Castlevania Lords of Shadow 2 released earlier this week, to mixed reviews as the game's metacritic score sits at a 62 at the time of writing. One of the people who worked on the game recently spoke out anonymously about the structure at MercurySteam, calling it "archaic", and commented on how that affected Lords of Shadow 2.
Going as far as to say "The vast majority of this team is aware that the game we've done is a real piece of [crap] that has nothing to do with the first one's quality and production values... Nobody is surprised by the low reviews we've got."
"The vast majority of this team is aware that the game we've done is a real piece of [crap] that has nothing to do with the first one's quality and production values... Nobody is surprised by the low reviews we've got."
The source calls out Enric Alvarez, the head and owner of the Spanish developer. The source states that working at Mercury Steam is "...about an everyday frustration" and says that Alvarez is responsible for this. according to the source Alvarez got an expanded ego after the success of the first Lords of Shadow and that Alvarez has a complete lack of trust in the people working under him. "His distrust to his own workers is enormous. Most of the development team often found out features of the game through press news, rather than from the studio's head-unbelievable."
Furthermore, the source says that Alvarez's ego and the studio's rigid structure resulted in an exodus of talent from the studio. An example of which was the art director, who left after Alvarez kept denying his core ideas. The source also talks about other studio members who left to work abroad, and that no effort was made to keep them at MercurySteam. "Almost every month we see fellow devs packing up and getting out of here looking for a new job abroad -that's sad-. It's amazing how the biggest AAA game developer in Spain is not even willing to make its workers a counteroffer. This company does not think highly of its talented workers and their good work."
"This company does not think highly of its talented workers and their good work"
The source continues, stating that production deadlines where ignored and as a result MercurySteam delayed the game for six months and had to pay for the extra six months of development out of pocket. On top of that the source says that there aren't high expectations for the future of MercurySteam and that Konami is displeased with Lords of Shadow 2. Furthermore, the source asserts that 35 people have lost their jobs at MercurySteam and that more cuts are on the way.
Hideo Kojima (left) and Enric Alvarez (Right)
The source does end on a positive note, crediting the talent and passion of the core team. "If all those guys who are not allowed to be promoted due to our Jurassic studio leads had the chance to set the course of the company, our future would be so bright. There's just so much passion and talent here, more than I've ever seen anywhere else, but it's completely held back. I really hope that those who read this understand what we've lived here. Someone has to say this so it is not lost in time after the game's launch."
Via: NeoGAF
