Mike York, who worked on the Rockstar animation team for Grand Theft Auto V, recently shared his experience in what he describes as the studio's most intense development period. His story isn't unique, but it carries extra weight given GTA V's status as one of the most profitable entertainment products ever created - and it matters even more because of what Rockstar Games is doing differently this time around with the sequel.
In a recent interview York revealed how, as the release date of the most successful Grand Theft Auto to date approached, everything for the development team changed radically. The crunch period that followed wasn't measured in weeks or even a couple of months. York describes an extended period of overtime that pushed him and many colleagues to their breaking points. While he stops short of giving exact timeframes in some discussions, he has indicated elsewhere that the crunch lasted far longer than what many would consider reasonable or sustainable.
York then explains how he observed two distinct groups forming during this period. On one side were developers, whom he calls the die-hards. These individuals, often without family commitments or relationships outside work, would willingly push themselves to extreme limits. They didn't just tolerate the crunch; they embraced it, driven by their passion for the franchise and their desire to be seen as indispensable team members.
