Rockstar denies San Diego accusations

By Tom Bramwell Published 22 January, 2010

Blames them on anonymous ex-employees.

Rockstar has finally responded to accusations about working conditions at its San Diego studio, which is producing Red Dead Redemption.

Having first reconfirmed that the game will ship for PS3 and Xbox 360 on 30th April in Europe, the studio replied to inquiries in a Q&A on its official website.

"Unfortunately, this is a case of people taking the opinions of a few anonymous posters on message boards as fact," the publisher protested.

"No business is ever perfect, but Rockstar Games is a tight knit team made up of around 900 supremely talented and motivated professionals, many of whom have worked here for a very long time.

We're saddened if any former members of any studio did not find their time here enjoyable or creatively fulfilling and wish them well with finding an environment more suitable to their temperaments and needs, but the vast majority of our company are focused solely on delivering cutting edge interactive entertainment.

"We've always cared passionately about the people working here, and have always tried to maintain a supportive creative environment. There is simply no way Rockstar could continue to produce such large scale, high quality games without this.

"That being said, making great games is very challenging, which is why we have and will continue to try to keep hold of some of the best talent in the industry and support them in every way we can."

Earlier this month a blogger on Gamasutra, posting under the pseudonym "Rockstar Spouse", alleged that conditions at the San Diego studio had been in decline for nearly a year, and that crunch time was enforced while overtime and holidays had been cut.

The post was supported by a number of other anonymous contributors claiming to work at or have worked at the studio.

Until now, Rockstar's only reaction had been to post a wallpaper image referencing the Eye of Sauron - apparently a reaction to one of the accusations that the San Diego team was often overruled by directives from Rockstar management in New York.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (22) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Vroom #1 2 years ago

    Fight!

  • Quint2020 #2 2 years ago

    Who knows what to believe, though I wouldn't be surprised if some of the accusations levelled at them had something to them, the games industry is well known for long working hours, especially in America, their laws regarding that sort of thing are hardly there to protect the employee.

  • actionfitz #3 2 years ago

    Having worked in the industry, I know who i'm inclined to believe. Though I guess there'll be no way to really get to the bare facts unless someone get the Law involved.

    "you're a bunch of cunts R* San Diego management!"

    -couple of weeks pass-

    "No we're not! and here's a picture of the Eye of Sauron to show how seriously we take such accusations! so meh!"

  • guernican #4 2 years ago

    Supposedly pretty much an endemic, industry-wide problem, no?

    I see the Houser brothers' legendary creativity doesn't extend to their press releases, though.

  • Doctor_What #5 2 years ago

    "We've [...] have always tried to maintain a supportive creative environment. There is simply no way Rockstar could continue to produce such large scale, high quality games without this."

    Balls. You can have the most miserable workforce in the world and still make great games if a few people at the top don't mind imposing their will on unhappy people. Sadly, these people do exist and usually get into management positions because of their abusive personalities are quite productive. Where those kind of people happen to be good at making games then you can get fantastic games from miserable people. I've worked in one such studio in the UK that is like this.

    The problem is that the high-paid creatives at the top are precious in the industry and they are allowed to do and demand whatever they want as long as they keep making money. The profit is still way more important than the happiness of the workers, and while we are still thinking in the mode 'I'll keep doing this because I love making games' then we're never going to get better conditions or more respect.

    (Edited for typo.)
    Edited by 1 at 22/01/10 @ 11:07

  • symmetry #6 2 years ago

    "... a tight knit team made up of around 900 ..."

    That's a funny one.

  • octavedoctor #7 2 years ago

    They didn't exactly deny the accusations.

  • kangarootoo #8 2 years ago

    I thought it odd that that no part of the press release directly denied the specific allegations about holiday, overtime, etc.


    And this bit...

    "We're saddened if any former members of any studio did not find their time here enjoyable or creatively fulfilling and wish them well with finding an environment more suitable to their temperaments and needs, but the vast majority of our company are focused solely on delivering cutting edge interactive entertainment."

    What on earth does that mean? The two halves of the paragraph don't seem connected. It seems to boil down to...

