“A couple of people had nervous breakdowns.” Despite becoming one of Rockstar’s most beloved titles, Bully’s creation was grueling. Yet environment artist Andrew Wood refused to quit, convinced that “the project was going to be something special.”

Rockstar Games has delivered some of the most iconic experiences in gaming — and in entertainment as a whole. But behind the scenes, some of those hits were forged under intense pressure and punishing overtime. That was the case with Red Dead Redemption 2, whose stressful development drew heavy criticism from both players and industry insiders. And as it turns out, the equally legendary Bully was born under similar, grueling circumstances.

Environment artist Andrew Wood shared his memories of that period in an interview with Retro Gamer (via GamesRadar+). “My memories are love-hate. It was a fun, strange, hellish, chaotic, and amazing time,” he recalled. “I have fond memories of the people, the moments, and the crazy things we did after work, but then I think about the stress.”

Wood described a relentless environment marked by enormous pressure and marathon workdays. It took a toll on many developers: “There was constant internal conflict due to the stress of always being at work. A couple of people suffered nervous breakdowns. They collapsed. It was difficult working under those conditions, but I knew Bully would be worth it in the end, so I stuck it out.”

“Brutal” Conditions: Seven Days a Week, 18 Hours a Day

According to Wood, the final months of development were particularly punishing. “We worked seven days a week, averaging 18-hour days,” he said. Things got so extreme that Rockstar even eliminated lunch breaks: “They brought food into the office so we wouldn’t leave! For many of us, it started to feel like a prison.” Developing Bully under these conditions “burned people out. There was a lot of turnover, but I stayed because I knew the project was going to be something special.”

Despite the suffering, Wood still holds the project close to his heart. “I love the game, and I love that, almost 20 years later, people still appreciate it.” And indeed, it’s hard to believe, but nearly two decades have passed since Bully launched — and players still look back fondly on the experience.

Source: 3djuegos