Recently, former THQ president Jason Rubin claimed that the studio that created the critically well-received Metro: Last Light, 4A games, had lots of adverse challenges to deal with while making the game. He claimed that 4A Game's budget was significantly smaller than many studios, and that the development team had to deal with freezing temperatures and crowded conditions. Well now, the creative director for 4A Games, Andrew Prokhorov, has taken to the comments section of the original GamesIndustry International report to clarify those statements.
"It is a fact that our work conditions are worse than those of other developers outside Ukraine...I don't think anyone can doubt that--yes, it's true that American and most of European developers operate in a country far more comfortable than Ukraine. And yes, the publishers pay them more. This is clear: the more 'reasonable' the country the less the risks. And we don't want to be all dramatic about that--after all, better conditions are earned, and we strive to do this as soon as possible."
While the reports about the conditions the developers had to work in are utterly deplorable, the team was able to pull off an amazing feat and create a very good game despite the obvious disadvantages they faced. Hopefully Deep Silver, the new owner of Metro: Last Light, can improve the conditions that the team has had to deal with in the past.
Prokhorov also defended the former THQ head Jason Rubin, claiming he was the only THQ president in a decade who came to check in on the studio, located in Kiev, the capital of the Ukraine.
"We've worked with THQ for 10 years (as we are the guys who made Stalker, too), and Jason is the only THQ President who visited us in Ukraine. And he did this on his second week in THQ. Keep in mind that he only had few months to somehow fix the situation. Alas, that didn't work out."