Former THQ exec details terrible working conditions for developer 4A Games and "irrational requirements" of THQ

Jason Rubin is best known as the co-founder of leading game developer Naughty Dog. More recently, however, he had the thankless task of trying to overhaul struggling publisher THQ. Rubin joined THQ in May 2012 and while he made a valiant effort to improve the company, the bad momentum was too much and he didn't have enough time to steer the ship away from the iceberg.

As president of THQ, Rubin oversaw numerous studios, including the talented folks at 4A Games, known for the Metro franchise. THQ was to be the publisher for Metro: Last Light until its unfortunate demise. Instead, Koch Media picked up the rights for almost $6 million earlier this year. In this fascinating article from Rubin, the former THQ executive details the awful working conditions that the studio in the Ukraine had to face during the development of Last Light, and he argues that gamers and the industry at large should recognize what 4A was able to accomplish despite major hurdles and adversity.

Here's Rubin's story, submitted exclusively to GamesIndustry International

It is unfortunate that Prof [Creative Director Andrew Prokhorov], Dean Sharpe, and the rest of the team at 4A won't receive appropriate credit for their achievement in releasing Metro: Last Light.

A combination of a complex and secretive industry, a press that lags the movie and music press in calling attention to the stories behind the games, a dysfunctional and ever-changing sequence of producers causing confusion, the inevitable anonymity that comes from being an Eastern European developer, and a new, last minute publisher that doesn't see the upside in doing your team's publicity, will conspire to keep an incredible story hidden.

I am going to try and change that.

To be clear, nothing in this missive should suggest that either 4A or I would like to see any change in the way the game itself has been received or reviewed by press or fans. I know 4A well enough to know that they demand to contest on a level playing field. This isn't golf, and they don't need or want a handicap. Their pride and skill demand that Last Light go head to head with competition on even terms, and I am sure they are happy with the response. 

But now that reviews are mainly behind us, I think it's worth looking deeper... [Continue reading at gamesindustry.biz]

Amazing and shocking stuff, I hope conditions improve in the future. Tho I know realistically not much will change any time soon. At least their next game might have a less messed up dev cycle.

yeah, it's often sad if you read about stories like that. i really hope many will read that and one or two will buy the game. maybe they will get some better working conditions in the future when the publisher realizes that it's worth to invest in them.

and like he said, who knows what they could develop with better working conditions.

I think it was a cheezy article. Okay the Metro guys don't have the luxuries of big AAA studios but thousands of developers have made amazing stuff with scarce resources for decades. It's nothing special to lift up, and certainly not in the light of a 82% Metacritic.

82% without huge marketing(telling people what to think,like and buy)

without paid reviews(i'll pay you for advertising you give my game90%+)to create a hype

and being an unknown developer outside of usa/japan/western europe

is a 89 % game.

but i'm pretty sure even shit like Alien CM will sell more units than this game.

I agree with you on how those factors influence the scores. And I hate how the big players in the industry steal all the attention from the small guys. I too would like Metro to sell millions.

But I still think the article was cheezy.

people like cheese

cheesy with some good arguments.

I don't think it's too cheesy, I think Rubin got the tone right and was very self-aware.

While I suspected Eastern Euro devs had a harder time than others int he West, this is worse than I imagined. Congrats to the team.

Seems someone thinks that the article is full of bullshit 

https://twitter.com/TheKevinDent

read from the bottom

1. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent4h

   . @Jason_Rubin Jason your résumé reminds me that you destroyed a lot of shareholder value and jobs, I feel bad for you, you have my pithy!

     View conversation 

   •   Reply 
   •   Retweet 
   •   Favorite 
   •   More
2. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent4h

   .@Jason_Rubin Jason you seem to be suffering from a chronic case remembering facts wrong, you can't even remember the basic stuff!

     View conversation
3. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent4h

   If only there was someone who could have given 4A a larger budget? Like I don't know, the president of the company?

    Expand
4. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent4h

   @TLChicken @Jason_Rubin @mattbertz hence the "+"

     View conversation
5. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent4h

   It would appear Jason has forgotten that he failed at THQ, perhaps he was too busy trying to buy the company and being embarrassed over SE3?

    Expand
6. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent4h

   .@Jason_Rubin @mattbertz perhaps if you visited your teams more THQ would still be alive Jason?

     View conversation
7. Jason Rubin ‏@Jason_Rubin5h

   @TheKevinDent @mattbertz Sooo... once a month for 8 years or once a week for ~2 years? We're losing visits rapidly.

     Retweeted by thekevindent

     View conversation
8. Jason Rubin ‏@Jason_Rubin5h

   @TheKevinDent @mattbertz Also, since we are nitpicking copy, I doubt you have been there 200+ times. That's once a month for 16 years.

     Retweeted by thekevindent

     View conversation
9. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent4h

   .@Jason_Rubin @mattbertz um more like twice a week, it's a short flight from Vienna.

     View conversation
10. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent4h

    :@Jason_Rubin @mattbertz I find it odd that you don't remember my resume since you spent a lot of time looking at my profile whilst at THQ

     View conversation
11. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent4h

    .@Jason_Rubin @mattbertz I lived in Vienna for 8 years, we had an office in Kiev and I ran it. Don't believe me? Check my LinkedIn profile

     View conversation
12. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent5h

    @BradGrenz which was saber rattling during the dispute with Russia.

     View conversation
13. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent5h

    .@Jason_Rubin @mattbertz I have been there about 100+ times and bought those chairs for teams there with no issues.

     View conversation
14. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent5h

    Lets keep it really real, Jason could have easily changed the conditions of the studio in a second, he was the president.

    Expand
15. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent5h

    I find it amazing that the former president of THQ starts wringing his hands and weeping about the conditions of his former employees

    Expand
16. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent5h

    @mattbertz @Jason_Rubin Aeron chairs are sold in Kiev and the Ukraine uses natural gas for heating.... I have been there about 200+ times.

     View conversation
17. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent5h

    Someone needs to tell Jason Rubin that the Ukraine uses natural gas for heating..... Is anything in his post true? http://www.aig.com/Ukraine-Energy-Security_2590_487747.html …

    Expand
18. thekevindent ‏@TheKevinDent5h

    You can't buy Aeron chairs in the Ukraine? Really? It would appear Jason is full of crap straight out of the gate! http://officedistrict.com.ua/en/catalog/aeron/ …