Bully’s development drove the team to nervous breakdowns — by the end they were working 18-hour days

Making games is demanding — at times you’re pushed to your limits by intense pressure and exhaustive hours.

A former Rockstar artist recently spoke with Retro Gamer about his time on Bully. Building the so-called “school GTA” proved to be a harsh test for the team.

Andrew Wood recalled long periods of crunch — extended overtime that’s unfortunately common in game studios. His memories are a complicated mix of affection and frustration:

«It was fun, strange, hellish, chaotic, and exhilarating. I remember the people, those days, and the crazy antics we pulled after work with warmth — but then I think about the stress.»

The team faced “constant internal tensions caused by relentless work stress” — a few developers even suffered breakdowns, yet Andrew managed to persevere:

«Working in that environment was brutal, but I knew Bully was worth it, so I stuck it out.»

Toward the end of development the team was working “seven days a week, averaging around 18 hours a day,” which took a heavy toll. That led to significant staff turnover, but he chose to stay because he believed the project “would be something special.”

Source: iXBT.games