CHAPTER 3The Social Imperative

On November 10, 2004, the fiancée of an employee at video game maker Electronic Arts (EA) posted a blog entry. It was an anonymous, emotional essay published at a free blogging site. And it transformed the video game industry.

In her nearly 2,000-word essay titled “EA: The Human Story,” the author, who referred to herself as “ea_spouse,” spoke in personal terms about the toll long work weeks were taking on her fiancé and herself.1 At first, she explained, her fiancé’s project team was expected to work eight hours a day, six days a week. Then twelve hours a day, six days a week. Then eventually extended hours for seven days a week. “The love of my life comes home late at night complaining of a headache that will ...

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