130°

2009 Game Developer Salary Reveals Average Income of $75,573

Game Developer Research, the analysis arm of leading videogame industry publications Game Developer magazine and Gamasutra, has released the results of its ninth annual Game Developer Salary Survey, calculating an average American mainstream videogame industry salary in 2009 of $75,573, a decline of more than 4% from 2008's figure of $79,000.

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gamesonsmash.com
ClownBelt5128d ago

That's in the middle salary range. It's not actually bad.

blitz06235128d ago

Actually, most are under that range. From what I know the most common or average salary would be around 30-40k so that's pretty impressive.

ClownBelt5128d ago

Yeah I would think so too. I guess the devs who are in the spotlight get this kind of salary.

silvacrest5127d ago

not bad tbh, i would be happy with that

-MD-5127d ago (Edited 5127d ago )

I wonder how much Jaffe makes, he's said previously he's not rich at all but he lives in a nice neighborhood and has a nice house.

Cliffy B probably makes 5 times this if he's driving around in a lambo.

iFLOWLIKEWATER5127d ago

If I decided to get into game developing, it personally wouldn't be for the money, but for the love of gaming and defining it as an art form...

Cysquatch5127d ago

For what developers go through, 75k is peanuts. And if you live in the bay area, 75K is tough to live on especially if you're married. Now if you're solo and live in a studio, its "okay". Yea, yea its for the "love of the industry". That's easy to say from you're mom's basement. Struggling with a family, not so much.

iFLOWLIKEWATER5127d ago (Edited 5127d ago )

I guess that was a jab at my statement. I still find it hard to believe people are making a living creating video games, and even more crazier, people making a living playing video games. The industry has definitely exploded...

FragGen5127d ago (Edited 5127d ago )

So much for the archetype of the poor, underpaid, developer everyone cries about when talking about game prices, piracy, etc.

It's time people realize most of the rising fees and costs they're paying for stuff are being applied to Bobby Kotick's yacht payments rather than to finally raising some poor dev's salary above slave wages.

ABizzel15127d ago

The average is more like 30 - 40k like blitz (1.1) said. This is more of an average salary for lead developers.

Enate5127d ago

The Lambo belongs to the owner of epic not Cliffy he just let him drive it. Though after the gears serious has taken off like it has he could probably have one of his own no sweat.

The Lazy One5127d ago

The 75k average is not for leads. The average is weighted more towards the bottom end as there are more developers at the bottom end. If anyone cares to read they break it down by position too.

30-40k is just not livable in half the cities where most video game companies are located. When you consider most companies are located in cities that have the highest cost of living in the country, it's not as high as it looks.

Fanb0y5127d ago

This is really not high...

especially considering the high cost of living where most game studios are.

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 5127d ago
CharlesDCI5128d ago

I know. Its actually damn good lol

Milky5128d ago

woah thats a nice salary right there.

neogeo5127d ago

too many hours for 75k not worth it for 100hrs per week

BannedForNineYears5127d ago

Not if you're doing what you love. :|

FragGen5127d ago

That's ironic, I wouldn't be a car salesman for a million dollars a year. But that's why I went to college, I guess.

Cysquatch5127d ago

If you all "love the industry" so much, get into sales or marketing. That make just as much if not more. You "lovers" blinded by a salary more than $12/hr are exactly who Bobby Kotick is looking for.

iFLOWLIKEWATER5127d ago

If life is that rough for you, you should have thought about your income before having kids...just a thought.

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iceman29295127d ago (Edited 5127d ago )

It makes sense, if the average person works 40 odd hours a week and earns 35k then these guys should be making ~70k + as they work anywhere between 80-100 hours per week.

Furthermore, if I was gonna spend this much time working, i'd rather be an investment banker and then eventually put my dollars into producing new games :P That way I could eventually be involved in the game making process and get a better $/hr rate.

Anon19745127d ago

I worked for just about a decade in the brokerage industry and I hated it but kept saying "The money's good. I've got a baby on the way and the money's good. I can do this."

When I was laid off from my firm last year it was the best thing that happened to me. I had the opportunity to go back to school and now I'm just finishing my first year of game design. It's so cool to me that even half way through I'm already able to design and code old school 2d type platformers like what I grew up. I couldn't be happier.

My research also found averages of about 70-75k with programmers making a bit higher (that's where I'm focusing my efforts).

From experience, I'd rather make less money and love what I do then make more money and have to drag my ass into work everyday. I'm more use to my family with less money but happy than I am rich and miserable.

