The gaming industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and has fueled a past time that has become a way of life. But what are the industry secrets that only the game developers know?
That's what Redditor u/Mandenmaker01 wanted to find out, taking to Reddit to ask Ex-developers of games, what is a secret people should know about?
And sure enough some game creatives started sharing...
Look Away....
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Actual secret tip: most games secretly reduce the aggressiveness of enemies outside of the view to reduce player frustration of being sucker-punched by non-visible enemies. Looking away can sometimes help if you need time to look through radial menu's etc. during combat.
AI Cheats...
Hardest task for an AI engineer on any game with AI enemies holding guns: Getting those enemies to miss their shots in the first place.
Ugh, this AI is stupid, they all charge in at the front and let me mow them down.
Ugh this AI cheats, they magically teleport behind me and start shooting me when I have no cover because I'm engaged up front.
Creating fun but tough but fair and smart but not too-smart of AI seems ridiculously hard.
The Download...
Everything is a secret loading screen.
Absolutely makes sense to use that time.
That said in windows Vista or 7 you could reduce the boot time by ~3 seconds just by turning off the graphical boot screen. Reason: windows only started the boot process after the animation with the 4 balls forming the windows logo finished.
It Just Is....
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If you want to work in games, you'll never have enough time to complete anything to your satisfaction.
Thanks PS2....
One game which had seamless loading that I loved and didn't even realize how revolutionary it was at the time was Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy. There was no "loading screens". The camera would automatically position itself in a way that you couldn't see the area behind you being unloaded or the area ahead of you being loaded when you were going into a new area.
Thing is, it never feels like they're obstructing your view. You will only notice it once you know what to look for and where. Only loading screen I can think of is when loading your save file. This was all done on PS2.
The Invisible....
Anything you can't see is actually invisible. It's called Frustrum Culling. Anything the camera isn't pointing at, also doesn't get rendered.
True, but Frustum Culling is only half the solution. The other half is Occlusion Culling, which needs to be set up and turned on (at least in Unity) which a lot of these bad, slow, terribly optimized, games forget about.
Occlusion culling turns off stuff that's in view, but obstructed entirely by something else (like an enemy behind a building, or a building behind a bigger building).
Pasta Rules....
Back-end is a spaghetti code, only God knows how it works. Everytime we fix something, we screw something up in return.
Fascinated by this even when I'm building a website lol, couldn't imagine being a game developer. Organization in logic flow and structured discipline in defining variables is key?
Vermin....
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Most employees are fired immediately after the game's release.
Time to add a ton of little bugs that'll take a year after release to be fixed.
The QC Group....
The qc dept. usually gets thrown under the bus by players but almost all of them have no idea the amount of work these guys put in. It's crazy to me that qc isn't considered a crucial part of development by regular users.
Deadlines are a really complicate affair, especially when talking about triple a games launched on consoles not just pc. The patches need to be sent to sony or Microsoft for testing and as you can imagine losing your slot because of delays screws everything up.
Let's have fun....
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When you turn your hobby game development into a job, it becomes just another job.
I found myself playing less games in my spare time as a result, which then negatively impacted my excitement for the game dev job.
Making game dev a hobby activity again brought back all the fun, and my job is not related to gaming.
Seamless....
We had a PC, 360, and PS3 massively multiplayer real-time shooter working cross-platform in our office in 2012. It was so seamless that it didn't matter which system we had on our desk for the company-wide playtests. The higher-ups tried desperately to make this a feature that shipped, but the console wars were too hostile in those days so it didn't happen.
The Horror....
Almost everyone who worked on the game you love doesn't work at the company anymore as they worked horrible hours for a few years and then got fired as soon as the game was out to reduce expenses.
Everyone in video games is paid like crap except upper upper management.
You'd think you could have more semi-pro indie games where a team forms itself, makes the game, and shares equally across the board. Except of course I guess everyone wants to "cash in" when they do it themselves, so they do the same thing.
Taking Forever
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People want to know why a game is a delayed. I was writing code for a now canceled project, the one cutscenes that took one minute of in game time took six hours of work. If a bug happens, it takes even longer.
So many players...
A game developer said this on TikTok, when you first start a game like cod, they throw A.I. bots in the online matches because it can be hard playing against real people when you first start.
Activision Blizzard have actually patented the reverse idea. They put new players into online games with experienced players who have bought micro-transaction items such as weapon skins. The idea being the new player gets their butt kicked and relates some of that towards the mtx weapons and so is more inclined to purchase them.
Look Behind You....
