As a Student Learning a Games Degree, It Does Not Feel Worth It.
I've been studying on a Games course for 4 years now (in my 4th year). I started out in my first year on a Design course learning 3D modelling, animation and production. I wanted something more technical, so I restarted onto a Programming course with Mechanics, Graphics and UI.
I've been to lots of networking events where I've met amazing and talented people in this Industry and befriended a number of them. Seeing them getting laid off or having their friends and colleagues losing their job feels extremely demoralising. I even spoke to my lecturer about job security, where he told me it never existed in Games in the first place.
I'm set to graduate this academic year, and given the environment, I feel that no matter how passionate, talented or well connected someone is, they are still at the mercy of their management's competence. At this point, I find there are better Industries and roles out there which offer higher wages and more security for the same level of stress.
Am I paranoid?
Is it masochism masquerading as passion?
Is all of it overblown?
Maybe the fine individuals of this community may know something that I just don't, and could help reassure me it's not just doom and gloom. It's just sucks knowing for every Peak or Expedition 33, there are countless games and people who poured their everything into a game that never succeeded (or saw the light of day).