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Action Games

The Guide > Technology > Video Games > Action Games 

Crunch culture

In the gaming industry "crunch" is a term used to describe working overtime, particularly when there is a fast-approaching deadline. Game developers commonly work 60-80, even up to 100 hours a week, typically during the months leading up to a game's release. Developers forced to crunch end up sacrificing weekends, time with their families, and their personal health in the process. Speaking up or refusing to do overtime can jeopardise current or future job opportunities. Japanese companies like Nintendo and Sega have significantly reduced crunch, but in western countries it remains a huge problem.

A former Rockstar Games employee explained, "If you're really passionate about the game and working there, and want to prioritise that over your life, it's a really great place to work. But if you want to prioritise your life, it's not."

In some cases overtime isn't paid, which has led to lawsuits. In 2006 Electronics Arts paid out US$30 million to settle two class action lawsuits that claimed the company underpaid its graphic artists and programmers for overtime. Rockstar Games settled a similar lawsuit in 2009 for US$2.75 million.
  • Learn more at   [Digital Trends]
  • Game Workers Unite is calling for the game industry to be unionized. Learn more at  [Game Workers Unite]
BRAND COMPANY OWNED RATING
Battlefield  Electronic Arts   USA  Praises, some criticism4
Dead Space  Electronic Arts   USA  Praises, some criticism4
Mirror's Edge  Electronic Arts   USA  Praises, some criticism4
Plants vs Zombies  Electronic Arts   USA  Praises, some criticism4
Star Wars: Battlefront  Electronic Arts   USA  Praises, some criticism4
Tom Clancy's  Ubisoft   FRA  Praises, some criticism4
Gears of War  Xbox Game Studios   (Microsoft) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Halo  Xbox Game Studios   (Microsoft) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Doom  ZeniMax Media   (Microsoft) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Quake  ZeniMax Media   (Microsoft) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Bayonnetta  Sega   (Sega Sammy) JPN  Criticism, some praise5
Virtua Fighter  Sega   (Sega Sammy) JPN  Criticism, some praise5
Counter-Strike  Valve   USA  Criticism, some praise5
Team Fortress  Valve   USA  Criticism, some praise5
Call of Duty  Activision Blizzard   USA  Criticisms6
Diablo  Activision Blizzard   USA  Criticisms6
Overwatch  Activision Blizzard   USA  Criticisms6
Soulcalibur  Bandai Namco   JPN  Criticisms6
Tekken  Bandai Namco   JPN  Criticisms6
Devil May Cry  Capcom   JPN  Criticisms6
Resident Evil  Capcom   JPN  Criticisms6
Street Fighter  Capcom   JPN  Criticisms6
Metal Gear Solid  Konami   JPN  Criticisms6
Fire Emblem  Nintendo Australia   (Nintendo) JPN  Criticisms6
Borderlands  Take-Two Interactive   USA  Criticisms6
Max Payne  Take-Two Interactive   USA  Criticisms6
Injustice  WB Games   (Warner Bros. Discovery) USA  Criticisms6
Mortal Kombat  WB Games   (Warner Bros. Discovery) USA  Criticisms6



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