Inside the Vault: Michael Lattanzia

Post by **King of Creation** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:25 am

[ Game -> Interview ] - More info on <a href="#Inside the Vault">Community: Inside the Vault</a>

Today, we've been taken <a href="http://bethblog.com/index.php/2008/04/0 ... /#more-558" target="_self">Inside the Vault with tester Michael Lattanzia</a>. Here are some highlights from the interview:<blockquote>What’s your job at Bethesda?

I am a Quality Assurance tester here at Bethesda. I have the dream job of sitting around playing games all day.What other games have you worked on? 

I started out working on Oblivion for the Playstation 3, and I also got
to work some with Shivering Isles. Since then I’ve mostly been working
on Fallout 3, with the exception of a couple weeks that I helped out on
AMF Bowling: Pinbusters for the Wii.What is the best part about working as a tester? The worst part?

The worst part of being a tester is how repetitive it can get. Most
people rarely spend more than 100 hours or so on a game, but as a
tester we have to spend literally thousands of hours on the same game
before it’s released. That quest that was really fun the first time
through seems a lot less interesting when you’re playing it again for
the 20th time.The best part is everything else. I love getting to see the changes
a game goes through over the course of the development. It’s also very
entertaining seeing some of the crazy bugs that pop up along the way.How did you get into the industry? Do you have any tips for breaking in?

I used to spend a lot of time checking and re-checking all of the local
game studios for job openings. After a few years of not seeing much in
the way of game jobs, I happened to notice listings for QA interns with
a couple of the local companies. I immediately put together both a
resume and a cover letter and sent them out for several different jobs.
I was lucky enough to get asked in for an interview. I think my
experience with beta testing and my programming background helped me
get the position.I got pretty lucky, so the only tip I can offer for breaking in to
the industry is to not give up and keep searching and applying for any
jobs. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t get in right away, be
persistent.</blockquote>
I wonder - do they pay their QA Interns? Spotted @ <a href="http://bethblog.com/">Bethesda Blog</a>

johnnygothisgun · Post by **johnnygothisgun** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:38 am

rabidpeanut · Post by **rabidpeanut** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:44 am

This guy *FAILS*, quality assurance? Dude, oblivion was the biggest ass turd to ever make a splash. Fuck Wanker.

Nooke · Post by **Nooke** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:52 am

This cunt looks like he's calling everyone DUDE and he likes System of a Down and KORN and his girlfriend is fat and likes golden showers and smearing chocolate over her fat tits.
Also, he's got no car.

entertainer · Post by **entertainer** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:37 pm

I'M A DUDE. HE'S A DUDE. SHE'S A DUDE. CAUSE WE'RE ALL DUDES, HEY.

VasikkA · Post by **VasikkA** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:52 pm

Generic Bethesda employee #147

hat_man99 · Post by **hat_man99** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:39 pm

I hope his goatse sets on fire

cazsim83 · Post by **cazsim83** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:05 pm

Michael Lattanzia wrote:QA interns

- he used to be an intern - but not now! (One of the few employed by Bethesda Softworks lol)

rabidpeanut wrote:This guy *FAILS*, quality assurance? Dude, oblivion was the biggest ass turd to ever make a splash. Fuck Wanker.

You need to feel bad for the guy - many people couldn't spend 10 hours on Oblivion, he had to spend thousands

also - he tests for bugs and stuff - he didn't program the freaking games so STFU and don't wipe before shitting, okay?

Goofy, yes - wanker? no.

VasikkA · Post by **VasikkA** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:00 pm

cazsim83 wrote:also - he tests for bugs and stuff - he didn't program the freaking games so STFU and don't wipe before shitting, okay?

Goofy, yes - wanker? no.

So Quality Assurance guys aren't allowed to say "Sorry, but this feature sucks. Fix it."?

It just shows how game developers aren't willing to hire qualified QA testers anymore, especially in the game design department. These kiddos don't have the intuition nor the balls to challenge the designers. If you had an industry oldtimer testing these games, he'd have something more constructive to point out other than "it'd be kinda cool if those cars would explode if you shoot them".

cazsim83 · Post by **cazsim83** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:01 pm

in today's American Economy - nobody challenges their boss. Those that do - you see in the unemployment line the next week.....(okay, slight exaggeration [splng?]

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:14 pm

VasikkA wrote:So Quality Assurance guys aren't allowed to say "Sorry, but this feature sucks. Fix it."?

It just shows how game developers aren't willing to hire qualified QA testers anymore, especially in the game design department. These kiddos don't have the intuition nor the balls to challenge the designers. If you had an industry oldtimer testing these games, he'd have something more constructive to point out other than "it'd be kinda cool if those cars would explode if you shoot them".

QA isn't supposed to challenge the designors, they look for bugz

SuperH · Post by **SuperH** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:09 am

His hair needs quality control... I don't trust his taste.

POOPERSCOOPER · Post by **POOPERSCOOPER** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:56 am

His hair looks really like fluffy and thin, probably is silky smooth or something. Also, QA jobs are basically something anyone could do and they have like hundreds(i dunno) of them so I don't think game suggestions actually get communicated or if they do they aren't recognized.

hat_man99 · Post by **hat_man99** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:15 pm

Its basiclly chump work then