Video Game Industry Slump

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

It's not even that bad overall really. Not that 8% is a kind figure, but compared to the 1920's and 30's when it was between 20~40% and hyper inflation in Germany and other parts... yeah, the world's seen much worse. The problem lies with the politicians, the idiots who vote these asshats in, and the super-wealthy who control everything. Honestly I'm just waiting for the revolution at this point.

See, you believe its 8%. Both the Bush and Obama White House have loved to fudge the numbers. we're actually closer to 20% once you factor in all the people that have passed 99 weeks of unemployment between 2008 and now. They stop counting after 99, sometimes sooner depending on the state. This "slow growth" are temp jobs, highly disposable. They're to the economy what empty calories are to the body. Nothing of substance or sustenance. Jobs, not careers. The Baby Boomers that didn't get out of the work force before 2007 have seen their 401ks dry up and aren't leaving their jobs new. Employers can't promote when people don't leave so now kids getting out of college can't even really get experience with employers that aren't spoiled by temp agencies.

You don't see this because you still live with your family. I say this not to condescend, but to give you perspective. You have security for now. I have talented friends with good educations the bottom is about to drop out on. What's more, its not your moron of a president that gave up the Keystone pipeline and created thousands of jobs for Canadians. Not that I live near the area those jobs happen, but it would have been good for our economy to keep that. I guess they don't have politicians with whackjob environmentalists to appease up there.

God I miss the Clintons. I really do.

[Aeni]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

No, both those ideas are wonderful and help keep people much happier.

The problem lies more in these ridiculous loans combined with their governments spending far more than they can reasonably earn or borrow.

Well there is a problem of not being able to fire your least productive, least competant workers. If you had a pothead showing up for only half the time and didn't do squat when he does show up, you can't fire him, unless he committed a crime or something. At least that's what I have been lead to believe by the media. Someone can correct me ... I can't really trust media anymore.

[Malacite]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

That's when unions go too far. Also I really don't buy into the notion of the size of govt = the source the problem. It's more of an issue of competence and voter complacency.

And yes, the actual unemployment numebrs are higher than 8% if you factor in underworked people or people who've given up looking entirely - but the figures I've seen place that closer to 12~14%, not 20%. There's no way it's that bad, not from what I've personally seen and how well corporations are doing. The single biggest problem IMO is that America's businesses are collectively sitting on 2~3 trillion dollars that are being withheld due to bullshit fears of what Obama may do about taxes.

At least, that's what you hear from the right anyway and I'm sure it's true to a degree. But Europe is what's really scaring businesses, because if Europe tanks that's going to screw everything up. Besides, it doesn't really matter who the president is, the real power has always lied in the hands of the congress and you can thank the right for cockblocking nearly everything Obama's tried to do to help. I've gone off about all this before though and really don't feel like rehashing it for the millionth time. I will say this though: Bill Clinton is a lieing piece of shit and is majorly responsible for the current mess since he signed into law the removal of the last safeguards put in after the 1930's such as Glass Steagall Act. That combined with Greenspan's low interest nonsense is what allowed the housing bubble to inflate so much and allowed for what people perceive as the 90's "good times".


On topic: Eh, I lost my train of thought lol... any word on the Price of the Wii U?

[Mezlo]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

Well there is a problem of not being able to fire your least productive, least competant workers. If you had a pothead showing up for only half the time and didn't do squat when he does show up, you can't fire him, unless he committed a crime or something. At least that's what I have been lead to believe by the media. Someone can correct me ... I can't really trust media anymore.

Random drug test = failed = fired

[Aeni]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

Random drug test = failed = fired

From what I understand, especially in Spain, Italy and Greece, the unions are so strong that I don't think you could get fired for failing a random drug test ... but I don't even think those places even have drug tests in the work place at all ... I've heard of stories where co-workers of an offending member tried to get rid of him/her due to incompetency and weren't able to unless the person committed a serious offense, like stealing money.

Germany had similar kinds of worker protections until they followed the American model and turned their slumping economy around and actually pushed unemployment down. I'm not advocating doing away with all worker protections, but there has to be a balance between the good of the worker and the ability for the company to produce and flourish. It shouldn't have to be one way or the other only.

[Raydeus]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

They are not Unions, they are mafias, and just like corporate lobbyists they can take over companies if allowed too.

