Working: Games industry x Movie industry

[arhurt]

Hi guys!

So this is a discussion I was having with a friend of mine about the following subject: Is the videogames industry as big as the movie and films industry?

Now, I know that some games out budget many Hollywood productions, and I know that some companies like Ubisoft and EA are like large sprawling empires of employees on many different countries. But I get the feeling that, at least for artists and even tool programmers, the movie and film industry offers better opportunities, better paychecks and more security than a game career.

I'm confident that the movie and films industry (named like this to include CG advertising and CG for documentaries) is bigger than the whole of the games industry (including consoles and PC hardware).

The thing is, knowing a lot of people that work on movies, the sentiment is the contrary, and they perceive the games industry as much bigger and more friendly than theirs!

Thoughts?

[dux]

The games industry certainly brings in a lot more money than the movie industry when I last decided to look it up.

[-HP-]

The games industry certainly brings in a lot more money than the movie industry when I last decided to look it up.

For big shots maybe. When it comes to the pity cogs like us, we don't make more than programmers or artists in any other industry, we prolly get less.

The thing is, knowing a lot of people that work on movies, the sentiment is the contrary, and they perceive the games industry as much bigger and more friendly than theirs!

Of course they do, isn't the grass always greener in the other side of the fence?

I dunno how the Movies Industry is, but it sure is a lot more mature than ours, which brings good and bad things attached to it. Our industry is not for everybody though, not a lot of people are willing to work long hours for this kind of pay, only the very passionate do. But passion will only get you as far, and I wonder how is it gonna be when we kids decide to grow up, settle down and have a family. Mmm...

[Thrik]

The games industry is extremely successful and there's a hell of a lot of money changing hands. However, the same applies to the drugs trade.

[deceiver]

From what I heard from someone who made the jump from movies/FX to games here in Quebec, he says games are much more stable since you can be permanent whereas in FX/movies here it's all contract-based. So if your company doesn't manage to get enough contracts or what not, people will be let go. He said he did like working in movies a bit better since he could just purely animate, but in games it's a bit more technical.

[dux]

":2sdk72h9]

The games industry certainly brings in a lot more money than the movie industry when I last decided to look it up.

For big shots maybe. When it comes to the pity cogs like us, we don't make more than programmers or artists in any other industry, we prolly get less.

I said industry, not individually. As a whole.

[-HP-]

":2ip93pjf]

The games industry certainly brings in a lot more money than the movie industry when I last decided to look it up.

For big shots maybe. When it comes to the pity cogs like us, we don't make more than programmers or artists in any other industry, we prolly get less.

I said industry, not individually. As a whole.

Yes, as a industry, from 2007 onward the Games Industry had more revenue than the Movies Industry for the very first time. (Don't have a link to back that up tho, I remember I've read it somewhere)

[arhurt]

I edited the topic for clarity's sake.

What I wanted to discuss is exactly what HP and Deceiver are on about: For the average artist, what are the pros and cons of seeking a career in the games industry opposed to the movies and films industry.

The point of games bringing in more profit than movies is already widely discussed and we all agree that games at this moment are faring better.

[Dorothysb]

Well, from my experience, I can say that the salaries are considerably higher on the film industy. I know a lot of people who work in both, and the salary range is about 30 % higher for those who work in the film industry.

[dux]

That doesn't come as any kind of surprise. Game making can be considered slave labour at times.

[-HP-]

In my humble and personal opinion, when you place the negatives and positives side by side, working in the games industry is probably better. (Bear in mind though, and I gonna repeat this, I don't know much about how's it like, and how the pay is in the movies industry)

Games industry is still growing, so if your working on it, it's also up to you to help it shape up into a better industry, whereas I doubt you'd have that chance in the movies industry where everything is so set on stone.

[arhurt]

":3i88jswc]In my humble and personal opinion, when you place the negatives and positives side by side, working in the games industry is probably better. (Bear in mind though, and I gonna repeat this, I don't know much about how's it like, and how the pay is in the movies industry)

Games industry is still growing, so if your working on it, it's also up to you to help it shape up into a better industry, whereas I doubt you'd have that chance in the movies industry where everything is so set on stone.

I also get this sentiment. I feel like I can make, even if in a tiny small scale, a difference in the future of the games industry due to its infancy. Be it a small company or a big one.

[Minos]

Don't worry about this, both industries will merge into one in 10 years or so.

[dux]

I seriously hope not. I don't want to be making shit movie tie in games for the rest of my life.

Transforms 12: War of the cybertron part 8 HD 3d remastered

[FrieChamp]

From what I heard from someone who made the jump from movies/FX to games here in Quebec, he says games are much more stable since you can be permanent whereas in FX/movies here it's all contract-based. So if your company doesn't manage to get enough contracts or what not, people will be let go.

I heard the same from somebody who worked in both areas as an audio designer. The fact that people earn more in movies could be attributed to the fact that they are hired on a project-basis but that also means that they need the money to bridge gaps between jobs. Unless your skills are so high in demand that you can seamlessly transition from one project to the other/the company you work at is so busy that they need everybody all the time.