L.A. Noire studio being investigated over ruthless work policy
Team Bondi, the studio behind the critically acclaimed title, L.A. Noire has been coming under fire around its alleged intense work policy. Some have come forward to accuse the studio of enforcing an unethical work policy.
Some developers have come forward claiming to have worked 100 hour weeks in the office during crunch time. Others reported aggressive management practices from Team Bondi founder, Brendan McNamara. One developer claims that McNamara would frequently yell at people in the middle of the office and became easily angered.
With the game in development for nearly 10 years the deadline also kept getting pushed back resulting in multiple crunch time periods. During crunch time, developers were expected to work 60 hour weeks, which would eventually jump 110 hours.
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) recently responded to allegations of McNamara’s ruthless work policy. According to Develop, the IGDA stated:
[But] certainly reports of 12-hour a day, lengthy crunch time, if true, are absolutely unacceptable and harmful to the individuals involved, the final product, and the industry as a whole.
IGDA also revealed that the association will be launching an investigation into the allegations. The group has already asked developers to reach out to them.
We encourage any Team Bondi employee and/or family member to email qol@igda.orgwith comments about the recent past and current situation – positive or negative.
Stay tuned for more news around this incident.
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18 Responses to “L.A. Noire studio being investigated over ruthless work policy”
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June 29th, 2011
I think Microsoft are looking for developers.
least they got somewhere to go
I work 45 hour a week minimum, and I travel 25 hours a week on top of that, that’s about as much as I can do.
working 100 hours a week is not OK. .and if they’re being forced to do it then someone is about to get there arse reamed. .
I would bet after about 8 hours in the office, the production rate for most will fall sharply anyways, so he probably gained very little.
June 29th, 2011
‘I think Microsoft are looking for developers’
Shame no one is looking for Microsoft to be their developer lol.
June 29th, 2011
h**p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyVjg5ThVu0&feature=channel_video_title
This is how Call of Duty should be. Funny vid, almost as funny as Microsofts E3 conference lol.
June 29th, 2011
I have pulled off a 26 hour shift and I will never do it again.
June 29th, 2011
“During crunch time, developers were expected to work 60 hour weeks, which would eventually jump 110 hours”
it’s a sacrifice the island demanded…
June 29th, 2011
Rockstar=Slave labor.
June 29th, 2011
Please when I’m at sea I work 6 hours on 6 off everyday that’s 12 hour days. bearing in mind how long a submarine can stay at sea these lot should stop crying.
June 29th, 2011
public transportation driver have similar schedule – 4/5 hours on and 4hrs off so they can stay focus on what they are doing and not fall asleep while dring a bus or a train.
Working 12 hours straight is a different matter.
June 29th, 2011
Lol 6 hours is hard? Lmao ok dude
June 29th, 2011
Where is everyone hiding?
Who has tried the uncharted 3 beta?
I have and it is fun. It is just like two only larger maps and there is an intro and exit video for each match.
I can’t wait to get the full game I have a feeling it will be as fun as the second one.
June 29th, 2011
They do that for a Short period I do 12hr days everyday for 3 months at a time.
That’s 84hrs a week not to mention that you have to eat shower and exercise off watch. Like I always say freedom isn’t free.
June 29th, 2011
“During crunch time, developers were expected to work 60 hour weeks, which would eventually jump 110 hours”
If you have to work 7 days a week thats just about 16 hours a day.
Id say thats pretty bad.
June 30th, 2011
‘Please when I’m at sea I work 6 hours on 6 off everyday that’s 12 hour days’
I always knew the Navy had it kushy lol. What I would have given to do only 12 hour days and for only 3 months when I was still in lol.
June 30th, 2011
@navysteve
Last time i checked, freedom costs a Buck O five
June 30th, 2011
Any industry that’s attractive to young people tends to exploit them ,but that doesn’t make it right.
July 1st, 2011
Where the hell did he come from? ^^^
So random. Popped up like an Ad on the sides
July 1st, 2011
LMFAO!!
How is this news? We do this pretty much every week at 2K. It’s pretty much standard policy, and I’ve also seen this when I was at Activision and Treyarch.
This is normal….
July 2nd, 2011
LMAO @ MAK
he’s one of the sites administrator lol