Introduction They become like blinking lizards, motionless, absorbed, only the twitching of their hands showing they are still conscious. The conclusion suggests further inquiries are needed to understand how the struggle between labour and capital is shaping this industry. It focuses on how capitalism effects the production of video games, including the use of crunch time, the prevalence of sexism, and the widespread use of non-disclosure agreements. The approach taken here draws on Marxist theory and an examination of the labour process. Less is known about how work is being organized or the experiences of workers. Within this there are many new organizations, often shaped by start-up culture. Although the headline figures are impressive, the overall structure of the industry is less clear. This has attracted the interests of politicians, committing large investments and tax breaks. The video games industry in the United Kingdom is profitable and growing at a time when the broader economy is still failing to recover.
(2016) ‘The work of play: Marx and the video games industry in the United Kingdom’, Journal of Gaming and Virtual Worlds, 8(2): 131-143.
