Blood, Sweat, and Pixels The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made Jason Schreier

Video games are meant to be fun, but making video games can be anything but. In Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, video game journalist Jason Schreier gives a rare look into the inner workings of the video game industry and the harsh reality of being a game developer: long hours, enormous pressure to meet deadlines, and an unpredictable, constantly changing work environment. Schreier discusses the development cycles of 10 games, ranging from indie darlings to AAA flops, as told by developers whom Schreier interviewed.This guide organizes the themes and key ideas from the case studies in Blood, Sweat, and Pixels into four challenges that video game developers face: accounting for games’ interactivity, constantly evolving technology, the impossibility of making and adhering to a schedule during development, and interference from people outside of the development studio. Our commentary adds background information for readers less familiar with the gaming industry and further explores the human impact of industry practices.