I joined Radical Entertainment a few years after Hit & Run, and I can confirm that it was filled with very good engineers (and artists!), with really solid hiring and leadership. It wasn't without its flaws, but it was an excellent place for new and experienced developers alike.
Ultimately the transition to 360/PS3 and the massive increase in production value and challenges cracked the company - or, depending who you ask, it was just the Activision merger with Vivendi (owner of Radical).
Ultimately the transition to 360/PS3 and the massive increase in production value and challenges cracked the company - or, depending who you ask, it was just the Activision merger with Vivendi (owner of Radical).