Ubisoft have defended their resolution to supply a few of Watch Dogs: Legion‘s soundtrack through spec work, saying it’s “completely voluntary” for followers to create music hoping Ubi may choose it and pay them for his or her work. Ubi announced this “opportunity” final week, saying they may put ten fan-made tracks into the game. I suppose it’s voluntary, as a lot as some other work is voluntary. My fundamental objection isn’t even that Ubisoft are in search of spec work for his or her big-budget game, it’s that they’re utilizing spec work as advertising to construct model engagement. They’re encouraging exploitative labour practices with a aim not a lot totally different to a contest providing Watch Dogs t-shirts as prizes for drawing cool hackers.
As with Ubisoft’s spec work request for Beyond Good & Evil 2 art and music, that is operating through HitRecord, a website directed by actor and musician Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The makers of every chosen music will share $2000 (£1590) between themselves, which might be many individuals contemplating how a lot HitRecord encourages collaboration and remixes.
That’s speculative work, irrespective of how a lot Ubisoft and HitRecord attempt to current it as an thrilling “opportunity” to “participate together in the creation of the musical landscape”. Spec work sucks. Spec work pits already-squeezed artists in opposition to one another, placing effort and time into work they might by no means receives a commission for. Even if Ubi do choose them for this, the pay is unhealthy. But as with BG&E2, Ubisoft swear blind persons are misunderstanding.
“The Watch Dogs: Legion Audio team worldwide is already working with professional artists and composers on more than 140 licensed songs, and an original score in the game,” Ubisoft stated final night time in a statement on Twitter.
“The additional contributions–no matter how large or small–from anyone within the HitRecord community are completely voluntary, and are meant to give them a chance to have their own creative expressions included in the game.”
Saying you’re really already working correctly with different musicians is a daring opening gambit. What’s worse is Ubisoft are utilizing spec work for funsies. They’re already paying individuals to create music and to license existent songs, as they proudly say. They’ve chosen to apply, normalise, and encourage spec work for a advertising train.
Ubisoft are doing this to construct model identification, to make followers really feel extra invested within the game, and to make followers assume Ubisoft really respect them and need to collaborate. That’s all. Oh Ubisoft shall be happy if good music will get into the game by way of HitRecord, and I’m certain people will make some actual bangers, however that’s secondary.
The core operate is a grim fashionable twist on Stan Lee giving No-Prizes for pedantry, 2000 AD readers sending letters in search of Tharg’s validation and an LRD, or successful a badge from the Dennis the Menace Fan Club for a very good drawing of Gnasher.
I’d respect this extra if Ubisoft didn’t supply any cash, in the event that they didn’t use HitRecord to pay pittances ($2000 is tiny contemplating the advertising finances will run into tens of tens of millions), and if they only ran a contest rewarding winners with ugly branded t-shirts and caps. Instead, they selected to decorate it up as an thrilling alternative to be exploited labour. But hey, it’s voluntary.
