Andrew gets the tour on his first day at a game studio, meeting the lead engineer, artist, designer, and CEO. A comedic musical that skewers game-dev culture: crunch, milestone meetings, and the obsession with making a AAA title.
My first day at my first real job. Full-time employment, no more college for me. Full-time employment in the games industry. Someday I'll make a AAA game, but for now I'll have to wait. 'Cause it's 9 AM and I don't want to be late.
Welcome to Future Games! This is where the engineers sit. Andrew, let me introduce you to Larry, our lead engineer.
Outside the office we are geeks. We don't know how to talk to girls. But in the office we are gods, the rulers of this world. None of us have ever been laid. It's no big deal, 'cause we're the highest paid. Games are serious work. There's so much left to do, till the next milestone review. Nice to meet you, Larry. You too, Andrew.
This is the art pit. Andrew, this is Ellie. She's in charge of all the artists. Ellie, Andrew is a new tester here.
Wow, she's beautiful. You're beauti— I mean— Hi.
If you see it in the game, we drew it. Graphics are our domain. We're getting paid to be artistic. The right job for the right brain. People say we make too much noise. They're probably just jealous of our toys. Games are serious work. The Nerf wars may be But the art is also first-rate. Games are serious work. There's so much left to do till the next milestone review.
Sorry about the, uh, compliment.
Don't mention it. I'm used to it.
I can't believe you got me with a red shell right before the finish line. All skill, baby.
Ahem. Andrew, this is John, our lead designer. Andrew is a new tester here.
Hey, nice to meet you, John. I'm a big Mario Kart player myself. Yeah, Mario Kart is awesome. Much better than the games we make here. I'm not gonna lie, the games here are pretty crappy. Come on, Future Games is great. Well, work hard and someday you can be a misunderstood game designer just like me. Outside of the office, no one knows what the hell we do. We don't draw and we don't code. Our vision is our value. Definitely.
Morning everyone, milestone meeting in 5 minutes. Games are serious work. Games are serious. Games are serious. Games are serious.
John, your reasoning is completely illogical. In this scenario, intuition clearly Trump's logic. Spock would totally beat Darth Vader in a fight. Are you serious? Vader would Force choke Spock and it would be over.
And this is Leah, our executive producer. She's the product owner. Nice to meet you. My job keeps the team on track and talking to each other. I'm supposed to be their leader. Instead, I am their mother. Games are serious work. My team can't They drive me crazy. Sometimes they're freaking lazy. Games are serious work. We can get through thin and thick if we stay away from Richard. Good morning.
Ah, maybe. Let's see how this milestone meeting goes.
Well, have a seat. We're about to get started.
Oh, I will when I'm good and ready, sweet cheeks. Dick's the CEO, and yes, he runs the show. He's really not a gamer, he just likes bringing home the dough.
Don't look Dick in the eye when he comes by. He spews and he abuses till it makes you cry.
This art looks like shit. Her boobs are way too small. I have an idea. Make them bigger.
To Dick, the most important thing is hitting our deadline. If we're not on schedule, then it's overtime.
Yo, so I'm gonna need you to come in on Saturday. Sound good? Great.
Overtime. And this is the testing department, your new home. Here's your desk. Start time is 9 AM sharp. Lunch break is 1 hour starting at noon.
You're hourly, so don't be late clocking back in or we'll dock your pay.
Orientation paperwork is on your desk. I expect it done by end of day.
We're the testers, the lowest on the totem. Testers, the bottom of the bottom.
One minute, people, let's go! Guess who's our series hero?
Hundreds of thousands of lines of code, I feel like my head is about to explode.
Guess who's our series hero? The bottom of the totem.
Guess who's our series hero? I'm always designed to have to You bet my hair's falling out from all the stress.
Work is work. It's always one thing or another. Work is work. Give me a break, I'm not your mother.
Games are serious work. Games are serious work. Work games are serious.
Work.
Delirious. Work games are serious. Work with weirdos.
Games are serious work. Work. Work. AAA!
Super Mario!
AAA!
F-Zero! AAA! Super Smash Bros.!
Someday we'll make a game that's AAA! Someday we'll make a game that's AAA! Someday! Someday I'll work at AAA!
TikTok Mental Health Awareness Month Video from The Magicians' Society of Manhattan | TA Spring 2022
