The Callisto Protocol: Former Striking Distance Developers Say ‘Key Folks’ Were Left Out of Credits
Striking Distance Studios Are Reportedly Under Attack Excluding developers from credit for The Callisto ProtocolIGN’s own report now corroborates accounts that a major name was left out of the game’s credits, and IGN believes that issues with credits for a game directed by Glen Schofield predates The Callisto Protocol. I’ve heard it goes back to
in a report from gamesindustry.biz Earlier this week, sources told the publication that an estimated 20 developers have been stripped of credit for the Callisto Protocol. Both of them worked for the company during the development of The Callisto Protocol, and we confirmed the details from the report.
One of the employees we spoke with was included in the credit even though the Callisto Protocol had been in development for less than a year. However, they told IGN that the credits “missed some key figures”.
“It turns out that two people weren’t added to the credits,” the developer told IGN. “I feel one of them was not added due to the drama of the department itself. It’s a feature in today’s games, but it’s not in the credits at all.”
The former employee suggested that the head of the department, rather than senior management at Striking Distance Studios like CEO Glen Schofield, may be responsible. According to this source, upper management doesn’t know everyone who’s been in and out of Striking Distance Studios because of the heavy turnover during the development of his Callisto Protocol.
But our second source pinpoints some of Schofield’s culpability. The former employee says he worked at Striking Distance Studios for over a year, which led to him being stripped of The Callisto Protocol credits.
“It really sucks to be left out of the credits of these games. It’s hard to explain how bad it is because you can’t fix it. These discs are all over the world and they don’t have servers – like magic A releasable side hotfix that suddenly makes me realize all the time and effort I’ve put in. It could be simple carelessness or lack of follow-through, but I think it’s a symbol of the general attitude towards employees.Results theory.”
The source also has experience working with Schofield at the director’s former studio, Sledgehammer Games. According to this developer, credit issues date back to the last few games he directed by Schofield before The Callisto Protocol. Namely, his three titles in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Advanced Warfare and WWII.
“I worked at Glenn Scofield [multiple] I’ve heard similar rumors of people who worked for Sledgehammer Games for several years and had their credits revoked for Modern Warfare 3… From my own experience, I’m pretty sure there are people whose credits have been revoked for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. You can confirm that there is
According to this source, Advanced Warfare’s narrative producer “had clear orders from Glenn, [Sledgehammer’s] Credits from Michael Condry. “
According to this source, their biggest personal snub was Call of Duty: WWII.
“I worked on Call of Duty: WWII for almost two years and was taken off the credits simply because I left the studio before the game shipped. Hell on that company and that game Even though I was working like
Striking Distance Studios had previously addressed criticism of Schofield’s comments about the company’s crunch culture potential.so currently deleted tweetsSchofield writes: It’s a game. Hard work. Lunch, dinner work. U Do it cause ya luv it.”
Scofield continued apologize for putting the team in trouble“I messed up in the end and worked more than necessary. That person ran away from us.”
The former employee, who has worked at both Striking Distance Studios and Sledgehammer, told IGN that his obsession with Schofield’s games dates back to the days of Call of Duty.
“People were 100% rewarded and genuinely encouraged just for working all day every day, including weekends. There was no way of knowing if it was going to be decided…just to burn ourselves to the core in hopes of being seen as providing the kind of service the studio heads were looking for.”
IGN reached out to Striking Distance Studios for comment, but did not hear back at the time of publication.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over 6 years of experience in the games industry and has bylines for IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
