Update 4 September 10.45am UK: The CEO of Striking Distance CEO apologized for yesterday’s tweet, saying it was “wrong” and insisting the studio “values passion and creativity, not long hours.”
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the people I work with. Earlier, I tweeted about how proud I am of the effort and hours the team was putting in. This was a mistake. We value passion and creativity, not long hours. I’m sorry the team faced him in this way.
– Glen A. Schofield (@GlenSchofield) September 3, 2022
“Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about the people I work with,” Schofield explained in a new tweet. “Earlier I tweeted how proud I am of the effort and hours the team was putting in. It was a mistake. We appreciate the passion and creativity, not for the hours. I’m sorry for the team for having to face it like this.”
The original story follows.
Original story September 3 UK: Striking Distance Studios founder Glen Schofield has deleted a tweet that some saw as promoting a “crisis” culture in game development.
In a tweet posted earlier today, Schofield — whose team is currently working on the upcoming sci-fi horror, Callisto Protocol — talked about working 12-15 hours a day, six to seven days a week, and working at lunch and dinner, justifying it by saying “You do it.” Because you love her.”
“I’m only talking about the game during an event,” Schofield said in a since-deleted tweet. “we [are] We work six to seven days a week, and nobody forces us.
“Weary, tired, hungry, but we are working,” he continues. “Bugs, glitches, performance fixes. One last pass through audio. 12-15 hours a day. These are games. Hard work. Lunch, dinner work. You do it cause you love.”
Journalist Jason Shearer took a screenshot of the tweet before it was deleted, adding:
Strange coincidence how a guy brags about how his team works 6-7 days a week for 12-15 hours a day because they love him also happens to be the guy who controls all their salaries, titles and current job status
– Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) September 3, 2022
“That, from the head of the studio, is defined by crisis culture. Of course no one is ‘forced’ to work crazy hours. But imagine discounted bonuses and a lack of promotion opportunities if you don’t?” You do it because you love it.” Passion armed. That’s why people run out of toys.
“It’s such a strange coincidence how a guy brags about how his team works 6-7 days a week 12-15 hours a day because they also love it is the person who controls all their salaries, titles and current job status,” he added in a subsequent tweet.
In related news, David Cage replied recently to me Allegations of unhealthy studio culture and inappropriate behavior in Quantic Dreamwhich he previously described as a “smear campaign”.
“I don’t think we have an aggressive stance,” he said. “When you’re accused of things that go against everything you believe in, everything you’ve done in your life, it hurts. It’s more than just attacking studio culture.”
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