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It's basically as competitive and cutthroat as the porn industry. If you complain about your job there is probably an 18 year-old willing to do it cheaper.
Too Soon....
Sometimes when a video game is terrible, it's not because the team who worked on it have no skills. Often it's because the company wants sales, so they set the release date too soon and don't give the developers enough time to create a well-made game.
Fools....
If you're working with a small team and the lead is set on producing one specific title. That's fine.
If however they continue to talk in circles without forward momentum. For example rewriting the initial opening sequence twenty times instead of moving on and completing the plot.
Only having vague descriptions for the art team and becoming irrationally upset when it take a couple weeks to go from concept to 3D model.
I signed an NDA in regards to one particular monster type. So I have to step lightly around what I say but that monster was the main one you'd be fighting. It had neat abilities but that was it. I guarantee you've fought and killed this monster many many times.
People are dumb.
The Tester....
Not a dev but when to school for Game Production for about a year and was a game tester for D3 Productions for about 2 years.
Don't test a game you like. Not as a beta tester, I mean a full time job. I tested several games on the PC and a couple on Nintendo DS.
I used to like games like Tetris and Breakout but now they are super repetitive to me now.
At school, we game a simple game for the school to play and review and it was then that I realized that some gamers will complain about the littlest things so if anyone ever decides to go into Game Production, keep in mind that you can't make everyone happy.
Flex It....
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Don't know how qualified i am, first of all i'm a tiny indie developer, second: i still make games. Anyways for the question, please don't make your text like any sprite. it's more effective just to make flexible code for text. Drawing each dialogue box without code is a real pain. I admit, until recently i did this.
The 9-9-6....
If you are playing a Chinese Mobile Game (or using any Chinese app) is built by people working on 9-9-6. Its worse hell than the current western crunch.
They are expected to respond to phone notifications even while sleeping. They often work a minimum of 9 hours a day (not including breaks and travel) and usually have to work an additional 6 on weekends.
I really advocate for boycotting all applications as they are built by people who are being abused.
When we're intoxicated, or even the slightest bit tipsy from having a little too much to drink, our immediate perspective on things is hazy.
But there's nothing like a bit of alarming news or a jarring incident to snap us out of the fog and focus on the moment.
Sometimes alcohol isn't always to blame for our impairment.
It can be a state of mind, like a perpetual numbness from being complacent in life, and all it takes is one shocking moment to rattle us back to our senses.
Curious to hear from strangers online about this type of scenario, Redditor Known_Challenge_7150 asked:
"What’s one thing that sobered you up real quick?"
These individuals were witness to shocking events that sobered them up right quick.
Bleeding Out
"Got out of a taxi and found a naked man profusely bleeding from his head crawling up the driveway in my condo. Called him an ambulance completely forgot I was absolutely wasted until 45 minutes later when I'd helped him translate and in to an amublance and stepped in my front door."
"Later a few days later learned he'd slipped in the tub and literally crawled out for help. Poor dude. He was fine but I genuinely thought he was going to die there."
– DongLaiCha
Tragic News
"At a bachelor party and we got a phone call that the groom’s father had suddenly passed."
– accountnameredacted
Bottom Of The Barrel
"I went to visit my parents back in July. I was homeless and deep into fentanyl addiction so I lost a lot of weight. My folks could see it. They knew something was up. Anyway, I spent the night and I was getting ready to leave in the morning and I looked at myself in the mirror for a good long time. I finally had enough and told them everything. They took me to detox, from there I went to rehab. Graduated in August and been living with them ever since then. I have 160 days clean and sober."
– Crotch-Monster
A reality check can be enough for some people to snap out of it.
Like Father, Like Son
"Was driving a drunk friend home, he had been on a bender again and was smart enough to call me for a lift rather than try and drive. As I helped in to his house his mother came down the stairs and said 'your as drunk as your father' and went back upstairs. I haven't seen him drunk since then, he still drinks but the thought of turning into his dad scared him out of hard drinking."
– psycospaz
Busted
"Flashing blue lights."
– FiddleOfGold
"This sobered me up just thinking about it."
– redmaple_syrup
Losing Sight
"Woke up to no sight in one eye. I had cataract surgery so just thought one of the lenses had slipped and it was an easy fix. Eye doc says nope, you had a stroke. I loved soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and salty food, which caused high blood pressure, which caused retina damage. Over six months was able to get most of my eyesight back with medication, and all back within a year. Trying to navigate life with one eye was very sobering. Started taking HBP much more seriously."
