Video Game General

Just completed the first Witcher event in MHW. Man, that thing refused to die, though I was able to have my friend survive it, thankfully.

@Meanlucario  
That title is pretty misleading. A single group did a study where out of an undisclosed amount of developers from an an undisclosed amount of different companies of undisclosed sizes, over half claimed “Crunch” was an expected part of the job.
 
However in the study “Crunch” was merely defined as “a period where employees work “more than 40 hours per week over an extended period of time.” Which actually sounds perfectly normal for most companies.

@MadVillain  

“Crunch” is usually 60h+ a week. And it’s fairly insidious; company/team culture covers over production failings by invoking “team spirit” and “getting it done for good” and tries to cushion the blow with free food and big speeches and praises.
 
I mean, it happens every once in a while practically everywhere, but in some studios it’s accepted as the norm, and production/management take crunch into account for planning the same way an arcade racer thinks of a regenerating boost.

@The Smiling Pony  
It being normalized according to the study is what what the video focused on.

@MadVillain  
I remember a company had a walk out over crunch or something, a few article where saying how massive a crowd was… Of about a 100 people of a company of 1,000’s and there was food, so it seemed more like a picnic.
 
Maybe it wasn’t about Crunch, I don’t know, but when you see stuff like that, it feels more like just lazy people thinking Game development is like the rock star life. Easy when you’re looking from outside, but never see all the work put in, behind the scenes.
 
Some actually enjoy Crunch, let’s not forget that. Some work better with a fire lit under their ass. Not everyone mind you. I know I don’t.

@Cyborg_pony
 
And of course, Masahiro Sakurai does crunch work by his own choice (to the point where the other employees had to basically force him to take a break).

@Cyborg_pony  
That was Riot and it was about sexual harassment at work.
 
And yes, some people enjoy crunch, because it generates in them a feeling of camaraderie, presents a clear objectives -> results loop, and they have nothing else going on in their lives.

@The Smiling Pony
 
There was also the stuff with NetherRealm Studios where apparently crunch wasn’t even the only problem there…

@The Smiling Pony  
I thought there was one about Crunch.
 
But, from what I can gather, Places that seem to have a problem with Mandatory crunch are those that have very poor management, so staff becomes unfocused and that leads to very lackluster product.

@Cyborg_pony  
And lasting damage to the employees as well. Don’t forget that they’re the ones suffering the most from crunch.

How many matches do I have to lose in a fighting game for the AI to finally decide “Maybe I should start easing up a little bit?” Because I think I can honestly say that I’ve lost more matches against this one story mode opponent that I’ve lost matches in every fighting game I’ve ever played in my entire life up to this point.

Normally, my pride wouldn’t allow me to just skip a fight, no matter how hard it is, but fuck it, I don’t care anymore. I just wanna see how the story ends goddamnit.

Is there a list of new/returning monsters in the Iceborne expansion so far?

@ExtreVile  
Sif is best video game wolf

@Mikey  

@Jarkes  
you gonna respect a guy who voluntarily crunches so hard that their bosses/coworkers told him to chill for a second.

@Vortaxonus  
I think “worry” is a better word.

@ExtreVile  
No Wolf O’Donnell? ^{(That’s Star Wolf, Fox McCloud’s rival BTW.)}
 
I’m glad he’s back in SSBU, with a more classic “pirate eyepatch” look.

Monster Hunter has inspired me to try the Witcher series.

@Beau Skunky
 
That appears to be fully quadrupedal video game wolves and not anthropomorphic ones.

Is there anything I should know about Witcher 1 before I get too far into it?

@Meanlucario  
The first Witcher was a great game. Well, mostly. I ended up spending way too much time running around in that impenetrable swamp and the end was a slog to get through. Some complained about the combat but I didn’t mind it. What The Witcher excelled at was atmosphere and immersion.
 
I tried the sequel and didn’t like how the combat was all about rolling, dodging, and spamming signs. I may go back to it at some point.
 
The Wild Hunt I can’t speak to, but I’ve heard very positive things.
 
 
@Meanlucario  
Once you get into the city, all the quests can sometimes be overwhelming. Don’t feel bad if you have to occasionally look up what you’re supposed to do.