wait, what? Game development seemed like the most stressful/worst thing you can do in software, i'd never expect game developers to make less than average developer.
- yannickt 14y ago
  Game Developer Magazine runs a salary survey every year. The average game programmer salary in 2012 was a little north of $90,000. There are game programmers who make much more than that, but it is not the norm. http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/1108/game_developer_salary_survey_2012.php http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/1108/game_developer_...
- speednoise 14y ago
  It's a supply and demand thing. Very few people grow up wanting to make web apps, but many many people grow up wanting to make games, and when they have that chance, willing to take a pay cut to do it.
yannickt 14y ago
Bungie is not your average studio though. I suspect that their developer salaries are at least on par with the software industry average.
- ulyssesgrant 14y ago
  I wouldn't be so sure. Even huge, profitable companies such as Blizzard have relatively low salaries compared to other software fields
  - kabdib 14y ago
    They have a lot of ex-Microsofties, who don't come cheap.
rorrr 14y ago
I just looked at EA salaries, and their level III engineers make $98K on average. It's very sad, considering game dev not only requires good programming skills, but also all kinds of math, graphics, sound knowledge. http://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/electronic-arts-salary-SRCH_KE0,15.htm http://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/electronic-arts-salary-SRC...
- Tloewald 14y ago
  Game dev is like playing in a rock band, but for computer geeks instead of band geeks. It's low paid because people want to do it -- i do it for nothing (sure, I hope to make money from it). You know what really pays poorly given the skills and knowledge requires? Classical music.

sk3tch 14y ago

>In general, game developers make less than your average software developer. Interesting. Can I ask where you read that or how you came to that conclusion?

seanmcdirmid 14y ago
If I can chime in, my opinion is anecdotal but I think generally true: many programmers dream about building games and so are less driven by money; the game companies then take advantage of that. In contrast, if you are programming databases or sharepoint, you probably have less passion about the domain your working in and will want more money for your trouble.
- bluedanieru 14y ago
  I don't know why you have to shit on developers outside the games industry as you've done here (perhaps it wasn't intentional?). I love games, and I have plenty of passion both for them and for programming in general. But the games industry is saturated with developers who got into programing solely to make games, and who only want to make games, and is famous for taking advantage of that. I'd rather not be taken advantage of, and 'passion' has nothing to do with it.
  - seanmcdirmid 14y ago
    I don't know why you think I said something derogatory or even controversial. I mean, developers might have passion for programming, but sharepoint? There are many jobs out there whose domains are overtly uninteresting to many of us, but they still need to be done and the work itself can be interesting; but companies will still need to pony up a bit more money in a competitive market to get us in the door. Now game developers wants to be game developers. They don't need much extra incentive. Its like acting in LA or NYC; it takes talent and training, and you can get paid for it, but maybe not as much as being a claims adjuster. Are those actors being exploited or is it just a supply and demand thing? Now, in contrast, how many kids dream of being claims adjusters?
    - bm1362 14y ago
      That guy must really like Web Parts. I did not find your statement offensive. I agree- look at how much money is in mainframe consulting. There is truth to the argument that the more attractive the discipline + focus, the less you have to incentivize.
      - bluedanieru 14y ago
        I took the statement to indicate a lack of passion in programming in general rather than a particular domain. Re-reading I can see the intent. But, thanks for the downvotes anyway.
        Dylan16807 14y ago
        You tend to get downvoted for being wrong, yeah. Best not to complain about downvotes unless they're really confusing.

ardacinar 14y ago

Wait, what? Game development seemed like the most stressful/worst thing you can do in software, i'd never expect game developers to make less than average developer.

yannickt 14y ago
Game Developer Magazine runs a salary survey every year. The average game programmer salary in 2012 was a little north of $90,000. There are game programmers who make much more than that, but it is not the norm. http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/1108/game_developer_salary_survey_2012.php http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/1108/game_developer_...
speednoise 14y ago
It's a supply and demand thing. Very few people grow up wanting to make web apps, but many many people grow up wanting to make games, and when they have that chance, willing to take a pay cut to do it.

yannickt 14y ago

Bungie is not your average studio though. I suspect that their developer salaries are at least on par with the software industry average.

ulyssesgrant 14y ago
I wouldn't be so sure. Even huge, profitable companies such as Blizzard have relatively low salaries compared to other software fields
- kabdib 14y ago
  They have a lot of ex-Microsofties, who don't come cheap.

rorrr 14y ago

I just looked at EA salaries, and their level III engineers make $98K on average. It's very sad, considering game dev not only requires good programming skills, but also all kinds of math, graphics, sound knowledge. http://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/electronic-arts-salary-SRCH_KE0,15.htm http://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/electronic-arts-salary-SRC...

Tloewald 14y ago
Game dev is like playing in a rock band, but for computer geeks instead of band geeks. It's low paid because people want to do it -- i do it for nothing (sure, I hope to make money from it). You know what really pays poorly given the skills and knowledge requires? Classical music.