Does developers like play game they make?

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I love KSP and Total War series.

But i wonder does devs like pay game they made, i mean if you know all the technical stuff behind the game, does anybody enjoy simple pleasure of play.

German Chancellor Bismarck once said, "If you like laws and sausages, you should never watch either one being made" He was referring to politics because, he was politician, but whether the same can not be said computer games ?

As someone who's done some development, you can absolutely enjoy playing your own game. But working on a game is different than playing the final result. Often times the game isn't all that playable until release. When dealing with sequels most of the game is already there.

There is some less enjoyment when you know how game systems work and predict what will happen if you worked on certain systems (AI, etc). Because you get to know the inside and outside of a game you're working on.

There is an exhaustion point though where you get sick of working on the same thing and want to move onto something else.

Here's what I mean when everything is predictable, the game loses its appeal, at least I think so. I'm not a programmer,, heck i even have problem with math in school. that's why I'm a humanist

Now, in retrospect, I regret that I did not try to have enough in school to be a good math, developers and people from the IT industry earn a lot of money

But I have a big s respect for IT professionals especially those who are making good game

You migh be surprised how many developers are there for the paycheck and nothing else. Some of them have no interest in games whatsoever. I wouldn't be surprised if Activision doesn't want to play its own crappy games.

Yeah I think it really depends on the developer. I know a few who actively play their own games long after release and I know a few that the developers never even bothered to touch after they were done. Myself, I love replaying games I've made, especially knowing how far they've come. However, just like any other type of creation, you're always your own worst critic and I'm sure developers often nitpick themselves while playing their own games (myself, I'll notice dialogue that sounds unnatural or other things that most people enjoy or don't notice).

I'm less concerned about whether devs play the games they make, even though they should, for quality assurance. What concerns me more though, is whether or not the dev behind a particular game would enjoy playing a game like the one they made. If the answer is no, then as far as I'm concerned, they shouldn't be making a game like that. The reason for that is, it's then clear that they aren't passionate about their product, and are developing it for all the wrong reasons. A game made with passion is way more likely to be well received by it's intended audience, because a lot more care, and effort would have gone into it.

Very well said. Couldn't agree more. Also, nice avatar. Uncharted 3 rocked.

It depends.

As a computer engineer, I'm always fed up with my own software a few weeks before it's finished.

Yeah, I can see the numerous testing, stressful deadlines and such getting in the way. But doesn't it feel nice when you come back to it a while later when everything's kind of blown over?

For background - I've been a game developer for 16 years, and have hundreds of game developer friends.

I find that very few devs play linear story-driven games after release - games that rely heavily on cutscenes, story twists, etc.

But every dev I know very much enjoys playing their own games if those games require skill, have online connectivity, etc.

I wanted to comment on this post - I've never in my life met a game developer who had this attitude. It does happen that developers get stuck on a particular game they don't enjoy - but absolutely nobody working in game development doesn't absolutely love games. Game developers get absolutely terrible pay (compared to their skill level) - the only reason to stay there is because you love the product.

Glad my degree is in computer science, then. Computer programmers with a master's degree in engineering make more money than medical doctors here.