– MissHibernia
Quitting The Bottle
"Looked up someone I went to highschool with who was an awesome guy. Found out he had been dead for 3 years from alcoholism, at age 33. I made an overnight change. I hadn't started drinking that night yet, 10 months ago. Haven't touched it again since."
– omgtater
These disturbing moments were enough for Redditors to immediately come to their senses.
Unplanned House Guests
"Me and a buddy Woke up in someone’s living room, realized neither one of us knew the people, they were just nice and let 2 drunk guys sleep on their living room floor. We didn’t even say goodbye."
– Oneinsevenbillion75
Serious Health Warning
"Elevated liver enzymes."
"And the knowledge that this sh** was gonna kill me and I just couldn't orphan my family over it."
"So I opted for recovery, instead."
"Clean and sober since June 5, 2009."
– Far_Meal8674
The Joyride
"Grew up in a rural area. The little town hosted dances at the hockey arena, everyone (adults and kids) went and they overserved everyone, regardless of age. I was maybe 16 or 17 and was absolutely sh*tfaced, and jumped in the back of someone's truck with about 8 other people to go back to someone's cottage for after dance drinking. The driver (still don't know who it was) started racing one of his buddies and we whipped around small dirt roads, flying around blind corners on the wrong side of the road, going god knows how fast. It was basically a disaster waiting to happen. It was crazy scary and I was sober and thankful to be alive when we finally arrived."
– foxfood9116
The human psyche is a fascinating thing, isn't it?
How we can automatically focus on something urgent at a crucial time, even after getting buzzed from drinking too much alcohol.
But as we're in the thick of the holidays, it's a good reminder to drink responsibly and stay off the roads if you drive to your celebratory destination.
Cheers. Stay safe. And happy holidays.
We've all complained or vented about something in our lives which, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't exactly a problem, or is very easily solved.
Then there are those who complain about things that others almost hope will happen to them at some point in their lives.
These are known as "first world problems", as they are problems that pretty much only the world's one percent faces.
From having to fly business class instead of first class, or being served Roederer instead of Dom Pérignon, these complaints are often met with amusement, bewilderment, or even anger.
Redditor jennimackenzie was curious to hear the most absurd "first world problems" anyone ever complained about, leading them to ask:
"What’s the most ridiculous 'first world problem' you’ve seen people get worked up over?"
"Tale As Old As Time..."
"I once knew a mom who was legitimately devastated, to the point of tears/grief, because a doctor predicted her 8 year old daughter's final height to be around 5'2","
"Which wasn't tall enough to get cast as Belle at Disney World."
"That was the child's (and her mother's) only dream in life, apparently."
"Didn't appreciate my suggestion that she could be Minnie or Mickey."
"Lol!"
"Only a face character would do!"- TravelLovingMom
"Must Be Funny, In A Rich Man's World..."
"My boss from about a decade ago was this insanely rich dude who always went to the bank to get fresh and crisp currency."
"He'd call the bank in advance to make sure they had some on hand."
"I think he was a germaphobe."
"He had a trash can that he'd throw $1 and $5 bills in that he thought was 'dirty' and regularly just donated it vs spending it."
"I asked him why he did this and he said it was too much trouble and asked if I wanted it."
"I said f*ck yeah dumped it into my bag and when I got home it was close to $400 in singles and fives.
"Another time, he wanted to upgrade all the computers in his studio, so we went to a store and bought 10 PCs."
"They all had $150 mail in rebates and he wasn't bothered to go through the trouble of mailing them in."
"3 weeks later I received $1500 after spending a whole afternoon filling out all those goddamn forms."- azninvasion2000
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Who Wore It Better?
"When I was about 19 years old, I was at my boyfriends family BBQ."
"I was wearing this pretty floral sundress."
"His cousins girlfriend showed up in the same dress and she was SO mad that she went and changed."
"I will never understand being upset when someone is wearing the same thing as you.'
"Did you really think that your shirt you bought off the rack is going to be unique to you?"
"No."- mertsey627
Seeing Red! Or Blue In This Case...
"The blue of the balloons wasn't quite the same as the bridesmaid's sashes."
"Years ago my wife and I attended a wedding."
"It was very low key."
"The dinner was in the dining hall at the university where the couple met, cinder block walls and all."
"It was a Baptist wedding - no booze and very serious."
"The dark blue balloons attempting to liven up the hall were a slightly darker shade of blue than the sashes on the bridesmaid's dresses."
"The bride lost here sh*t and absolutely raved for nearly an hour."
"I can't remember how they finally managed to talk her down."- mechant_papa
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See You In Court!
