this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2024
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Pre-production happens while the previous project is in active development so they can't shift everyone over to the new project as soon as they can. They aren't sitting on their hands to start that process until the previous one finishes.
What about studios that just make 1 or 2 games over 10 years? You’re ignoring the studios that put out the largest amount of games and talk about them like they are everyone else. Theres thousands of these studios compared to the dozens you are talking about like they are gospel.
I’m sorry the industry is far larger with more intricacies than you thought. Even these small studios go through the same layoffs during downturns, it’s just not a big deal since it’s only a handful of employees. Even though that may be 20% of their work force, so that’s actually worse………
Pre-production still keeps a project ready to go when the previous one finishes. Trust me, I have a lot more knowledge on the industry than you do. I have several friends in the industry and have considered entering it myself. Studios don't just lay employees off between projects. That'd be horribly wasteful. Any half decent producer will always have tasks for people to work on.
Oddly, I can also claim the same thing, that’s why I know that people get laid off between jobs, since it actually happens. Or course I could be making this up, just like you are.
I am not making it up. What you're talking about used to happen a lot more, but even then it wasn't that common. The small studios will often work on contract work if they didn't have a projects of their own, and large studios have multiple projects going at the same time. One of my friends just recently they canceled their project but luckily didn't lay them off and just switched them to a different ongoing project. Indie studios generally they wear many hats and everyone does pre-production, design, and other tasks.
It's too time consuming and expensive to train up all new staff every project. Maybe a handful get laid off, but it isn't gig work. It's unusual for that to happen.