Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
Jan 26th 2010, 10:45 pm
#136
Pictou County Superstar™
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: On top of the Green hill, NS
Posts: 4,219
Re: Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
Jan 27th 2010, 12:33 am
#137
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: TBD
Posts: 6,005
Re: Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
Volatile's the right word - not knowing if the next pay cheque was going to arrive or not, endless meetings with venture capitalists, due diligence being carried out every quarter by some suitor or another, insecurity about whether there'd be enough work for everyone.... made for a stressful workplace. I'm not unhappy to be out of it.
Jan 27th 2010, 1:12 am
#139
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 468
Re: Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
Some of my former colleagues came from there. They always said that they'd never work for an EA studio ever again. Once you start moaning about overtime, they get tough on you saying that you aren't pulling your weight within the team. Their mentality is that you need them more than they need you and that you can easily be replaced.
Some non-EA companies are like this too back in England.
Some non-EA companies are like this too back in England.
Last edited by SambaDeAmigo; Jan 27th 2010 at 1:16 am.
Jan 27th 2010, 1:41 am
#140
Banned
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: In Limbo
Posts: 15,706
Re: Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
1) I expressed an opinion
2) I appear to have hit a nerve
3) You appear to have a massive chip on your shoulder
Jan 27th 2010, 8:25 am
#142
Sidecar Falcon
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,504
Re: Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
Yes, on the outskirts of Leamington.
Volatile's the right word - not knowing if the next pay cheque was going to arrive or not, endless meetings with venture capitalists, due diligence being carried out every quarter by some suitor or another, insecurity about whether there'd be enough work for everyone.... made for a stressful workplace. I'm not unhappy to be out of it.
Volatile's the right word - not knowing if the next pay cheque was going to arrive or not, endless meetings with venture capitalists, due diligence being carried out every quarter by some suitor or another, insecurity about whether there'd be enough work for everyone.... made for a stressful workplace. I'm not unhappy to be out of it.
I think there is a blog online somewhere written by a few wives/girlfriends/ex's of games devs in the US in Canada and they don't paint a particularly nice picture.
Jan 27th 2010, 8:27 am
#143
Sidecar Falcon
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,504
Re: Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
No they're not.
Assassin's Creed II, for example, has sold in the millions and who has received the largest bonus and promotion at Ubisoft Montreal? Not the poor fools who stayed in the office night after night to complete it on target but Jade Raymond for showing up at a few trade shows and being drooled over by sad games journalists.
Assassin's Creed II, for example, has sold in the millions and who has received the largest bonus and promotion at Ubisoft Montreal? Not the poor fools who stayed in the office night after night to complete it on target but Jade Raymond for showing up at a few trade shows and being drooled over by sad games journalists.
Jan 27th 2010, 10:01 am
#144
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 468
Re: Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
Not at all. Many games companies are loyal to their employees and treat them right. Where I'm working now, 90% of the division were headhunted
Last edited by SambaDeAmigo; Jan 27th 2010 at 10:04 am.
Jan 27th 2010, 11:04 am
#145
Sidecar Falcon
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,504
Re: Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
I've heard that 2K, Rockstar, Rare and Valve can all be fairly enjoyable to work for, I suppose with the added comfort, improved working conditions and less pressure usually comes a reduction in pay though.
Jan 27th 2010, 11:24 am
#146
Beep
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Here
Posts: 8,311
Re: Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
No they're not.
Assassin's Creed II, for example, has sold in the millions and who has received the largest bonus and promotion at Ubisoft Montreal? Not the poor fools who stayed in the office night after night to complete it on target but Jade Raymond for showing up at a few trade shows and being drooled over by sad games journalists.
Assassin's Creed II, for example, has sold in the millions and who has received the largest bonus and promotion at Ubisoft Montreal? Not the poor fools who stayed in the office night after night to complete it on target but Jade Raymond for showing up at a few trade shows and being drooled over by sad games journalists.
Plus Jade Raymond is quite fit so deserves more bonus than the fat sweaty code monkeys she controls.
Jan 27th 2010, 11:26 am
#147
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 468
Re: Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
Not all Rockstar studios treat you the same. For e.g. R* San Diego is a having some issues on employee treatment at the moment. But in general, the ones in the UK treat employees well - free pop, nice bonuses, weekly pub outings during work hours, free goodies every week and free time off. Couldn't complain.
Jan 27th 2010, 11:29 am
#148
Sidecar Falcon
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,504
Re: Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
Either way, even though i'm highly regarded within the organisation i work for, i'm under no illusion that the company cannot survive without me. I, and the vast majority of employees the world over, can be replaced and forgotten in a very short space of time with little or no lasting impact to the company. A company generally has no loyalty to its employees and to think otherwise would be naive.
Plus Jade Raymond is quite fit so deserves more bonus than the fat sweaty code monkeys she controls.
Plus Jade Raymond is quite fit so deserves more bonus than the fat sweaty code monkeys she controls.
With regards to how quickly people can be replaced, I think that very often depends on how well things are documented internally. Those companies who don't carry well documented procedures and protocols are usually those who also struggle to carry on when their existing staff jump ship and one of those who believes that the code monkeys are usually the most important people to a business like that, it's just that some businesses are good at recruiting bastard managers who's main priority is to convince said code monkeys otherwise.
Jan 27th 2010, 11:29 am
#149
Sidecar Falcon
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,504
Re: Cost of living in Canada compared to uk
Not all Rockstar studios treat you the same. For e.g. R* San Diego is a having some issues on employee treatment at the moment. But in general, the ones in the UK treat employees well - free pop, nice bonuses, weekly pub outings during work hours, free goodies every week and free time off. Couldn't complain.
