Wardogs Studio Defends Hiring Policy Amidst Crunch Controversy
Wardogs developer Bulkhead's CEO has defended the studio's practice of screening potential hires for anti-crunch sentiments. He clarified that this is not a formal policy but reflects a desire for employees aligned with the studio's work culture. The studio also acknowledged a period of optional crunch following a missed deadline, noting social pressure may have affected some staff.
- Entities
- Bulkhead
- Joe Brammer
- Crunch
- Wardogs
Coverage across 7 outlets
Wardogs boss clarifies the FPS had 4 weeks of "optional" crunch that devs could opt out of, but admits "social pressure" might have made some feel "less than great"
Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer clarified comments regarding crunch for their game Wardogs, stating that a four-week period of optional crunch was introduced after a beta deadline was missed. While he admitted that social pressure might have made some developers feel uncomfortable, he also highlighted employee benefits like a four-day work week and time off in December. Wardogs launched to positive reception, peaking at over 428,000 players on Steam.
Wardogs CEO goes on the defensive after speaking in favor of crunch in an interview
Joe Brammer, CEO of Bulkhead, the developer of the early access FPS Wardogs, has defended the practice of crunch in game development. In an interview, Brammer expressed support for crunch, stating that the final months of development were more important than developers' family lives and that the studio screens potential hires for anti-crunch rhetoric. He also mentioned that developers receive 'life-changing' compensation and that the studio utilized four-day work weeks and gave employees December off.
Wardogs studio CEO issues new statement, after backlash for saying his studio won't hire people who "constantly tweet anti-crunch messaging"
Joe Brammer, CEO of Bulkhead, has issued a new statement addressing backlash from his comments about not hiring individuals who "constantly tweet anti-crunch messaging." Brammer clarified his remarks, stating they were informal discussions about the studio's culture and not a formal recruitment policy, while also defending the studio's approach to crunch and work-life balance experiments. The successful launch of Wardogs has led to discussions about staff rewards and the company's unique operational strategies.
"They often don’t make it in the door": Wardogs studio Bulkhead check for "anti-crunch messaging" on prospective hires' social media, CEO says
Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer stated the studio checks prospective hires' social media for anti-crunch messaging, preferring candidates who do not publicly criticize crunch practices. Brammer believes crunch is sometimes unavoidable and that developers who are against it may not be a good fit for the studio's work-hard culture, though he also mentioned December off and a four-day work week for part of development.
'This Is a Place You Come to Work Hard' — Wardogs CEO Justifies Crunch as a Balancing Act
Joe Brammer, CEO of Wardogs developer Bulkhead, stated that the studio actively avoids hiring individuals unwilling to engage in crunch. He justified this policy as a necessary balancing act for the studio's operations.
Wardogs CEO says he won't hire devs who aren't down with mandatory crunch: 'If you care about what you're making, this is the place to work'
Joe Brammer, CEO of Bulkhead, has stated that the studio will not hire developers who are against mandatory crunch, framing it as a requirement for those who truly care about their work. This policy has drawn criticism from industry colleagues who argue that crunch is a result of poor planning and negatively impacts profits and employee well-being. Brammer also acknowledged that Wardogs experienced significant crunch during its launch, with staff working overnight to fix server issues.
"I expect people to crunch," says Wardogs boss, so his studio will "check people's socials" to see if they criticize crunch online before hiring them
Wardogs studio Bulkhead, led by CEO Joe Brammer, embraces crunch culture as an inevitability and actively screens applicants' social media for negative comments about crunch before hiring. Brammer states that while crunch is a possibility, employees who work extra hours receive financial compensation, which he describes as 'life-changing.' This practice highlights ongoing controversial labor issues within the game development industry.
Wardogs lead says the studio won't hire people who decry crunch on social media
Joe Brammer, CEO of Bulkhead, stated that the studio will not hire individuals who express anti-crunch sentiments on social media, as they are seen as a poor fit for the company's work culture. Brammer acknowledged that crunch can occur and emphasized that developers who work hard and contribute to successful projects are financially rewarded through bonuses and stock ownership.
