Working 9-to-5 what a way to make a living?

[Uhfgood]

Hey I just came across this article from someone's blog (I don't remember which blog) but it was an interesting thing. They state that they work 9-5 days no extended hours, no weekend work. I talked to someone that says 9-5 isn't really realistic for an independant game company (or independent startup, I don't remember). So my question to you is, as you're indie company works do you do 9-5 days or do you put in as much time as you possibly can?

Here's the link to the article -
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=12872

Keith

[svero]

I work sporadically. Sometimes Ill work constantly for days... 16-20 hrs a day... other times just a few hrs a day. Sometimes Ill take a month off etc... Really depends where the project is, how busy I am, what deadlines look like etc... That's a nice part of working for yourself. You set your own hours. Id say on average I work more than a typical office worker though.

[chanon]

I've read that article and find it very interesting. Sounds like a great way to manage a company.

I think whether 9-5 is enough depends on how you manage your time. From the article, they aren't allowing internet use during the 9-5 time and so are expecting a lot more productivity.

So basically if your 9-5 work hours includes 3-4 hours reading/posting to this forum, then of course 9-5 wouldn't be enough :)

[Bmc]

most people don't really work the whole 7-8 hours and end up having to put in extra-hours. If you actually work for the whole day and don't engage in the social aspect of work then you will usually get everything you need to do finished

[Sysiphus]

I work so(8 hours, no inet, no kind of pause) at my company. Apart from a little breakfast break. Full-full. And well, it's really productive. I just wish I could do that(money income, etc) but as an indy only, instead.

[Uhfgood]

Sysiphus - do you get breaks like normal and lunch? (Well here in the US alot of places require two 15 minute breaks and one 30 min lunch)...

that would probably be a total of 7 hours of work. But then if the average is about 4-5 hours of actual work, 7 hours is quite a bit better.

Keith

[BantamCityGames]

I get about 5 hours of free time PER WEEK to work on game dev :eek: ... Its amazing I've gotten anything done actually.

[Anthony Flack]

I get about 5 hours of free time PER WEEK to work on game dev
Yeah, me too. But as long as you keep at it, you still get there...

A friend of mine who is a stonecarver (of the fine art variety) works a self-imposed 9-5 day in order to stay productive. He'll still take days or half-days off whenever the hell he likes, but his general routine is to put in a regular Monday-Friday working week. It works very well for him, and if I go into full-time game development, I would probably want to get an office away from my house and do something similar.

[electronicStar]

IMHO It's not necessary to make 9-5 shifts to work as an indie.
2 hrs a day can be sufficient if you are planning well.The more important is to be persistant and regular.
Of course you have to be flexible, and check the internet often when you are marketing the game or taking contacts.

Of course it depends of the person's psychology, some people need the "day at the office" type of hours to get anything done.

[Larry Hastings]

Barely gettin' by--it's all taking, and no giving!
You can use your mind, but the boss won't give you credit,
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it!

[Uhfgood]

My Dad has been trying to drum in this 9-5 thing into my head for a long time, and then I read the article that proves possibly it's workable. Well I still have stuff like cleaning and daily exercise as well as my shower. But if I get up at 6 then I should be able to get all of that done and then do my 9-5...

I figure 9 - 10:45 work, 10:45 - 11:00 break, 11:00 - 12:45 work, 12:45 - 1:15 lunch, 1:15 - 3:00 work, 3:00 - 3:15 break, 3:15 - 5:00 work, and it all seems to work out to 7 hours of actual work, split evenly about every 1:45 minutes.

Well that's the theory in any case.

Wish me luck :-)

Keith

[turbo]

We put in as much time as we possibly can, taking only enough time to manage the rest of life as is needed.

But then our project is quite ambitious and requires it, given our limited staff resources. :) .. But that's ok.

We take most of Sunday off for family stuff and try to get in at least two brisk walks a day.

My previous business as a contractor/graphic design studio required just as much time.

One person wearing all those hats is more than a full time job.

It was me who said 9-5 isn't realistic; :) .. at least for a start-up company trying to make a go of it.

You pretty much live, eat and breathe your company. It becomes your lifestyle. Anyone I know who did it on their own went through that.

9-5 would be nice and healthy and balanced tho. :)

I wish you luck. :)


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[Sharpfish]

Although this kind of thing has been discussed many times, as things keep changing I may as well post again.

I am currently attempting 8-5 (not 9 but virtually the same). I get up when my partner get's up - she goes out to work at 8am-5pm and I get stuck in on the game-dev. I try to have an hour break to play games (resi 4, Killer 7, MarioKartDs atm) or read some magazines + have a snack.

I don't make it a strict time though because some days you just can't do things when you want (life or whatever else can get in the way) or you just need an extra break (eye strain etc).

And at the moment I am taking the weekends off completely and I no longer work late nights as I used to - it just led to lack of energy and burnouts.

So I plan to continue with working these kind of times but being a little flexible - obviously doing more if needed (or if things are going so well it would be a shame to stop!!) :)

[Uhfgood]

We put in as much time as we possibly can, taking only enough time to manage the rest of life as is needed.

But then our project is quite ambitious and requires it, given our limited staff resources. :) .. But that's ok.

We take most of Sunday off for family stuff and try to get in at least two brisk walks a day.