"Rich neighbors who end up in expensive court battles because they disagree about where a tree can be planted or whether the color of a fence fits in with the street’s 'amenity'."
'These disputes get really heated and rack up huge lawyers’ bills."
"The most pathetic part is after the judgement when they are arguing about who should pay the other party’s costs."
"Lots of affidavits filed citing the 'emotional distress' they had to endure, or painting themselves as brave warriors who were forced to take a stand to fight for 'justice'."
"Also lots of pompous litigants insisting that the judge refer to them by their 'Dr' title."
"An absolutely insane dumpster fire of entitled rich people problems."- ElectrocRaisin
It's Always People With Money Who Don't Want To Pay!
"I work in a public library."
"People will get so so mad if they have to be put on a wait list for a book."
"A popular book that just came out."
"Ok our services are not only free but so are the books."
"You’re welcome, a**holes."- Switchbladekitten
A Warm Butt Is A Happy Butt!
"My own."
"We have a bidet toilet seat (Fabulous! Everyone should have one!) and not only does it wash your bum and blow dry it, but the seat's heated!"
"It's shocking how much a heated toilet seat makes the whole process more agreeable."
"Except: We had a power outage and I went to use the toilet and the seat was cold!"
"Unacceptable!"
"This shall not stand!"
"I was really upset because it didn't feel good."
"Then I stopped and thought: This is the most first-world problem anyone's ever had."
"I was really pissed because my heiny was tepid."
"I got over it."- DeathGrover
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Holy Matrimony!
"Weddings are a gold mine for this question."
"People get so hyped up over their 'most important day of their life'."
"They'll destroy friendships, go into debt, and have crazy expectations."
"It's not always the couple who go crazy, either."
"Sometimes, it's the parents or another family member who feels entitled to control the wedding."
"It's just a party."
"Be considerate of guests, have plenty of food and drinks, and enjoy it."- magicrowantree
When Fast Food Isn't Fast Enough...
"Having to pull off to the side to wait for a drive-thru order to be brought out to you because your food isn't ready and there's a line building up behind you."- demanbmore
In Case You Don't Think Customer Service Employees Are Undervalued...
"I was working the return desk at a Target next to a military base so I have so many stories."
"One of my favorites was a lady who had her baby shower before revealing the gender and was livid that she had received floral newborn diapers when she’s having a boy."
"It was a huge box of super expensive, all organic diapers, that we didn’t carry and therefore could not return."
"I cannot accurately express her fury and disgust."
"How dare either suggest her boy could wear feminine diapers."
"I suggested she donate them if she didn’t want to use them and she instead threw away the entire box."
"When she left we pulled it out and threw it in our donate bin."
"There have also been multiple times where mom’s order massive toys and when we bring them out to the car they get furious that they aren’t wrapped."
"We don’t offer wrapping services."
"Here’s the thing, if you don’t want your kids to see the toys you got them for Christmas or their bit to day DON'T BRING THE CHILD WHEN YOU PICK IT UP."
'I’ve had multiple women scream and curse me out that I had ruined their kids Christmas by bringing the toys they ordered out to the car like they requested."- clever-mermaid-mae
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Happiest Place On Earth!
"I used to work for Disney."
"That in itself should tell you everything."
"However for fun I'll give you two specific stories one form our tech department and one from my wife who worked bookings."
"I specifically worked for their call center to help with technical issues with magic band and the website."
"Suddenly got worse huh?"
"A right of passage call everyone has at least one story of is the 'Dome call'."
"Basically there is a subset of Disney Guest (TM) that believes if it rains at Walt Disney world there is someone that will push a button to encapsulate the whole of Disney property in a dome to keep out the rain."
"I'm not kidding."
"If this button is not pushed they call our tech department to angrily ask why."
"My wife worked booking."
"Pretty much everything including Bibbidi Bobbidi boutique and Pirate's league."
"These two things did roughly the same thing difference being price and theme."
"BBB was expensive did more and was focused on princesses, pirates league did a bit less and focused on mermaids and pirates."
"Lady called up my wife, and got pissed about BBB being booked up (It goes FAAAAST)."
"Karen: 'Im going to give the phone to my daughter and I want you to tell her how you are ruining her vacation by not letting her do BBB'."
"Wife proceeds to explain how pirate's league is so much cooler and how she can be a mermaid or pirate and basically gets the kid to start demanding to their parents about how they want to be a mermaid instead of a princess."- trollsong
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The horror!
Being booked into a junior suite at Disney World instead of an executive suite!
It's almost as bad as having no money for groceries, or no food to feed you children...
Said absolutely no one.