[NEWS]QA 5 - Stephen "Bleak" Brown

[Lady Tia]

A Few Questions and Answers to give an insight to:

Stephen "Bleak" Brown
Software Engineer



For those of us who don't know, what has your "career track" been with the gaming industry?

My “career track” track begins with Ultima Online, I joined the team at the beginning of 2008. I got my feet wet with Publish 53 it seems like it was just yesterday Being an engineer I have worked on pretty much all of the systems UO has to offer.


What project that you were involved in are you the proudest of?

Where do I begin…I can’t choose just one: NPC Ship AI, Gargoyle throwing fixes, Item Insurance Gump, Random Treasure Map System, and Focus Skill Spec just to name a few.


I think most of us understand and respect Dev's having to remain tight lipped about upcoming content etc. However, when it comes to past content only, what was the hardest thing for you to personally remain tight lipped about?

I’m not one to spoil a surprise but I would have to say the hardest thing to remain tight lipped about was the most recent patch to the Enhanced Client which fixed some serious client crashes.


When it comes to the current team, who is the practical joker of the bunch and have they gotten you? OR What was your best retaliatory strike against "the joker"?

Why So Serious? It would be a tie between Misk and me. As for retaliatory strikes, most just end with nerf gun wars.


When you are not chained to the desk working, what do you enjoy doing?

When I’m not chained to my desk I enjoy reading, playing MOBA games, watching football, duking it out on test center, and constantly checking the boards.

 

[lucitus]

Only a question here, which client crashes and patch is he talking about?

I see no difference since the last patch you?

 

[Surgeries]

I have experienced the Desktop Crash at least 4 times since the last patch, so maybe it isn't out yet? Not sure...but luckily each time it happened I was not out hunting, which made it a little more bearable...

 

[Storm]

Thank You Lady Tia and Bleak Great job!

 

[AirmidCecht]

Ooh random treasure map system.....so you're the guy to ask that level 1 maps have a 5 tile radius for us newb thunters?

*begs*

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

I think most of us understand and respect Dev's having to remain tight lipped about upcoming content etc. However, when it comes to past content only, what was the hardest thing for you to personally remain tight lipped about?

I’m not one to spoil a surprise but I would have to say the hardest thing to remain tight lipped about was the most recent patch to the Enhanced Client which fixed some serious client crashes.

This really begs the question of why crash fixes would be kept quiet, or, apparently, withheld from patch notes? Last EC crash fix was from Pub 73.2, the lich/stygian/crimson explosion fix (which every EC user was greatly thankful for, btw)

Fixes like these should be talked about beforehand, not kept soopuh seakrit. They'd go a long ways towards the userbase knowing that their issues are being heard and addressed - this would generate a LOT of goodwill. Still can't fathom why Mythic ignores these opportunities...

 

[AirmidCecht]

We did some pirate hunting last night and I gotta say pinning down the pirate ship is not easy, love that

 

[Nimuaq]

Only a question here, which client crashes and patch is he talking about?

I see no difference since the last patch you?

I have experienced the Desktop Crash at least 4 times since the last patch, so maybe it isn't out yet? Not sure...but luckily each time it happened I was not out hunting, which made it a little more bearable...

I have experienced the desktop crash more than 4 times for the last hour alone (yes I tried the thing you are about to suggest, it doesn't work). There was a brief stable period though about eight months ago.

 

[lucitus]

I have experienced the desktop crash more than 4 times for the last hour alone (yes I tried the thing you are about to suggest, it doesn't work). There was a brief stable period though about eight months ago.

And don't understand me wrong i don't say they have done bad work, but maybe it isn't out yet. Iam glad to hear that somebody is working on the crash problems.

 

[Phange_of_Phage]

On the note of gargys, did they ever fix it so the Hit Lower Defense mod on the Mace and Shields will work after they are altered.

 

[A Thought Elemental]

I’m not one to spoil a surprise but I would have to say the hardest thing to remain tight lipped about was the most recent patch to the Enhanced Client which fixed some serious client crashes.

Incidently... I was thinking last night... they simply must have found the cause of all the client crashes I was getting before.. because I hadn't seen a single one in like, weeks, and that's remarkable considering the CTDs the thing was getting before.

Congrats on this!

Say, now that I think you're looking....

 

[pgib]

My crash rate is the same as before so I vote too for the "we're talking about the next patch" option.

 

[Bleak]

Only a question here, which client crashes and patch is he talking about?

I see no difference since the last patch you?

I was referring to the Pub 73.2 Corgul crash fix.

 

[kelmo]

*chuckles* Love the turtle.

 

[Bleak]

Only a question here, which client crashes and patch is he talking about?

I see no difference since the last patch you?

I have experienced the Desktop Crash at least 4 times since the last patch, so maybe it isn't out yet? Not sure...but luckily each time it happened I was not out hunting, which made it a little more bearable...

I have experienced the desktop crash more than 4 times for the last hour alone (yes I tried the thing you are about to suggest, it doesn't work). There was a brief stable period though about eight months ago.

We are continuing our efforts to improve the performance and stability of the Enhanced Client with each publish. We also appreciate the players that have provided detailed information on how to reproduce our existing crashes.

 

[elspeth]

LOVE the item insurance gump. Thank you Bleak!!