Ive had this conversation a few times lately, with friends whove worked in games as long as I have. When it dawns on us that we might actually be making games deep into middle age, it comes as a hell of a shock.
We have an idea in our head as to what fifty looks like. Fifty is respectable. Fifty is distinguished. Fifty is not having all night play sessions with the new Tomb Raider trying to figure out how to get past that @#$!! bear.
Most of the artists I know who have been in games for a long time sort of fell into it. There werent a lot of schools offering courses in game development back then, so we all came to games from wildly different backgrounds: I had been a layout artist at a local newspaper. Someone else was a cartoonist. And one friend was a baker. Games, for me, was an unexpected shot at stability. I was a kid, making games with OTHER kids. It didnt seem like a career, it was just a fun job. Twenty years later, Im the target of a lot of old man jokes at work, and Ive only realized recently how long Ive been doing this.
There werent a lot of rules back then, like there are for people with real jobs. In other industries, theres usually a grown up waiting for you on your first day to keep you in line. They let you know that its not okay to come to work at 10:30, or use cardboard boxes to turn your cubicle into a wicked-awesome fort, or to wear toe shoes to work. (Or anywhere, really. Seriously. ANYwhere.)
The thing is, middle age sneaks up on everyone. Always has. Im just arguing that its a little more shocking for those of us who work in an industry that doesnt exactly encourage you to act your age. Think Im wrong? Take a look at a picture of your grandpa when he was 40. He already looks like an 80 year old man. He probably did when he was 20, too. His pants are hiked up to his chin. Hes wearing wool trousers and a tie. Hes polished his shoes and his hair to a sheen. He looks RESPONSIBLE. Now take a look at 40 year old video game-makin you. Youve got a hoodie on. Its probably got Bobba Fett on it. Youre wearing cargo shorts. Or cargo pants. Definitely cargo-something. Your socks probably dont match. And if youre wearing shoes at all, theyre either Crocs or Converse. Youre an over the hill Dennis the Menace. Youre a grey haired toddler.
Im not judging, mind you! Its not YOUR fault! If youve worked in games for a long time, nobody ever told you to dress or act like an adult. Your extended adolescence wasnt just tolerated, it was encouraged. Nerf gun battles in the hallways were commonplace (in the late 90s/early 00s, anyways. Budgets are too lean to buy ammo these days). Taking vacation days to assemble your Halloween costume was revered. And that dork in the Stormtrooper helmet, rolling down the hallway on his Segway? Thats your BOSS, dude.
Retiring in Games
Ten years ago, the phrase Im retiring from videogames was the lottery story: it meant that you were cashing out. You got into a small studio early, and made a ton of cash on stock options when it went public. You were smart with your money. You didnt blow it all on 3D printers and authentic Indiana Jones hats. And now youre going to devote your time to designing your annual Burning Man sculptures. Or breeding Burmese Mountain Dogs.
Today, retiring from video games means that your gnarled, arthritic fingers arent able to grip your Cintiq pen, your rheumy old eyes cant tell the difference between a smudge on the screen and a curpuscular ray, and you regularly fall asleep in scheduling meetings. (To be fair, everyone falls asleep in scheduling meetings.) Youre being put out to pasture.
So, NOW what do we do? I guess we make peace with the fact that were going to be making video games until our sleeve tattoos have faded and weve put custom-made orthotics in our Chuck Taylors. Its also comforting to know that, while were all getting older, so is our audience. Maybe we should start focusing on developing games that people our age can relate to.
Thanks again.