Tim Schafer on the crunch: “Changing the mindset that it’s only part of the system”



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Double Fine founder Tim Schafer believes studios need to do more to dispel the entrenched belief that crunch is an inevitable part of game development.

Speaking to the Washington Post about the creation of the long-awaited sequel to Double Fine, Psychonauts 2, the veteran designer admitted that the Microsoft-owned studio has been guilty of cracking in the past, but said that’s precisely why it’s important to push back when those familiar (and decidedly unhealthy) habits start to rematerialize. .

“We tried to find different ways not to have a crisis and we got better, but a few projects struggled and required a lot of extra work,” Schafer concedes. “This past year has been an interesting one for everyone. Everyone is at home [and] you try to watch to make sure no one is working too hard, but everyone’s life is so hidden from you during quarantine that it was more difficult. “

For Schafer, cultivating a healthy work-life balance depends (at least in part) on recognizing these warning signs and taking decisive action. Falling back into a dangerous cycle is all too easy, especially when it has been the norm for so long.

“The important thing is to try to change the mindset that it’s just part of the system. Some people are like, ‘Well that’s just part of making games’, but it’s only part of the game. of making games if you choose not to make it a priority, “Schafer continues.” You have to really see the quality of team life as something that you can’t lower just to meet a deadline. “

You can read more about Schafer by checking out the full interview on the Washington Post.

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