A GAMING RONIN
You know me as Adam Bergstein the Gaming Ronin. What exactly is a Gaming Ronin? Historically the Ronin were samurais in feudal Japan that served no master but themselves. Literally “a drifting person” they were mercenaries for hire, wielding their sword for their own cause rather than some warlords banner. The Ronin were often hired as bodyguards, charged with the protection of some potentate with a large amount of enemies. To the other samurai they were considered outcasts, since by tradition a samurai was meant to commit hari kiri upon the loss of his master. The samurai community itself imposed the stigma. In effect this create a distinct separation from the traditional samurai group and the Ronin that traveled its fringe. The samurai resented the freedom of the Ronin, who has cast off the ownership of other men in favor of choosing their own course. To be Ronin is to be independent, dictating your own path in life, the ultimate example of self-determination.
Like the famous Ronin of old, like the great Miyamoto Musashi himself, I am a Ronin too. I travel the nation we call the video game industry, calling no publisher or developer my master. The lifestyle is a lonely one, and fraught with risk, because at any time you might find yourself without a position and scrounging for food on the streets of feudal Kyoto. But the rewards are high. As a freelancer I choose when I work and on what. I select which project I think is worthy of my talents, and which team it will be best to work with. I am my own man, and that is how I like it.
There are very few industries today where the Ronin lifestyle is viable. The gaming industry is excellent for the lone wolf that I am, because they work largely on a project basis. No developer wants to weigh themselves down with a team to house and pay when they very well only make one title. So all of us are used to wandering the open road of the industry, searching for our next assignment and our next meal. Some would point to this ephemeral nature as one of the chief flaws in an industry just teetering on mainstream acceptance, but I disagree. I think more industries should follow this model and use autonomous workers. It is the perfect way to attract the best talent, since you don’t have to sink a huge amount of capitol into the brick and mortar operation and can lure the contract worker with higher pay for their efforts.
But Adam, you ask, what about benefits? What about security? I have the best benefits of all. I have the benefit of knowing that developers are clamoring to work with me. I have the benefit of getting up at noon, working until 4am and then playing whatever game strikes my fancy. And security? I have the security of my skill set, and I know that as long as there are consumers out there to buy video games I will never be out of a job.