Telltale Games Wants New Studio To Be A “Non-Crunch Work Environment”
The sudden closure of Telltale Games is still so fresh in the public consciousness, the studio memorably meeting its end in dramatic and devastating fashion. Not only were numerous staff members met with surprise layoffs, but the ordeal unveiled several revelations of intense crunch culture happening across the company. Upon the return of Telltale earlier this year, it was clear that the studio would continue under a new means of management, with greater care taken when it comes to the treatment of employees and properties.
The company’s new CEO Jamie Ottilie has continued this expression in a new interview with IGN, assuring the new version of Telltale Games will strive toward building success without repeating past mistakes–namely, unforgivingly long bouts of crunch. “We are taking a measured and methodical approach to growth in order to ensure we can provide a stable, non-crunch work environment,” Ottilie said. “We are building this into our culture from the outset.”
While Ottilie’s comments present a hopeful message for Telltale’s future, the resurrection of a formerly-notorious company has undoubtedly received a few side-eyes for the company’s seemingly opportunistic acquisition. However, this viewpoint is one that Telltale ultimately plans to prove incorrect–not with words, but with action. “All we can do is be forthcoming; we can’t control whether critics hear or believe us,” CEO Jamie Ottilie added. “The truth is we are a new company — with different ownership and management, and a different approach as to how we structure a studio in today’s market.”
The first planned title for the restructured Telltale Games is the long-anticipated second season of The Wolf Among Us–a tall task for any developer. However, Jamie Ottilie attests the game was always intended to include assistance from former Telltale creatives at AdHoc Studio. “We approached AdHoc,” Ottilie explained. “We started the conversation very early on in the process because we really wanted The Wolf Among Us 2 to be a faithful sequel to the original and to be the first new game to enter development at the new Telltale. We spent quite a bit of time discussing the project with the team and AdHoc, making sure that this would be a good partnership.”
The team at AdHoc was always our first choice to lead the narrative and cinematic direction for this game, and we are thrilled to be working with them.”
What do you think? Are you glad Telltale Games is taking its second chance seriously, or do you feel that actions will speak louder than words in this case? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more headlines recently featured on DFTG, check out these next few news stories:
Eric Hall2712 Posts
Phone-browsing Wikipedia in one hand and clutching his trusty controller in the other, the legendary Eric Hall spreads his wealth of knowledge as a writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. Be sure to catch his biweekly "Throwback Thursday" segment for a nostalgic look at trivia from the past.