My previous business as a contractor/graphic design studio required just as much time.

One person wearing all those hats is more than a full time job.

It was me who said 9-5 isn't realistic; :) .. at least for a start-up company trying to make a go of it.

You pretty much live, eat and breathe your company. It becomes your lifestyle. Anyone I know who did it on their own went through that.

9-5 would be nice and healthy and balanced tho. :)

I wish you luck. :)


---


Thanks Turbo :-)

Keith

[george]

just work whenever the hell u want. as long as u get it done in a timely manner. remember money is time. but enjoy! that's whats so great about being an indie. i can take off however long i want. and hey sometimes i don't even answer my support mails cuz i don't feel like it :D str8 gangsta.

[Sysiphus]

I envy you indies ;)

That's how I'd like to be, and I also think that i could do somewhat similar to George's, as one has gained in experience with projects and all. I think with my today's job hours is very difficult.


Sysiphus - do you get breaks like normal and lunch? (Well here in the US alot of places require two 15 minute breaks and one 30 min lunch).

Well. I say 8 hours but...is 10. Actually. And counting on i can't do anything but eat -and fast- at lunch, is 12 hours blocked in company. Most of days.

It's a breakfast one break, usually. like 30 mins. Before and in other companies, was 15. And in many, no break. lunch is longer, but i don't eat at the place, so is quite for just eating.But it's 40 hours a week. Just that it ends up being more than it's contracted and paid [grunt...] And I can tell, full, full hours, not a second to distract in any sort of thing, besides working every minute a very hi speed. Mouse and wacom fly.
[btw, not at work, today, this would not be possible]

[Anthony Flack]

you just need an extra break (eye strain etc)

That excuse ain't gonna fly if you use the time off to play games...

[Sharpfish]

That excuse ain't gonna fly if you use the time off to play games...

true.. but it was just an example.. I didn't say when I get eye-strain I go and play games.. :)

.. maybe the times we get eye strain we'd use the break for a bit of that "outdoors shit" (going to look at some nice scenery and realising there is a real world out there). ;)

[Andy]

Well. I must be become idiot at all - to get addicted to such unreal ideas - but starting from the next week I'm going to give it a try. No kidding! 11-7, no Internet and a couple of another small things. Would be fun to try after 20 years of another practice. :D

So, that was great to be with you fellow developers! But see you in my later hours starting from now. ;)

[Savant]

Just because you've always done something one way, that doesn't mean that way is the most optimal. It just means that it works. Something else may work better.

[Uhfgood]

Savant - the point of my original post wasn't to say it was most optimal or even worked. I was merely asking people if they do it this way or not. And to add in the fact i'm going to attempt it.

So both me and Andy are attempting an 8 hour day then :-)

Andy - if you're american try to attempt 2 15 minute breaks totally away from any resemblence of any computing device, as well as a 30 minute lunch. This is only a suggestion of course :-)

Keith

[Mark Fassett]

If I just did eight hour days - I'd never get any indie work done. I need 7 of my hours for paying client work.

[Uhfgood]

If I just did eight hour days - I'd never get any indie work done. I need 7 of my hours for paying client work.

Don't sweat it Mark. I understand that not everyone can realisticly set a schedule like that for themselves. (7 hours of client work is a real day job so in essence you're working a standard 8 hour day with your indie work "on the side" as-it-were).

Keith

PS. I'll start it on monday ;-)

[Andy]

Hi Mark! So nice to see you!

Well. Sure thing Keith is right. We all are different here. We are at WS are fulltimers in this indie business. So I'm really sorry you can't take part in experiment in current moment. ;) Good luck to you bud anyway!!!

No Keith I'm not American that's why I easily have pretty sweet and relaxing smoke breaks every hour. Yeah, I know, I know... ;)

Starting by monday...

[Sharpfish]

I'll start monday also - but then I'm doing 8-5 already as I said, but you can count me in? or does it only include people who have released a game this decade? ;)

Ok I say I do 8-5 - they are more like the hours I CAN work and the hours I am sat here at my computer. In reality, like today, website issues have come up so I am spending more time on the net than "working".

[Teq]

Would be nice to have more than just the weekends and occasional week day evening coding, having said that I'm not strong enough willed to do development full-time at home, would have to let an office :)

Have to see how things pan out in the future, hopefully the time will come that I can do a job I love :)

[Uhfgood]

Sharpfish okay you're in too. 8-5 is fine (In actuality if you took 2 15 min breaks and one 30 min lunch that would be 8 hours of actual work vs my 7 hours)

Really the point is not to work yourself to the bone. To have a work day then take the time off after work and on weekends with your friends/family/etc. Also not to slack during the day but work during your work day. That is no internet and no games during work. If you want to take a day off to do those things you can. At least this is the way I take it. Given the fact that "real" jobs (that is non-game related work for someone else jobs) don't even allow you to do that I think it's right generous of yourself :-)

Teq - Don't worry about it, you'll be able to do it eventually :-)

Keith

[Teq]

Teq - Don't worry about it, you'll be able to do it eventually :-)

Have to code something that resembles a finished game first though ;) Not worried about the money, as long as its enough to feed the (future) family and pay the bills, until then its a "hobby" and pays for beer :D