2000-05-30: Gordon “Tyrant” Walton interview with thechosen.com
Gordon “Tyrant” Walton interview with thechosen.com
Jinx: Thanks for coming Tyrant: I'm tired and sick so be gentle! Tyrant: :) Jinx: haha Jinx: OK Jinx: will do Tyrant: Old too! Jinx: Shouldn’t it say EA.com_Tyrant Tyrant: na! I'm only doing that stuff temporarily Jinx: No excuses Jinx: All right Tyrant: no one likes a whiner, you are right! Jinx: I've been accused of not taking these interviews seriously Jinx: So I’m going to start right now Jinx: No easy questions for you Tyrant: Hit me. Jinx: To start, did you recently buy one of the 1.3 million Britney Spears albums that were sold? Tyrant: Britney who? (hope that answers the question) Jinx: Good answer. Jinx: Ok, so when's housing going in? Jinx: Tomorrow? Tyrant: As soon as we feel the bugs are all killed and the service is ready to handle the load Jinx: Is that tomorrow? Tyrant: We have been upgrading our infrastructure over the last couple of weeks even beyond what Tyrant: we planned for UO:R, and the team has been working on bugs that have shown up on House Test Tyrant: (thanks to everyone who plays there and helps us by sending stuff in) Tyrant: My bet is we are about 2 weeks out, but it's only an estimate Jinx: Ok, not tomorrow. Nice of you to get a PR plug in there too! Tyrant: We will do it during prime playing time on the weekend btw, so no one has to stay home from work Jinx: That I like. Jinx: I suggested that very idea 3 months ago Jinx: But nobody listened Tyrant: Our peak loading won't like it, but it is the most fair thing to do. Tyrant: Maybe someone did.... Jinx: Hehe Jinx: So its all about fairness then? Tyrant: Not always, but it is an element I weigh heavily and the team does also when looking at changes. Jinx: Wait a second, does that mean the castle/keep phase would be on a weekend? Tyrant: I like to think it's more about "the greater good", but that can get you into trouble too. :) Jinx: To me that only encompasses a small part of the population Jinx: No matter how you do it, Tyrant, people will be pissed Tyrant: We are currently looking at Castles for only an hour, then larges and smalls the following evening. Tyrant: There is a fair amount of pent up demand given the delays. Tyrant: To be clear, larges the same night as Castles, then smalls the next night. Jinx: Yes there is. People have been patient. Not me, but people. Tyrant: Patience is not one of the virtues of the UO audience. :) Jinx: Ain't that the truth Tyrant: We keep trying to teach it but we are failing miserably. Jinx: So, how often do you yell at the Dev team everyday? Jinx: once a day? twice? once per hour? Jinx: Is it true you have a bull whip you carry around? Tyrant: Rarely. They work really hard on the stuff that needs to get done all the time actually. It's just harder than Tyrant: people realize, we have a lot of "friction" in making changes and getting them published. Tyrant: No, I do have a cattle prod and a bazooka though. :) Jinx: That was just a rumor I heard. :) Define "friction" Tyrant: Making changes to the code base is tricky, doing sufficient testing to ensure that the fix/feature works as designed Tyrant: without breaking something seemingly completely unrelated is more than difficult. Tyrant: And we mess up on these things a lot (as everyone notices). As we try to get better it slows changes down even more. Tyrant: So we try and strike a balance between responsiveness and quality. We don't get this right as often as we would like. Jinx: Years of having so many different chefs adding to the soup, eh? Tyrant: More that it was not designed/written to be maintained. Many parts of the code have in fact been completely re-written by Tyrant: the Live team, but much more remains. There was no plan for this to last the almost 3 years it has already. Jinx: Wait up. Two things: When UO first came out, it was said often that the code was "flexible" Jinx: and could be added to easily Jinx: Something else said often Jinx: is that UO is going to last "ten years" Tyrant: The scripting code can be added to easily, and it has been (where to you think all that new stuff came from). Tyrant: But it doesn't mean that it was documented or written to be maintained by anyone other than who wrote it in the first place. Tyrant: Also, no one said 10 years until I got here. :) Jinx: Want to go on the record and say 15? Tyrant: Everyone in EA was surprised at one year and at two years that it was still alive, much less growing. Tyrant: But they won't be surprised this September, as the picture is a little clearer. Tyrant: Nope, I think 10 years is very achievable though, ask me in year 8. :) Jinx: What’s this September? The third anniversary? Another expansion? The addition of Necromancy? Tyrant: I'm not telling. But we haven't given up working on UO at all. More people are working on it now than there Tyrant: were at the peak of UO:Renaissance. Jinx: I hope you aren’t counting counselors in that number "working" on UO Tyrant: Nope, I'm talking about developers (programmers and designers). Tyrant: We just hired a bunch of new designers, all but one of which are players who we will announce next week. Tyrant: (remember our designers code the scripts the main game systems are coded in) Tyrant: Even though our execution leaves something to be desired, I hope everyone recognizes we are serious about improving the Tyrant: game environment. Tyrant: Including the game features, bug fixing, service levels, website, community relations and even (gasp!) marketing. Jinx: Sounds impressive Jinx: But I don’t like the marketing guys Jinx: I wasn’t asked to be on the inside cover of UO:R Tyrant: It's all hot air until you see the results though. Jinx: So you are saying you are full of hot air? Tyrant: Oops, oversight. We could have bought you off so cheaply? :) Jinx: One tower and I'll be your bitch Jinx: or something like that Tyrant: Only results count is what I'm saying. We should be measured by our actions only. Tyrant: Fear is first in that line, sorry. :) Jinx: OUCH Jinx: Ok, so since you are measured by actions, give yourself a grade for UO:R Jinx: A-F Tyrant: It's a harsh but fair measure. Why do you think I remain dissatisfied? Jinx: I just always thought you were a pissy guy Tyrant: I'd give us a B- but only because I'm in a position for giving extra credit for the dedication of the team. Tyrant: From an audience perspective, I'd give us a C. Jinx: Just average? You wouldn’t hear many gaming people rate their company thusly. Jinx: John Romero gave himself an A+ for Daikatana Tyrant: We delivered most, but not all of what we had promised, and we should have done better (or promised less). Tyrant: The reasons why are real, but not important to the audience. It's not their problem the time we took on exploits for Tyrant: example, or personnel issues, or whatever. Jinx: Maybe if you explained that, people would be more understanding Tyrant: We actually thought we had it nailed until the last 6 weeks was the worst part internally. Tyrant: Maybe, but I doubt it. :) Jinx: Ok, enough of this wishy-washy stuff. Jinx: Back to the important things Jinx: How far did you get in U9? Past the install screen? Tyrant: Never played it. Haven't Tyrant: Not interested in most single player games. :) Jinx: Smooth answer Jinx: very smooth Jinx: Perhaps you were a politician in another life Tyrant: Nope, just a programmer in over his head. :) Tyrant: in this life that is... Jinx: How many people you ban today? How many GMs are old enough to drink? How many are old enough to drive? Jinx: Answer in any order you like :) Tyrant: On an average day 6-10 people get banned (maybe 50 put in suspension). Tyrant: I know all but a couple of the GMs are old enough to drink (but not drink and drive). Tyrant: Maybe all of them now, actually, I'll have to ask. Tyrant: This is a 21 year state for drinking, you know. Jinx: I didn’t know, actually. I haven’t had a drink since my AA days in HS actually Jinx: I plan on visiting Austin in October Jinx: so you can, ya know, not make it to that luncheon Jinx: just like the last NYC one Tyrant: (note to self, vacation in October) Jinx: haha Jinx: Ok, I promised you no "Who Wants to be a UO Millionaire" games Tyrant: I avoid NYC whenever possible, something about being a Texas native I think. :) Jinx: so we'll play a little word association Tyrant: I'm afraid... Jinx: Come to NYC, I'll show you all the tourist-friendly parts in the Bronx... Tyrant: yea, right... I'm afraid in Manhattan, but that could just be the taxi ride that causes it. :) Jinx: Wimp. Jinx: Ha, I got to call you a wimp... Jinx: *prays he isn't banned tomorrow Tyrant: You can't carry in NYC, that's the problem! :) Jinx: Everyone carries. Just not legally :) Tyrant: haha! Jinx: Enough trying to change the subject Jinx: Lets start Jinx: First word: Tyrant: It almost worked (grumble) Jinx: Everquest Tyrant: Camping Jinx: E3 Tyrant: noisy Jinx: Lord British Tyrant: Nice Jinx: Carly Simon Tyrant: 70's Jinx: Shadowbane Tyrant: Later Jinx: IGMs Tyrant: I'm stumped. Hmmm.... Jinx: haha Jinx: Have you seen a real live one? Tyrant: Sure, every day. Jinx: That rumor is confirmed Tyrant: In game, only during Trinsic though. Jinx: Fair enough Jinx: UO3 Tyrant: Coming soon to a theater near you! Tyrant: haha! Jinx: hehe Jinx: Wing Commander Movie Tyrant: video Jinx: cheap answer :) Tyrant: ok, I'll try again Jinx: Nah Jinx: Few more Jinx: Anarchy Online Tyrant: Rots of Ruck! Jinx: ooohhh answered in Scooby voice to boot Jinx: Dev Board Tyrant: chaos Jinx: my thoughts exactly Jinx: Bay City Rollers Tyrant: who? Jinx: hahaha Jinx: BeeGees? Tyrant: which era? Jinx: *Jinx sighs Jinx: I figured you'd know em better than I would Jinx: Oh well Jinx: Spoiled my fun. Tyrant: darn! Sorry! Jinx: Last one Jinx: Ultima Worlds errr something: origin Jinx: can’t remember the name Tyrant: different Jinx: beta date? Tyrant: when it's ready :) Jinx: bah Jinx: I know you know Jinx: Moreover Tyrant: actually, I don't Jinx: I know that you know that I know that you know that I know that you know the exact date Tyrant: I know a plan, I don't know a date Jinx: And you aren’t talking, eh? Tyrant: It won't go into beta until it meets some metrics and no one can completely predict that Jinx: ok, forget UWOO. Jinx: After housing Tyrant: Factions! Jinx: and after factions (which look crappy right now) Jinx: what’s next? Jinx: (sorry, not hot on factions anymore) Tyrant: Short term, mostly bug fixes. Jinx: a hint at whets the next 'big thing'? Tyrant: We have some other items to add, but think 80/20 bugs. Tyrant: It's really, really big. :) Jinx: ok, a little more of a hint? Jinx: please? Tyrant: But quite a ways off. Jinx: pretty please? Jinx: sugar on top? Jinx: E3 girl on top? Tyrant: You are just trying to make a Tyrant happy, right? Tyrant: I love saying NO! after all. Jinx: I'm trying to bribe you for information like any other good fan site operator would Jinx: Oh well, guess I'll go bribe Jeff Anderson instead... Tyrant: No go, sorry. We have not finished with UO is all I'll say. Tyrant: Get him! Jinx: hehe Jinx: Well, its vacation time Jinx: Thanks for taking the time out to chat Jinx: I appreciate it Tyrant: No problem, thank you. Now I have to find out what the Bay City Rollers are. Jinx: (Editors Note: This interview has been edited for your sanity. It was also edited to remove something Tyrant said because he can’t say those sort of ‘bad’ words and still receive a PG-13 rating. I also removed what Tyrant said about the cat population in Skara Brae because it was boring. Tyrant will allow me a follow-up interview after housing goes in to discuss UO:R once its been, like, completed. So figure October or so.)
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