So true. For the whole of my final year I was in work placement. So I was doing a 40 hour Job, coming home to a shit load of college work and also doing freelance now and again. Just doing a 40 hour week after the degree was like being on holiday.
I work 40 hours a week and I've worked 40 hours a week for the past 7 years at all 3 studios I've worked at. When we're in "crunch" that can go to 60, 65, etc. BTW, whoever said "if you want it bad enough then JOB > fiancee" has a poor outlook on their quality of life. Jesus.
I'm fortunate that I've worked on 2 titles now and not yet had a crunch. Sometimes I'll work extra to add something to the game though. Normally I work 40 hrs/week, maybe 55 when on a personal crunch.
40-45 hrs a week. I might come in on the weekend for 4-6 hrs during crunch, but that's it man. Luckily the art teams I've been in have been well managed, so we didn't really experience any crunches.