http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4 ... tricks.php
Here are some "dirty" coding tricks pulled by developers on a time crunch in the gaming industry. You'll be surprised by some of the fixes they've had. It's a little on the technical side, but wherever there's mention of code, it's pseudo-codey enough such that most anyone ought to be able to follow.
So, the next time something breaks in your favorite game, just think about the poor SOBs sitting behind terminals until the wee hours of the morning just so you can get your fix (hint: blame marketing/sales instead; they're the folks who often come up with ridiculous schedules).