Yes, I probably have swine flu, and I probably caught it at PAX. I’m pretty sure I’m not going to die, and fortunately I have sick leave. That’s one of the benefits of the video games industry. It has its downsides, though. Don’t get me wrong, this is a pretty cool industry, but every pro has an immediate and obvious con associated with it. I have just enough energy to list some of these pros and cons for you today before I go collapse on the couch and cough some more Boomer Bile all over the apartment to attract the Horde.
Pro: You get sick leave in the industry! How much varies, but usually around ten days a year.
Con: Sometimes your coworkers will abuse their sick days by calling in when new games come out.
Pro: A relaxed dress code in most offices means you don’t have to worry about your crazy hair color or tattoos.
Con: This means that it is likely you will end up working with Creepy Sweatpants Guy. Please, don’t be Creepy Sweatpants Guy.
Pro: A relaxed workplace environment means you don’t have to be uptight and on your guard all day in case the boss catches you telling a stupid joke.
Con: The stupid jokes. They just don’t stop. Ever.
These are just a few. (As in, what I can think of at the moment with my swine-flu addled mind.) Like I said, it’s a cool job… It’s just important that people realize it is, in fact, a job.