Some developers of the space horror blockbuster Callisto Protocol said it was omitted from the end credits sequence despite extensive work on the game and significant contribution to the finished product. This claim has been echoed throughout the video game industry, broken credit system They often punish subordinate employees or employees who left before the final release date.
In a new report by GamesIndustry.bizA former Striking Distance Studios employee says he believes about 20 developers have been laid off. Callisto Protocollong game end credit roll. Many were surprised by the omission, stating that the studio never formally communicated a policy of excluding developers from credit if they left before the game shipped. Some see it as a punishment for getting a job in a place.
“[The credits omission] It felt like an obvious FU for those left behind,” a source tells GamesIndustry.biz. “Somebody wanted to send a message. The message was, ‘Please be a little more loyal to us next time.'”
The striking distance was formed by the former Dead Space Director Glenn Schofield after leaving office in 2019 call of duty Studio Sledgehammer game. At the end of last year, when its debut game had finished development, Schofield, criticized on Twitter It favored a crunch culture that celebrated sacrifice and long overtime.
G/O Media can earn commissions
$50 off preorder
Ring Car Cam
It’s a camera. For your car.
The Ring Car Cam’s dual-facing HD cameras capture activity in and around your car in HD detail.
While he later deleted the tweet and apologized, bloomberg then confirmed At least some developers at the studio crunched during production. bloomberg Some staff had “worked hard for several weeks”, but overtime was not mandated.
Some former developers now tell GamesIndustry.biz that studio management will commit to addressing crunch culture in the same meetings that celebrate the hours people put in. I put in that time and worked hard to help create this product.
International Game Developers Association Plan announced in August last year Try to standardize how developers are credited for their work, standardize it, and if the end credits scroll is missing someone or contains other inaccuracies , promoting tools that can easily update it. “Game credits are a tricky thing, especially at AAA,” says former Naughty Dog communications manager Scott Lowe. murmured In response to today’s GamesIndustry.biz report. But the answer is simple. Gating by subjective assessment of time and value/impact is cumbersome and cruel. ”
Striking Distance Studios did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
