If You Don’t Like the Game, Change the Rules: Alternative Modes of Videogame Production

The games industry is infamous for making employees work excessive hours, fostering toxic work environments, and burning out its workforce. Despite these concerns, game developers are hesitant to change how their businesses are organised. This research project will explore the reasons that Canadian game workers may be reluctant to adopt alternative labour structures such as unions, cooperatives, and 4-day work weeks. The research team will gather information through interviews and surveys with game workers, labour organisers, and industry experts. The primary research outputs for this project are: 1) a white paper summarising research findings and contextualising them the current media landscape and; 2) a comic that outlines alternatives to traditional work structures.
This research project will help further GAIN’s goals of building solidarity across regional game arts and industry groups. Both research outcomes are designed to foster discussions about better labour futures in the Canadian videogame industry.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mia Consalvo

Student:

Partner:

Game Arts International Network

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Arts, entertainment and recreation

University:

Concordia University

Program: