Back To Meet The Devs

1. What is your name and/or nickname?

I don't really use one much, although sometimes I go by Slipster when an alias seems to fit better than a real name.

2. How did you come to work at Turbine?

I saw an add on an email discussion group about some people starting a video game company. The day of my "interview", I moved into the living room, found a coffee table to prop my computer up on, and moved onto the couch at night.

3. What other jobs have you had?

My first job was as a paperboy - something to this day I can't believe they expect small children to do. I mean, I was out there trying to collect money from people who didn't want to pay at age 11. Then there was a rash of pizza joins, shoe stores, and the usual. My first interesting job was building guitars for Paul Reed Smith, an amazing guitar company in Maryland. After a few years of school, I dropped out to join Turbine.

4. Do you work on anything else besides AC (and can you tell us about it)?

Over the last few years I've been slowing building a recording studio that I use to work with local artists. I've got two records coming out this year, the first is from Leslie Helpert and is out now. The second is coming out on Grape Shot records in November, and is by the Miracle Orchestra.

5. If you could add or change one thing in AC, what would that be?

That's a tough call between the magic system and the skill system. Both have unique features about them that I really like, but both having gaping flaws that I'd love to be able to fix.

6. What's the most amusing or embarrassing death you've had or witnessed in AC?

Way back in beta0 the hot spot was the dungeon called Shoushi's Revenge (which is now the Greavius Vault). At the bottom was a Banderling Captain locked in a cage - which made him the perfect target to get "phat lewt". However, there was a bug that made it impossible to get out of the chamber if the door shut on you - so you'd have to have another character run down to the bottom and pull the lever to let you out. It was fairly common to get a @tell from someone trapped down there, or have to use another character to make the run to let yourself out. At the time, there were two major allegiances who's leaders both spent a lot of time in Shoushi's Revenge. I talked to both of them on a regular basis, but I was obviously only sworn to one of them. Late one night I spotted the other monarch making the run in front of me, heading for the chamber. He mentioned something about the captain being his, so as he ran into the chamber I pulled the lever and locked him in. Later that night I'm standing in the chamber with my monarch telling him the story when I hear the click of the lever and see the door slam shut. Ah, Karma, my old friend. So I made a level one character with as much quickness and defense as I could, and sent him flying down the halls and jumps of the dungeon until I reached the lever. Right as I pulled the lever and opened the door, a skeleton warrior I had picked up shot me in the back with a crossbow.

7. Are you in an allegiance and do your allegiance members know you're at Turbine?

Right now I'm in an allegiance with some other turbine employee's. Back in beta I was in a few different allegiances, who sometimes knew who I was. I once told someone I was from Turbine and they wouldn't believe me unless I mailed them - he said others had been claiming the same thing and it was doubtful. It was kind of a funny realization for me, since I had never thought about anyone pretending to be one of us as some type of status thing. I guess that was the biggest difference between early betas and the later ones, in the early ones, the community was so small no one would have done that.

8. Have you played any other MMORPGs and are you looking forward to any upcoming ones?

I played EQ for a while, messed around with UO and Meridian59 as well. I'm interested in many of the ideas being proposed by some of the upcoming MMPs, but I haven't seen one yet that's really grabbed my attention as one I'm really dying to play.

9. What's the current in-office LAN game?

Well, it was Team Fortress/Counter Strike for a long time, but lately Starcraft has been making a comeback.

10. Favourites:

I like most styles of music, but I'm really picky about musicianship. I listen to Jazz and funk mostly, with a healthy dose of Bluegrass every now and again, but can get into just about anything if it's done well. Favorite bands include: The Slip, Miracle Orchestra, Tower of Power, Blue Rags, the New Deal, Bob Marley, the Beatles, etc. My favorite films include the Nightmare before Christmas, My Blue Heaven, City of Lost Children, Braveheart, Caveman, Time Bandits and a bunch more. Favorite TV shows are The Simpsons and Behind the Music. As for sports, I love to surf, bike and rollerblade - although I don't do it enough. For watching, only extreme sports like skateboarding and stuff interest me. My roomates are all into football and baseball, but I can't stand watching that stuff. My favorite computer/console games include Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (DC), Street Fighter II Turbo (Arcade), Mario64 (n64), Legend of Zelda (NES), Twisted Metal 2 (PSX), Warcraft 2 (PC), Proving Grounds (BBS), Archon II (PC), Rescue Raiders (Apple II), Autodual (PC).

11. What was the first computer game you played?

Pong, then Space Invaders. I remember them in the arcades when I was really little. I eventually got an Atari, followed by a TI994a with Munch Man and a dungeon crawl game who's name I can't remember.

12. What would you like appreciative fans to send as gifts?

It's really amazing that people do this - I've always loved chocolate and cookies, although there's always a mad rush to the front counter that reminds me of a cattle drive when we get them.

13. Did you get your pre-patch Greater Shadow Armour in time?

Nope. I didn't get a Hoary Matt robe either, although I'm dying to trade for one.

14. Fasten and then zip or zip and then fasten?

Neither - my girlfriend makes a lot of clothing that I wear without zippers. However, when I do have them, it's zip then fasten.

15. Because of the lead- and asbestos-lined walls at Turbine's offices, you all survive the apocalypse - who'd get voted Supreme Leader?

If we're voting, Dave would get put in charge since he's fairly level headed and good at negotiations. However, if it wasn't a diplomatic choice, the picture would be different..