Question: Tell us about yourself!* What’s your name and what do you do here at SOE? How long have you been working at SOE?
Answer: My name is Mitchell Evans, and I’ve been a senior programmer here at SOE for a little over five years, primarily working on gameplay code.* I get to translate the designers’ vision of our games into the crunchy little bits that run on your computer.* It takes a bit of education and a lot of work, but it’s very rewarding when we get to see the game come together!
Question: How did you get into the industry?
Answer: I originally started out as a software engineer for Texas Instruments, and worked on command, control, and communication software for the US military.* Several friends of mine were in the game industry at the time and constantly bugged me to come work at Blue Sky, making computer games.* Eventually, I did, and started a long (and happy) career making software that puts a smile on folks’ faces.* I’ve worked on PS1, Xbox, PS2, and PC game titles in several genres and for several game companies.
Question: Tell us what a typical workday is like for you.
Answer: My typical workday starts with a rather lengthy commute, followed by a cup of coffee and our morning status meeting.* We all get together for about five minutes and discuss what we’re doing and how the work is progressing.* After that, my day is filled with programming, meeting with other people about the systems we are building, and stomping the bugs found by our quality assurance folks.* *And lunch time, of course.* Sign me up for sushi!
Question: Let’s talk Favorites… What is your favorite SOE game title? What is your favorite location or favorite thing about that game? Do you have a favorite memory or moment from that particular game?
Answer: I found this job at SOE because I had friends here, and because I was a rabid EverQuest player.* I really enjoy the cooperative nature of MMORPGs, and have been playing them for over twelve years now.* I still remember my nervous entry into the estate of Unrest and Castle Mistmoore–two of my favorite zones from EQ.* The density of monsters and the constant threat of player-made monster trains kept me on my toes!* I think my favorite memory in EQ was when I killed the dragon Nagafen for the final time with my guild.* I had been trying for months to get a specific staff for my druid, Doccus.* This time, I was the only druid on the raid…and Nagafen dropped *four* of the staves!* I played after that point on several different servers, with several guilds, but always kept that staff on hand!
Question: If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?
Answer: If I could be a fictional character, I would probably choose to be a Herald from Mercedes Lackey’s series of books (Heralds of Valdemar).* The combination of having an intelligent creature as an ally / friend and tirelessly working to make the world a better place both appeal to me greatly.
Question: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Answer: If I could have any superpower, it would be speedy flight.* There are so many things to see, people to meet, and places to investigate in the world, it’s hard to fit them all into a busy schedule.* I’d love to be able to SHOOOOM to work, do my job, speed on out to some faraway spot for lunch, speed home, and have a night on the town with my family anywhere in the world.
Question: Let’s get real! Hobbies? What’s last book you read, or last movie you saw? What do you do to unwind after a busy day?
Answer: I have a ton of hobbies!* I love to hike, photograph nature, fly fish, canoe, sightsee, SCUBA dive, ride horses, cross-country ski, cook, read, and play a large variety of games, both on computers and not.* I grew up in Wyoming, and have a deep love for the outdoors…the more rugged the country, the better!
The last book I read was A Feast for Crows, by George R. R. Martin.* I had read it before, but decided to re-read the series and have them fresh in my mind for the upcoming HBO miniseries.
I went to see Tron: Legacy (in 3D!) with friends recently, and that was the last movie I saw.* It was a decent story, with some awesome visuals, and a fantastic soundtrack!* I am much more of a comedy fan than an action movie fan, but it was TRON, and I’m a programmer…so it was a must see!
I unwind at the end of my busy day by heading home, eating dinner with the family, and then helping my son with his homework.* Afterward, we often enjoy some family reading time, or get on our computers and slay some pixilated dragons.* Typically, there’s not much time during the week after we finish our family fun to do much else than head off to bed, and start again the next day.* Weekends, though, are for adventure…
Enjoy this screenshot from EverQuest in Castle Mistmoore, one of Mitch’s Favorite Locations!