Pros
1. PUNK: The essence of the punk ideology lies in the notion of individual collaboration, where independent developers aspire to work together while sharing knowledge and resources across teams. This vision is a cherished aspiration for many indie developers, particularly when combined with the stability of regular employment and a steady salary. 2. THE PEOPLE: Attracted amazing individuals and teams 3. SHARE THE BURDEN: The concept of distributing the risk among several independent studios is good, as indie games rely on the 'hit'-factor for revenue. 4. AUTONOMY: The notion of independence is exceptional, and incredibly satisfying when it happens
Cons
It's not very punk. It operates as a corporation rather than a collective entity. Consequently, the cultural values embraced by upper management permeate throughout the organization, as leadership sets the example. The company culture at Aurora Punks can be encapsulated by the following aspects: 1. FAVORITISM: Securing an influential position in upper management relies more on personal connections (friendships, family ties, or marital relationships) with the CEO rather than job performance or how one treats others. Merit is not a prerequisite. 2. ABSCENSE OF PLANNING: Clear deadlines and well-defined budgets are lacking. As deadlines approach, last-minute changes become more frequent. 3. CRUNCH CULTURE: The pervasive "crunch culture" prevalent in the gaming industry is present. Employees are expected to work overtime and weekends without compensation. Complaints are met with dismissive responses, suggesting that alternative employment would entail working on similar projects during personal time anyway. 4. LACK OF TRUST: Trust is a mutual endeavor. Upper management's lack of trust (not universally, but to a noticeable extent) coupled with broken promises and opaque business practices have eroded trust among many employees. This erosion of trust has created a cycle where employees constantly remind each other about the untrustworthiness of upper management.