I've debated with Segaga a lot in this thread in the past, but I have to admit you've dropped some knowledge bombs in your last couple posts. But boy, the games industry sounds like a horrible one to work in. I wince when I think about what percentage of games are actual clearly envisaged labours of love and how many are just cynical cash-in's.
The question is what's worse, the Japanese or American games industry. Due to the way traditional way Japanese corporations and business functions, not to mention the insane work hours Japanese employees are expected to work, I would have initially thought Japan. But I've heard some real horror stories come out of western devs as well recently (such as the countless Rockstar ones, which is bizzarre considering how well their products usually come out), so I'm not sure lol.