Quick definition:A period of intense, extended overtime work during game development, usually before a deadline, in which staff work very long hours, often for weeks or months.
Meaning
Crunch describes the final stretch of a project when the team works far beyond normal hours to finish on time. It is most common in the weeks before a major deadline, such as a release date, a publisher review or a trade show demonstration.
Causes include optimistic schedules, changing plans, large scopes and pressure from publishers. Workers may feel unable to refuse, and the effects can include tiredness, stress, strain on families and more mistakes in the work itself. Related terms include death march, which describes a project doomed to long hours.
Debate about crunch is a major topic in the industry. Some argue it is sometimes unavoidable, while others say good planning and a healthy culture make it unnecessary. Unions, public criticism and changes in management practices have all been proposed as ways to reduce it.
Origin:Crunch is an English word for a crisis or moment of pressure, as in crunch time. It was adopted in the games industry to describe the final push before a release. The practice has been discussed for decades, and the word is now widely used in debates about working conditions.
Example:Six weeks before launch, the studio announces that the whole team will work evenings and weekends to fix remaining faults. Soren arrives early and leaves late, eating meals at his desk. When the game finally ships, he feels relief but also exhaustion, and he takes a long holiday.
Did you know?Crunch is widely criticised as harmful to health and quality, and surveys and reports have repeatedly raised it as an industry problem. Some studios have pledged to avoid it, and various places regulate overtime, although practices still vary.
