Ex-THQ president, Jason Rubin, has recently talked about the quality of Metro: Last Lights working conditions. Last Light got 5s across the board in our recent review, but Rubin explained how the conditions that were in place whilst 4A Games worked on the game were anything but 5 stars. The studio had to contend with an itty bitty budget, a cramped work space and major logistical difficulties.

Rubin described the game's budget as "less than some of its competitors spend on cut scenes, a mere 10 percent [sic] of the budget of its biggest competitors" and it didn't extend to nice office equipment either. This meant that 4A's staff had to work sat "elbow to elbow" on folding chairs and card tables. Understandably Rubin wanted to get them more appropriate office equipment though that proved to be a whole other problem.

Rubin elaborated, "When 4A needed another dev kit, or high-end PC, or whatever, someone from 4A had to fly to the States and sneak it back to the Ukraine in a backpack lest it be 'seized' at the border by thieving customs officials. After visiting the team I wanted to buy them Aeron office chairs, considered a fundamental human right in the west. There were no outlets in the Ukraine, and our only option was to pack a truck in Poland and try to find an 'expediter' to help bribe its way down to Kiev." To top it all off the chairs that were bought for 4A turned out to be too big for the tiny office.

After all this it's easy to see why Rubin feels that 4A Games should be commended on their efforts and for delivering such an excellent game in the face of adversity. Rubin didn't forget to mention THQ's recent issues and consequently having to adjust to "a new, last minute publisher [Deep Silver] that doesn't see the upside in doing your team's publicity."

Such comments have caused Deep Silver PR representative Aubrey Norris to call Rubin out on her twitter and this has led to a spat between the two online.