    "We're sorry if a former member did not their time here enjoyable or fulfilling, but the vast majority of our are focussed SOLELY on delivering games".

    The implication being that the vast majority of the team don't care about being happy or creatively fulfilled, as the only thing they are focussed on is delivering games.

    Hmmm.
    Edited by 1 at 22/01/10 @ 11:14

  • Murton #9 2 years ago

    I believe the response is hinting at the fact that if conditions were really as bad as the accusations say they are then Rockstar's games would suffer for it, as they have all sold exceptionally well that's pretty much a denial of the accusation in question.

    Doctor_What also makes a valid point in that many people in any industry will simply accept managerial abuse and put up with shit conditions and still get the work done. Whether that work would be of the same quality is questionable, I happen to believe that if Rockstar were indeed pulling these sort of stunts staff morale would go into the toilet and the games would suffer for it.

  • zuljin #10 2 years ago

    Anyone who thinks overworking is endemic or exclusive to the games industry has either never worked in the games industry, or has never worked outside of the games industry to compare it with.

  • aegisuk #11 2 years ago

    Having been in a long term relationship with someone who works at Rockstar Games, I can totally believe the accusations made against the management.

    Yes they pay well if you work hard. But I know I couldn't work 6 - 7 days a week and sleep on a sofa in my office because I don't have time to go home. I couldn't cope with that personnally.

    Guess it's up to individuals whether they want to work for a company that does that, but working for Rockstar is something many employees just can't pass up.

  • polar #12 2 years ago

    So basically, their response is a load of crap. It's pseudo-Brent management speak and doesn't at any point actually deny that employees are mistreated or forced to work long hours over a sustained period of time. Instead it seems to say that those who were disgruntled just couldn't hack it in one of the worlds elite studios - that the problem lies with them and not Rockstar!

    The accusations may be annonymously posted on the internet, but I happen to believe that more than another empty press release from a major studio. I've worked in similar conditions to those described (in another industry) and it really does affect one's life negatively as described. It's also very difficult to speak out due to the fear of getting sacked. I suggest a Boycott of all Rockstar products until they take these accusations seriously and address the problem.

    Edit: If employees are being exploited here, the blame can't be put on lax US labour laws. This kind of thing happens in Europe too and like I said not just in the games industry. People who have mortgages and other financial commitments often have to just put up with whatever is required of them in work, no matter how bad the environment. I would also challenge the claim here that low morale in general would lead to a bad product. That's ridiculous. Videogames are, first and foremost a money making product and are constucted as such. They're not made with magic beans and a touch of fairydust in the dreamfactory that Rockstar would have us believe.

    I WILL NEVER BUY A ROCKSTAR GAME AGAIN
    Edited by 3 at 22/01/10 @ 12:25

  • Murton #13 2 years ago

    Polar: low morale leads to bad work in any industry. If employees are are treated badly then they adopt a "that'll do, at least it's over with" attitude whereas a contented employee is more willing to put in a little extra effort and get the job done right, I've seen it happen personally across a number of different industries, hell even I think like that sometimes.

    Rockstar refusal to confirm or deny the allegations are pretty much a moot as long as the complainants remain anonymous as it's a "he said/she said" affair. Until someone working at Rockstar turns whistleblower, bearing in mind there are no laws in the US to protect an employee who does this, there is no proof that this is actually happening, just what a few (possible former) employees are stating anonymously on the internet. Those who have worked in the games industry and have first hand knowledge of what it's like can offer an educated guess at best, the rest however can only choose to believe one party's word over another, until there is some evidence of course.

  • kangarootoo #14 2 years ago

    @Murton

    But why hint about any of this. Why not make firm statements about their overtime and holiday policies? Have they cut holidays, yes or no? Have they enforced overtime, yes or no? There is no need to dance around the subject drawing pictures of floating eyes if the accusations are unfounded.

  • Pasco #15 2 years ago

    They don't really deny anything. Quite the opposite:

    "...and wish them well with finding an environment more suitable to their temperaments and needs, but the vast majority of our company are focused solely on delivering cutting edge interactive entertainment"

    THIS is their priority. Being cutting edge. Not happy developers. If you can't stand the heat (and put in the same insane hours desperate, single newcomers with no kids do) then get out of the kitchen! There is a reason there is an age threshold in the industry before people leave.

