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Note: Ratings are based on company record, including parent companies. They are not a comment on the product itself.
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Action-Adventure Games

The Guide > Technology > Video Games > Action-Adventure 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
Anthem  Electronic Arts   USA  Praises, some criticism4
Mass Effect  Electronic Arts   USA  Praises, some criticism4
Titanfall  Electronic Arts   USA  Praises, some criticism4
Assassin's Creed  Ubisoft   FRA  Praises, some criticism4
Far Cry  Ubisoft   FRA  Praises, some criticism4
Prince of Persia  Ubisoft   FRA  Praises, some criticism4
Watch_Dogs  Ubisoft   FRA  Praises, some criticism4
State of Decay  Xbox Game Studios   (Microsoft) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Dishonoured  ZeniMax Media   (Microsoft) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Fallout  ZeniMax Media   (Microsoft) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Prey  ZeniMax Media   (Microsoft) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Rage  ZeniMax Media   (Microsoft) USA  Praises, some criticism4
The Elder Scrolls  ZeniMax Media   (Microsoft) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Wolfenstein  ZeniMax Media   (Microsoft) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Bloodborne  FromSoftware   (Kadokawa) JPN  Criticism, some praise5
Dark Souls  FromSoftware   (Kadokawa) JPN  Criticism, some praise5
Elden Ring  FromSoftware   (Kadokawa) JPN  Criticism, some praise5
Yakuza  Sega   (Sega Sammy) JPN  Criticism, some praise5
Deus Ex  Square Enix   JPN  Criticism, some praise5
Just Cause  Square Enix   JPN  Criticism, some praise5
Tomb Raider  Square Enix   JPN  Criticism, some praise5
Half-Life  Valve   USA  Criticism, some praise5
Left 4 Dead  Valve   USA  Criticism, some praise5
Divinity: Original Sin  Bandai Namco   JPN  Criticisms6
Castlevania  Konami   JPN  Criticisms6
The Legend of Zelda  Nintendo Australia   (Nintendo) JPN  Criticisms6
Grand Theft Auto  Rockstar Games   (Take-Two Interactive) USA  Criticisms6
Red Dead  Rockstar Games   (Take-Two Interactive) USA  Criticisms6
God of War  Sony Interactive Entertainment   (Sony Group) JPN  Criticisms6
Horizon Zero Dawn  Sony Interactive Entertainment   (Sony Group) JPN  Criticisms6
The Last of Us  Sony Interactive Entertainment   (Sony Group) JPN  Criticisms6
Uncharted  Sony Interactive Entertainment   (Sony Group) JPN  Criticisms6
BioShock  Take-Two Interactive   USA  Criticisms6
Mafia  Take-Two Interactive   USA  Criticisms6
Batman: Arkham  WB Games   (Warner Bros. Discovery) USA  Criticisms6
Middle-earth  WB Games   (Warner Bros. Discovery) USA  Criticisms6



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