Breaking news: the video game branch of SAG-AFTRA might be going on strike.
For those shocked, don’t worry. I didn’t know there were strike talks at all, only that the industry’s struggling with mass-layoffs. That said, considering this is a possibility, I’m intrigued. Video game production’s long and difficult, and the medium’s creators have long gotten the short end of the stick. So this is overdue.
In terms of what the strike entails, it’s really about A.I. That’s what last year’s writer’s and actor’s strikes were about. Yet while that was made public, this has been under the radar due to video game development being more underground. It’s a shame, as video games are a form of artistic expression deserving as much attention as other mass-media art-forms. I support its programmers and artists getting fair treatment, essentially.
It's also worth noting which studios will be impacted: Activision, Blindsight, Disney, EA, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take-Two, VoiceWorks and Warner Bros. Some are crossovers of Hollywood studios, like Disney and Warner Bros., but these studios are all huge in the West. No joke! EA, or Electronic Arts, is quite noteworthy in the video gaming world, while Insomniac Games is a Sony subsidiary. These 9 studios comprise a large chunk of the industry, so it’s nice to see some accountability. And trust me, they need it.
I should reiterate that last point. Video games have had an abuse problem for ages. Even before GamerGate, which was disgusting itself, the “niche nerd” mentality has allowed for insular toxicity. Women and minorities have been harassed and threatened constantly, and anyone who’s spoken up has faced scrutiny. Remember the overarching conflict in Free Guy? Where a giant publisher absorbs an indie game and blacklists its programmers? That happens a lot.
Then there’s A.I. and how it harms performers. Like in film and writing, SAG’s video game division wants protections from that. Human hands need to guide A.I., or we’d get hollow imitations of art, and we’re seeing that happen with mass-layoffs in favour of it. Remember, there are talented creators who deserve proper compensation for their time and effort, something they’re not getting right now.
But why stop there? Why not also strike for protections from abuse? The current Activision-Blizzard controversy attests to that behind closed doors, and it’s one example! Though hey, Activision’s one of the 9 companies on this list! Fancy that!
Then there’s A.I. and how it harms performers. Like in film and writing, SAG’s video game division wants protections from that. Human hands need to guide A.I., or we’d get hollow imitations of art, and we’re seeing that happen with mass-layoffs in favour of it. Remember, there are talented creators who deserve proper compensation for their time and effort, something they’re not getting right now.
But why stop there? Why not also strike for protections from abuse? The current Activision-Blizzard controversy attests to that behind closed doors, and it’s one example! Though hey, Activision’s one of the 9 companies on this list! Fancy that!
I know it sounds like I’m rambling, but I want to stress how bad the situation is. Video game development burnout’s real, and it’s made many talented people leave. That’s upsetting given that the industry’s worth almost $250 billion, and it’s only expected to grow. For such a powerful juggernaut, you’d want its workers treated properly, right? I’d say so!
The second is that this is something worth showing solidarity over. Yes, many games will be put on hold. But it’s a small price for a healthy industry. If that bothers you, then take a long, hard look in the mirror. Seriously.
Since this is so fresh and surprising, I’ll mention two specific points here. The first is that this is a Western strike. The East has issues too, many of which overlap, but they’re not going on strike. I’m not even sure how they’d handle a strike of this magnitude, but I won’t speculate about something I’m unfamiliar with. Nevertheless, Nintendo, Konami, Capcom and the likes aren’t on the chopping block (yet).
The second is that this is something worth showing solidarity over. Yes, many games will be put on hold. But it’s a small price for a healthy industry. If that bothers you, then take a long, hard look in the mirror. Seriously.
It’s easy to freak out if you’re into video games. The world’s uncertain and scary, and video games provide an escape from that. But like TV and movies, video games aren’t going anywhere. They’ll still be around in 5-10 years, and there are plenty of backlog options right now. You’re not going to “die” if you can’t get the newest video game, not when all three big players have an online catalogue of classic titles available.
Please also remember that getting a video game shouldn’t come at the expense of the well-being of those who made it. I know it’s easy to forget, but game developers are people. And like everyone else, they deserve respect. Many of them aren’t getting that, so shouldn’t that be a priority? Or is basic human dignity not a factor? Because, if so, that says more about consumers than those going on strike.
It’s quite simple to compartmentalize all of this when you’re in gaming mode. I used to be self-centred enough to not care, too. But that was a long time ago. I’ve grown and matured a lot since high school, and I think that’s healthy. Because we should be supportive of the people who make our entertainment, regardless of format, even if we sometimes have to pause our consumption of it. After all, how else can we appreciate something than by standing up for those in the industry? It’s only fair that we reciprocate that passion.
Please also remember that getting a video game shouldn’t come at the expense of the well-being of those who made it. I know it’s easy to forget, but game developers are people. And like everyone else, they deserve respect. Many of them aren’t getting that, so shouldn’t that be a priority? Or is basic human dignity not a factor? Because, if so, that says more about consumers than those going on strike.
It’s quite simple to compartmentalize all of this when you’re in gaming mode. I used to be self-centred enough to not care, too. But that was a long time ago. I’ve grown and matured a lot since high school, and I think that’s healthy. Because we should be supportive of the people who make our entertainment, regardless of format, even if we sometimes have to pause our consumption of it. After all, how else can we appreciate something than by standing up for those in the industry? It’s only fair that we reciprocate that passion.
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