PS3 News: The Drama Behind L.A. Noire's Lengthy Development Cycle - PS3 News

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The Drama Behind L.A. Noire's Lengthy Development Cycle

What happens during seven years of development?

Oh, a whole lot of drama, it seems. More than a few ex-Team Bondi employees - over 100, in fact - have launched a website that outlines the real credits of the game; a list of names that doesn't omit those 100+ ex-workers. But a whole lot more has been revealed at IGN, where 11 former Team Bondi members and current studio boss Brendan McNamara dished on the rocky and lengthy development cycle for the critically acclaimed title. It's an interesting read, as there are all sorts of complaints and rebuttals from McNamara; this includes an issue involving overtime, as one employee said no overtime was ever paid over a span of three years and three months. That's bound to tick people off.

And that's only the beginning. Quite a few ex-employees had a bone to pick with their boss; one called him a "24/7 corpse grinder" who just never let up. Reading that in-depth look at the elongated design process of L.A. Noire makes us appreciate the final product even more, doesn't it?

Related Game(s): L.A. Noire

Tags: la noire, l.a. noire, team bondi, rockstar

6/26/2011 8:35:25 PM John Shepard

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Comments (21 posts)

frylock25
Sunday, June 26, 2011 @ 9:43:53 PM
Reply

typo: That's bound to tick pople off.

im sure a lot of games have drama stories to them. seems like most jobs have drama stories to them.
Last edited by frylock25 on 6/26/2011 9:45:14 PM

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Bandit1
Sunday, June 26, 2011 @ 10:25:44 PM
Reply

Well hearing this I'm glad we got our hands on the game at all!

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SpikeSpiegel
Sunday, June 26, 2011 @ 10:44:58 PM
Reply

At least it didn't end up like 3D Realms... Then we would've waited twice as long, eventually another studio would have resumed development, and the experience would be nowhere near what it is in the game's current form... Bullet dodged.
Last edited by SpikeSpiegel on 6/26/2011 10:45:12 PM

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WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, June 26, 2011 @ 11:20:01 PM
Reply

*Duke Voice*

Welcome to game development pussies.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 6/26/2011 11:20:09 PM

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Geobaldi
Sunday, June 26, 2011 @ 11:55:37 PM
Reply

I'll wait for the PC version this fall before I play it. Got enough on my plate now as it is.

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kingjose
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 12:46:38 AM
Reply

I would of rather have gotten mk. The audio sucks for the game on my system

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Lawless SXE
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 1:51:32 AM

Shrink ze avatar. Eet ees too big... Also, do not like.

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Qubex
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 1:53:11 AM

Do something about that Avatar dude...

Q!

"play.experience.enjoy"

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Pandacastro
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 3:23:02 AM

Im going to miss this guy.

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frylock25
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 4:05:43 AM

well he was warned once. Ben deleted his avatar. so long dude, enjoy getting banned.

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 10:05:01 AM

No, I've warned him three times. So now he goes away.

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Underdog15
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 2:11:54 PM

@Ben
He might just never check back after leaving a comment. He probably just comes back and thinks, "Dang, my avitar is gone. I'll put it back. There we go!"

lol, maybe you should email him?

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Qubex
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 1:52:33 AM
Reply

Pretty sad. One of the reasons that stops me from making the move from the Telecommunications industry to the Games industry. I have looked into it and have spoken to Ubisoft (amongst others) and the like; but I have to say, I don't think I want those long hours, no matter how creative I feel right now...

I enjoy playing the games and having the job I have now... well paid, with normal working hours... for as long as it lasts of course.

Things could change, I could get bored, but hell, who wants to be a polygon-pusher being grinded into the ground... is "passion" really worth that?

Q!

"play.experience.enjoy"

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Lawless SXE
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 1:55:41 AM
Reply

Yah, I read that the other day. Bloody shocking conditions, and if what the employees say is true, then they can hardly be blamed for dishing the dirt. And don't get me wrong, I'm glad the game was released, I really am, but I still feel as though there was something lacking about it, and that feeling only grows as I continue to look at it in retrospect.

I only hope that this information becoming public doesn't damage the reputation of the studio, because by god, L.A. Noire was the biggest video game undertaking ever done in Australia, and THAT needs to continue, particularly now that developers get tax cuts... or rebates or something. I wasn't playing too much attention at the announcement. Yay for Labor (and I still don't understand why it is officially spelt like that :/).

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___________
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 3:13:23 AM
Reply

does not surprise me, if you look back at brendans track record theres been heaps of complaints him being a arrogant prick, pushing too hard, and just not listening to reason!
sounds familiar............

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Lawless SXE
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 5:38:53 AM

Sounds like the foreman at work... Familiar indeed.

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___________
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 8:52:03 AM

thats a surprise, every foreman i have had has been a lazy &^%$!
always sitting in his office filling out paperwork, never leaving, and come 5 he was the first one out the door!
never checked if everyone had there white card, or steel caps on.
half the guys there were not qualified, hell the guy driving the crane did not have his crane license!

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Lord carlos
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 8:04:23 AM
Reply

If development is taking 7 years then being a ball busting pr!ck is the corporate way of things usually.
"If you can't do it then i'll get somebody who can"
Unpaid overtime however is unacceptable,peoples gotta eat!
End transmission.

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Underdog15
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 8:28:56 AM
Reply

Sweet. So if you own LA Noir, you have a guarantee it was made with human sweat and tears?

Definite must purchase.

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BikerSaint
Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 12:38:46 PM
Reply

This gives new definition to the name "Sweat Shops"

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Spanky
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 @ 10:12:06 AM
Reply

So ... the LA Noire follow up to be available on PS5?? ;)

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