That's why I always facepalm when people tries to glorify unions talking about democracy, the fight for worker's rights and all that crap. In the end, once a Union is big enough a bunch of "Leaders" will take over and start using it's power for their own benefit, oppressing the people needing a job in the process and ransoming the very company that is giving them the job. It's always a power struggle between the owners, the employees, and the parasites that take advantage of the system for personal gain.


But I live in a third world country, so that probably only happens here. I mean there's noooo way that would happen in a 1st world country, right.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

You guys like to bad-mouth unions, but what you guys describe and what I'm familiar with are radically different. My dad was a member of and later worked for the local teacher's union. Pretty much the entirety of the work they did was struggling to keep upper management from fucking over teachers. They're not some mysterious mafia, they're a bunch of folks trying to make sure the little guy doesn't get bent over a desk and told to take it up the ass.

[Malacite]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

They are not Unions, they are mafias, and just like corporate lobbyists they can take over companies if allowed too.

That's why I always facepalm when people tries to glorify unions talking about democracy, the fight for worker's rights and all that crap. In the end, once a Union is big enough a bunch of "Leaders" will take over and start using it's power for their own benefit, oppressing the people needing a job in the process and ransoming the very company that is giving them the job. It's always a power struggle between the owners, the employees, and the parasites that take advantage of the system for personal gain.


But I live in a third world country, so that probably only happens here. I mean there's noooo way that would happen in a 1st world country, right.

It's about balance. Unions are necessary, otherwise you end up with corporations that can do whatever the hell they like to their employees. But at the same time, when unions go too far you end up with asshats who don't get rightly fired over doing stupid shit. This is where govt. could theoretically step in by setting at least some universal standards that every union has to adhere to, while still being able to negotiate at least some of their terms with the company in question.

Plainly put, if it wasn't for unions we wouldn't have any worker's rights today. Children would probably still be working in factories, the companies would bear no responsibility for accidents etc etc... yeah the early 20th century was not a fun time.

[Mezlo]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

There was a time and a place for unions. The time was 50 years ago.

[DakAttack]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

It's always a good time to stand up for your rights.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

It's always a good time to stand up for your rights.

So you don't notice the unions that that are essentially pets of political parties or lower the quality of public education through dated ideas like tenure?

You never had the fuckwit of a teacher that popped a video in the VCR, wrote the homework on the board and then when out to smoke a few cigarettes? That's the kind of quality educators unions got my high school - twits that don't teach and just assign. Thankfully they were not all that bad, but the fact rot like that is still holding a job (perhaps minus the smoking) is something I find infuriating. Unions make that happen. An actual competitive environment would fix that.

[Raydeus]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

Of course there is always a need to have some sort of organization for employees to be able to protect their rights and improve working conditions, but old school Unions are not the only way. They had their time when conditions were seriously bad, but nowadays they are more often than not bureaucratic constructs that do more harm than good in the not so long run while charging employees for "protection", and making back deals with employers to keep the workers in check while at the same time ransoming them for "protection" as well.

Even here in Mexico working conditions are no better in places with unions than in places without them, and I seriously doubt the US is in a worse condition right now.

[Mezlo]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

An actual competitive environment would fix that.

This.

- - - Updated - - -

They had their time when conditions were seriously bad, but nowadays they are more often than not bureaucratic constructs that do more harm than good in the not so long run.

and this.

[DakAttack]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

So you don't notice the unions that that are essentially pets of political parties or lower the quality of public education through dated ideas like tenure?

You never had the fuckwit of a teacher that popped a video in the VCR, wrote the homework on the board and then when out to smoke a few cigarettes? That's the kind of quality educators unions got my high school - twits that don't teach and just assign. Thankfully they were not all that bad, but the fact rot like that is still holding a job (perhaps minus the smoking) is something I find infuriating. Unions make that happen. An actual competitive environment would fix that.

There are shitty people everywhere you go. Besides, if push comes to shove, every principal should have enough tricks up their sleeve to fire whomever they want. If they can't, maybe it's not the union you should blame.

[Raydeus]

Re: Video Game Industry Slump

And speaking of unions, it is thanks to the unions that police officers can get away with flagrant abuse of power because the union will protect them and hold entire cities hostage so they never have to face consequences.

Mafia style.