  • CalmBlueOcean #16 2 years ago

    quite torn on this story... I'm sure the allegations are true (unless there's more too them than just shit wages and mandatory crunch overtime?) but to be honest thats pretty much in line with working at any dev studio. The hours and working conditions are shit everwhere, and they are the same on "Kiddywink Platformer Wii Adventures" as they are on a AAA title.

    I know what I'd rather slog my guts out to make, and no one lies to you when you join the games industry and says its gonna be easy or at all pleasant. Making games is hell most of the time, and then some IGN twat calls you lazy because you didn't manage to make MW2 in the nine months your team of twenty had to make your game, and you go home and cry yourself to sleep.

    It's still better than a proper job :)

  • sonicgoo #17 2 years ago

    [link url=http:/ /en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-denial_denial
    ]http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-denial_...[/link]
    :)

  • Kinkster #18 2 years ago

    "Unfortunately, this is a case of people taking the opinions of a few anonymous posters on message boards as fact,"

    Then give us the facts? How about publishing factual data on your working practises? That would clear it all up, rather than some vague statement about ex-employee's having the hump.

    Edit: I was one of those "Anonymous" posters (though everyone in Leeds will know exactly who this is), and what I said was very much a fact. However, the vast majority of the team at Leeds are extremely talented and dedicated, and last year turned in an amazing game. As many posts here have said, if you don't like it, leave. You have to give massive respect to those who decide to stay and put in that level of committment. Shame on the Bosses though.
    Edited by 1 at 24/01/10 @ 10:19

  • Kerome #19 2 years ago

    Age threshold in the industry? Yes, probably, but it isn't a good thing. Young kids replacing experienced devs who find it's time to get busy with kids and family means crappier games. It's mostly because low-and-mid-level managers tend to be promoted young kids who have gotten older but had no real training in management, and many executives' idea of creating good products is just to push people to work harder.

    The interesting thing about non-denial denial is that it's a tacit admission of truth, while indicating that the speaker cares about truth and would like things to be better. It's an attempt to defuse a tricky situation and a hedge against further revelations which would reveal a lie and worsen things.

    So... that leads me to believe there's a good deal of truth in the accusation, speaking from 10 years of inside knowledge of the games industry. Some overtime is normal, a few days or weeks here or there you will find in every industry, but the games sector does tend to spawn these insane crunches of six months of six days a week, 12 hours a day from time to time. Management should really learn when to say 'no'.

  • Kinkster #20 2 years ago

    Oh, just a note on the Morale issue. Being pissed at your bosses and feeling ripped off and hard done by does not mean you want to be part of a shit product. While I had my arguments with the management, I was proud of the product. You always want your games to be great, no matter what conditions you produce them under.

  • kangarootoo #21 2 years ago

    @sonicgoo

    Great link, very relevant.

  • polar #22 2 years ago

    @ Murton.

    I agree with Kinkster here. Different people react in differnt ways to being pushed to extreme situations in work. It can be a matter of pride for people to do the best job possible and to put up with poor working conditions. There's a lot of crazy things that can go through your head when you're working under such duress and oftentimes people are driven harder by competition amongst their colleagues. Of course management are only too happy if that happens.

    Maybe I should clear up my first point; poor working conditions don't always equate to a poor final product, in fact the reverse can be true. (Just take a look at the extras on Return of the King as an example - the people worked themselves to the ground in Weta and produced the best special effects and the best film of the trillogy).

    Rockstar's defence of pointing to the finished product as a barrometer for working conditions is spurious and diversionary - no such correlation exiests! It's just a tactic on their behalf to distract people from the real issue here - that is; the amount of hours their employees are expected to work and the amount of leave they are allowed to take. It should be very easy for Rockstar to squash these allegations with a comprehensive statment. If they could stand by their work practices they would, but clearly they can't, so they've released this tame response and blamed disgruntled employees.
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/10 @ 01:12