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| john ricciardi's home page - www.nokonoko.net |
...barely. I've been neck-deep in work these past two weeks, so I haven't had any time to breathe, much less update. It's 4:12am as I write this and I've literally just finished working. 16-hour days have been the norm and will continue to be so for the next two or three weeks until we wrap this project. I've got a few things to talk about, so hopefully I can squeeze in an update or two soon.
In the meantime, have a look at the view from my veranda. What you see there is called "the outside world" -- a place I'm desperate to return to soon...
Do any of you work the kind of ridiculous hours I do?
I used to work those hours until I got shafted.
I busted ass for almost 2 years... doing work over national holidays, saturday and sundays and every day was a late night. Well, when bonus-time came around, I was expecting quite a lot, considering all the projects I did were done on-time in super-crunch schedules. Weeks before my bonus was announced, I did some basic math (since I had been keeping track of my hours privately... we don't get paid overtime) and figured out that in my 2 years I did 8 months of overtime work!!!
When my bonus came out to be LESS THAT 1 MONTH of salary, I promptly started leaving work everyday after my 8-hour stint was over. I don't think I can make it through another crunch-time... :(
Posted by: Ozchin at July 31, 2003 10:17 AMAh, that sounds nice... Then again, I haven't been employed for about 8 months. You know, when you're working, you hate it; but not working sucks more. There's just nothing to do...
Oh, and the money. I've had to budget, man! I haven't purchased a new game since The Wind Waker. I just hope I find something before F-Zero and Soul Calibur II are released here in the U.S. (of course, I'd probably be willing to give up food for a while if it meant that I'd be able to buy F-Zero. :) )
Anywho, love your site...
Posted by: ethic at July 31, 2003 04:12 PMThe outside world is very overrated :)
Ganbatte, johntv!
Hi!!!
Considering that you were able to update your F-Zero GX FAQ fairly recently, things can't be all bad. Besides, many gamers here in Singapore would kill to be given an opportunity to live and work (no doubt in the game industry) in Japan. By the way, that's how I stumbled upon your website after recognizing the author of the only FAQ as an ex-EGM editor. Hope things pick up for you - considering you've probably been able to spend some time playing F-Zero GX/AX, then you should know there's no real reason to go outside. :)
Take care!
Posted by: Gerald at August 1, 2003 05:28 AMyes i feel the pain as u do since i live and work in tokyo. i bought F zero tho ;p
Posted by: red at August 5, 2003 05:27 PMOzchin -- the day I realized that no company was worth the amount of ass-busting I did in my first five years of working in this business was probably one of the most liberating days of my life. I'm just not interested anymore in giving that kind of effort to someone else unless I'm gonna get a similar level of treatment from them (personally, financially, etc.). Of course, if anyone finds a company like this in the game business, LET ME KNOW. :)
PS - Thanks for the comments, guys. Glad you're enjoying the site. :)
Posted by: john tv at August 7, 2003 03:54 PMI try not to work those hours, but it's not easy in Japan. The problem is, when your current project is finished, then what happens...?
In my experience, there's no praise for a job well done, just another project coming along right after it.
It's not worth it man - think about your health, and enjoy Japan while you have the chance.
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