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Mary-Anne Lee · · 4 min read

12 signs you’ve been working in the games industry for too long

Too many free event t-shirts in your cupboard? Or maybe your recycling bin is starting to overflow with empty company-branded goodie bags? If you’re staring at games for more than eight hours a day and getting paid for it, then this list is for you. God bless our souls.  

1. All your friends think you only ever play games at work

meh

It’s the best job in the world. Not.

2. You no longer want to play games on your off days

ntntrstd

There is something called too much of a good thing.

3. You stop gaming because playing other companies’ games feels like betrayal

apprehensive

I really like that MMORPG from company X but it’s basically competing with my product…

4. Random people friend you on Facebook to ask for free gold/credits/currency

umno

Hey GM can I has gold pls / I can’t log in / ur game suck.

5. You nitpick at other companies’ advertisements

oh_hell_no

6. All your t-shirts are freebies from work events

7. All your other t-shirts are freebies from friends’ work events

8. Your games are only bought via staff discount—either yours, or a friend’s

9. You don’t have games because they’re mostly review copies

10. All your recycled paper bags are from game companies

11. A gaming convention feels more like a family reunion than a work assignment

12. You never join a new company; you just reconnect with old friends


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Community Writer

Mary-Anne Lee

Mary-Anne likes animals and video games.