Read on Twitter
let’s talk about this a little bit, shall we?
this thread is full of people saying the person responsible for this mistake should be fired.
as someone who has helped produce literally dozens of board games, I’m here to tell you this kind of stuff is NOT a single person’s fault 99.9% of the time. mistakes like this (assuming it is a mistake and not an intentional aesthetic choice) are imho indicative of process issues
obviously I don’t know the production pipeline of this specific game, but here’s how it usually goes.
the card frames were created by the graphic designer, maybe with the help of an illustrator. the frames are approved by production team.
the card frames were created by the graphic designer, maybe with the help of an illustrator. the frames are approved by production team.
the game is laid out for print. this may or may not be done by the same graphic artist who created the frames. they are then proofed.
the files are sent to the printer who return digital proofs. proofed again.
the files are sent to the printer who return digital proofs. proofed again.
the printer sends print proofs. proofed again.
the printer sends and advance copy. proofed again. then mass production.
the printer sends and advance copy. proofed again. then mass production.
there are many, many eyes on these games and many rounds of proofing before they make it to your hands. to chalk this up to “a graphic designer messed up” is absurd. this is an issue with the proofing and approvals pipeline.
(and that’s assuming the printer didn’t just make a mistake with the files before mass production which can totally happen and there’s nothing you can do about it)
as errors go, this one isn’t too bad. aesthetically not great but it doesn’t affect playability or legibility, and no information is obscured.
so, why the vitriol? why the calls for this graphic designer (who btw is probably one of the lowest paid people with the least amount of say in the overall production plan) to be fired?
because a lot of games consumers do not see those of us who actually work to create their games as people.
they think their $50 purchase entitles them to a flawless experience and anything less than that is an affront to them and worthy of retribution. as long as people are creating games, there will be mistakes in games - because we’re human beings, not robots.
we do the best we can and try to implement the best processes we can. no one likes making mistakes. I can pretty much guarantee no one is more upset about the error in question than the graphic artist.
but damn dude, have a little grace for the people who are actually creating the products that allow you to have great experiences with your friends and family, or have a game review channel, or run an FB group.
and let’s be real: some of the vitriol is borne of jealousy, as evidenced in the screenshot I shared with the clown avi. because they feel like they “deserve” to be making games MORE than that graphic artist.
regardless of that artist’s experience or qualifications or any other projects they’ve worked on - by virtue of this error surely they are not WORTHY of getting to work in the industry. honestly, fuck you if you feel that way.
working in games is very fun. it’s also a lot of fucking work. you have to hustle for work constantly. the industry ebbs and flows. standards are constantly changing. it’s insular. wages are depressed.
my work was a lot EASIER when I worked in more “mainstream” industries like nonprofits and pro sports. I work in games because I love it, I’m good at it, and I “deserve” to be here, if that’s the metric you wish to use.
if the measure of “deserving” to work in the games industry means that you never make a mistake, then none of us deserve it. so enjoy your games that are just RNGs designed by AI with stock art, in that case.
tldr; your games are made by people with their own lives and livelihoods. consider extending them the same respect that you extend to your $50 box of cardboard and plastic.
fin.
fin.