PshycoNinja5127d ago

What school do you go to? I am also going to school to become a game programmer because I love programing (and like you I heard that programers make more money :p)

Anon19745127d ago (Edited 5127d ago )

They had a Computer System Tech course that, at the start of this year because Digital Media and Tech. It's a two year course but you can now specialize within the course everything from Application programmer to Game developer or Programmer. Right now we've just finished doing 2D platformers using C# and the XNA studio, we've got an entire course on manipulating the Unreal Engine, Game Fundamentals which is a theory course, Database using SQL, 3D using Maya, and then I'm picking up some business courses to round things out. Next semester, more XNA, more 3d and unreal, a course on programming physics, character design and story boarding.

Apparently Bioware has been bugging NAIT for years to develop some talent locally so they sat down and said, "Well, what do you want us to teach them?" It's hard to get programmers and design people to move up to Edmonton because the cost of living is so much less, they don't pay as much which can certainly turn people off when considering the move. Of course, this is just what I've heard through the grapevine.

When I'm finished I'll apply for Bioware or look at moving the family out to Vancouver. By that time the worst of the recession should be over and I could probably go back to the brokerage industry if I needed to in the meantime, but I'm a geek. It's always wanted to go into game development but never really had a chance. My only concern is my age breaking into this industry. Still, I'll be a strong enough programmer after all this that I shouldn't need to every go back to the brokerage industry. I don't even like walking into the bank anymore. :)

commodore645127d ago

@ darkride66

I am sorry you lost your job in the economic downturn and I applaud your decision to pursue your programming passion.
I had not realised that you were made redundant.

Hope it works out for you.

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70°

7 Iconic Games That Put The PS1 On The Map

The first PlayStation is home to an array of iconic video games that went on to define the sheer significance of this console.

SimpleSlave3h ago

I think from a historical perspective I would change Spyro for Grand Turismo. It's the franchise that made the PS1 look like an absolute unit. Other than that, I can't argue with the rest when it comes to games that defined the PS1.

And to be honest, there should be space for Tekken 3, Wipepout and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater in order to round out the PS1 identity as the machine to own at the time.

With Tomb Raider 2, Silent Hill, Symphony of the Night, Tenchu, and Soul Reaver as backup contenders.

290°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv722d ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle2d ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18811d 22h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio1d 21h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning771d 16h ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga2d ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv721d 10h ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

neutralgamer19921d 5h ago

Darth

30% physical sales: yet Phil and xbox division are in a rush go give up on that 30%. they don't have any right to give up any piece of the pie since the control such a little of the pie to begin with

also, the market is clearly speaking that the model Xbox is pushing isn't working right now the keyword being right now. you are right about freedom to play anywhere so i hope they put their games on steam

shinoff21831d 23h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga1d 22h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan1d 18h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit1d 10h ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus231d 17h ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv721d 16h ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica1d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

Chevalier1d 5h ago

@Darth

You should stop parroting metrics like an idiot without context.

"Xbox content and services revenue grew 62% in Q3 from a year earlier, “driven by 61 points of net impact” from the purchase of the third-party video game giant, Microsoft said."

61 of the 62% was from their merger so net increase is ONLY 1%

https://www.mesaonline.org/...

itsmebryan20h ago

@chevalier

It looks like made a great purchase. Much better then Sony buying Bungie. 😉
Cheers

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 20h ago
purple1012d ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos2d ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-1d 16h ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac2d ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1012d ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic1d 23h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead1d 16h ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 16h ago
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140°

Why Monopolies In Gaming Must Not Be Allowed

As of right now, there are no monopolies in the games industry, and for the sake of the medium as a whole, they never should either.

thorstein2d ago

Shouldn't be allowed in any field.

Inverno2d ago

And yet the biggest tech companies in America are essentially that. They buy up all the small comps only to kill them off and steal what they have, and if they can't buy em they bleed them to death.

jwillj2k42d ago

Eventually they’ll realize the value is with the employee not the company. Buying an IP means nothing if the people who contributed are let go. They’ll get it one day.

MrCrimson2d ago

tech is different because they buy threats and then kill them. Twitter bought Vine and did nothing with it. Despite people seemingly liking it. Could've had tiktok a decade before bytedance. go figure.

Zenzuu2d ago

Monopolies shouldn't be allowed regardless. Not just for gaming.

MrCrimson2d ago

They buy IPs not talent. That's why these buyouts never work and the IPs die. Right now it's too expensive to develop games - but I expect that to shift maybe as AI tools can make it easier. The best games have been indie games for awhile as big developers fuck their ips to death with "games as a service" -