A while back on my Twitter, I mentioned that I'd like to write a blog post on how game devs, or any company for that matter, can learn to balance profit and integrity. Well, today I've finally decided to sit down and write on this topic. It may be lacking in quality, but my mind is running in a million different directions at once.
So I realize, being a 19-year-old who doesn't have any official higher education (yet), not many are going to take me at my word on many things. However, I do know what customers are sick of, and that's when a company puts on a facade of love for their customers but then turns around and milks the customers for every penny. Many people ignore this, saying things like, "It's simply the way things are", or "They have to make a living too". Both of those things are true, but let's take a closer look at those two statements:
So the issue is this: no company has an excuse to place profit above integrity, and no consumer has an excuse to give up on trying to make a change.
Companies who truly care about their customers will not place profit above integrity, but will balance the two factors. I do know they have to make a profit, and I'm not saying we should all abandon capitalism in favor of socialism or communism (neither of which work). What I am saying, however, is that companies should quit letting greedy investors and owners put their own interests above creating a quality product that is affordable.
Sadly, until we stand together and shout "Enough!", we're not going to be able to make a change. Greedy individuals, often referred to as part of the "1%", are causing the poor to get poorer and the rich to get richer. I've personally made it my mission to try countering this in every way I can think of, but one man can do nothing alone. I encourage everyone reading this to quit supporting companies who put profit above integrity. Until we unite and show these selfish people what we're upset about, no change will be made, and I don't want to see the world get worse.
So who's with me?
- "It's simply the way things are." This world is full of greed and selfishness. That's obvious. All you have to do is look around you and you'll see some sort of greed/selfishness. To be honest, while God blesses us with our possessions, we are, in a way, being selfish if we take these blessings for granted. We can help make a change if we all do our part, but no one man can change this. If you truly believe things cannot change, then they won't. Of course, greed and selfishness will not ever be completely done away with this side of eternity, just because we're all fallible humans.
- "They have to make a living too." Every company, aside from non-profits, focus primarily on turning as much profit as possible. That's what our capitalist society is about: working hard to obtain more for yourself. Many people call this the "American dream". If greed is the American Dream, I don't share the Dream with the rest of this nation. Anyways, while individual employees have to make a living, they can actually make a living even by working for a non-profit. Typically non-profits try to aim at breaking even, and if they make profit, they donate it to charities or others. Even in this situation, the employees are able to make a living. Maybe they won't make as much as they would with a regular corporation, but they can still make a living off of a non-profit.
So the issue is this: no company has an excuse to place profit above integrity, and no consumer has an excuse to give up on trying to make a change.
Companies who truly care about their customers will not place profit above integrity, but will balance the two factors. I do know they have to make a profit, and I'm not saying we should all abandon capitalism in favor of socialism or communism (neither of which work). What I am saying, however, is that companies should quit letting greedy investors and owners put their own interests above creating a quality product that is affordable.
Sadly, until we stand together and shout "Enough!", we're not going to be able to make a change. Greedy individuals, often referred to as part of the "1%", are causing the poor to get poorer and the rich to get richer. I've personally made it my mission to try countering this in every way I can think of, but one man can do nothing alone. I encourage everyone reading this to quit supporting companies who put profit above integrity. Until we unite and show these selfish people what we're upset about, no change will be made, and I don't want to see the world get worse.
So who's with me?