Quote Originally Posted by Jeeqbit View Post
I understand that, but that's the issue I'm highlighting. Their team is so split up into departments, procedures and approvals that the most basic task that could be done in a lunch break takes over a year and a half.

And that's a problem that a lot of players are being affected by. Somehow, relatively simple tasks need a bit more free reign and the ability to crossover into other departments' jurisdiction ie. design, UI being all done by the programmer so they can just get it done in a lunch break, instead of it taking literally years.
That's nothing unique to SE. What you're describing with "departments, procedures, and approvals" is literally every software developer. I haven't been anywhere where that wasn't the case. I understand how it may not make sense to those unfamiliar with the environment that relatively simple things aren't just done and sent out the door, but that's not how things work, and even less so the bigger the company is.

But you don't have to take my word for it, here is a video by a veteran game dev who goes over the same thing.