The Man, game developer shops and work satisfaction
Sounds like EA cranks stuff out by killing its developers, especially if the bit about a 50% turnover rate is true. Eventually, even in the software industry, you're going to run out of people and your success will disappear as fast as you got it. With the impending Baby Boom Doom (retirement), it's going to get worse.
This seems representative of the game development shops everywhere. Games might be compared to Hollywood films, but Hollywood has ridiculous unions that go to an opposite extreme in terms of workers' rights. I should think there's a nice middle ground there somewhere.
I for one don't understand why people will put up with that kind of environment. Honestly, doing something you love for a living is a great thing, but if it's the only thing, it's not worth it. The Man is no longer a collaborator, he's an enemy.
The last time I had a job with long hours was circa 1998, when I ran a city and school funded government access TV facility. I loved that job and all of the toys I got to buy. I worked long hours and didn't mind, but that was partially because of the city-mandated comp time. I was going to get time off for it. I think I'd still be there if it weren't for the low pay and local elected egos.
Last year I worked for a payroll processing company as "the Web guy." I had nothing to do on my end, but I watched my co-workers do 80 hour weeks. For what? So the owners that inherited the business (i.e., did nothing to earn it) could take exotic vacations and you could miss your family?
It's hard to say what motivates people. After college, I thought it was "fame" when I worked in radio. Fame didn't pay, so then I thought it was money. I eventually got that too, but that wasn't it either. So for me, I think being happy motivates me. Right now being happy means barely getting by on the revenue my Web sites generate and exploring the things I enjoy (volleyball, maybe even radio again, for fun).
If The Man is keeping you down, tell The Man to kiss your ass. You'll likely still have a full compliment of fingers and toes, and you'll figure something else out. A little short-term uncertainty beats the hell out of realizing you wasted your time on The Man when you're on your death bed.