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Impermanence

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It’s no secret that the video game industry is competitive and sometimes unforgiving. Producing games, like films, is a bit like gambling, with some great games yielding mediocre sales while some terrible games rake in the cash. Several of the larger game publishers balance more conservative bets, such as sequels and expansions, against risky games with new IP or radical innovations.

The video game industry is a business, and it is not immune to the harsh realities of the corporate world. Layoffs are commonplace; studios collapse every season. It should come as no surprise, then, that one of the studios I worked for was recently shut down.

I worked for this particular studio for a few months as an intern, and it was one of the first times that I truly felt at home in the industry. I was surrounded by many of smart, talented people who were passionate about their work. The studio also treated their employees well by offering competitive wages and plenty of work-sponsored activities. I remember when I came into the lobby one day and found front table covered in cups of Baskin-Robbins ice cream, free for the taking. There was also the time when we got to see a highly anticipated movie in a nearby theater, sponsored by the studio.

It was hard to hear about that studio closing, mainly because of all the friends that I had made during my time there. I felt for them, as the job market is tough right now, and it’s particularly difficult to get a job during the holiday season. Yet it seems that many former employees are attempting to look on the bright side and move onto bigger and better opportunities.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about hearing of the studio closure was how it hit so close to home. I had an opportunity to work at that studio but I passed it up. I now work for a studio that is still hiring, and I feel very grateful that I ended up working there. I still feel a bit shaken, however, as the closure reminded me of the impermanence of my own job. While I enjoy what I do and truly invest myself in my work, I must remember that, in an industry like video games, the only constant is change. After all, technology and consumer demands keep changing, and we must keep up in order to survive.  
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