What do you do at Hi-Rez Studios?

Well, I would say that I’m kind of the jack of all trades (master of none?) around the programming department. I’m officially in charge of our game configuration tools, database and interfaces. As far as game code goes, I work with the inventory and item systems. I am also deeply involved in our device and effect code and have a general working knowledge of everything else (except our networking code… eeeewwww).

To summarize I’m the unofficial programming lead.

How long have you worked in Gaming, and what did you do before Global Agenda?

Global Agenda is the first game I’ve worked on. Prior to Hi-Rez, I worked on engineering systems for General Electric and later in my career I worked for the Founder/CEO of Hi-Rez (Erez Goren) at his previous company as a programming lead for retail workforce management systems… Yes sounds boring but I found it challenging and fun. Well, testing the software I currently work on is much more fun!

Describe your video game experience, when did you start playing, etc..?

This will definitely age me, but my first computer was a Commodore 64 and it was given to me a few months after it was released. Well I will tell you that the games were scarce back then for that platform so before I even really knew what a variable was I started porting apple IIe games to the commodore (Enchanted Forest anyone?). I have always dreamed of working on games and thought it was something that would just never happen. I wasn’t willing to move to Texas or even further out west.
My favorite genre of games is definitely MMOs. I made fun of people playing Everquest that were **gasp** actually paying a monthly fee to play. Then someone got me to play DAOC and I became hopelessly addicted. Hundreds and hundreds of hours later I’m still playing (WOW atm).

What is your favorite Global Agenda character/class to play?

Well I’m attracted to the medic, I love making other people do my dirty work… although the thing unique in Global Agenda is the fact that any class can be deadly just in a different way. My second favorite class is the Robotics class.

What are your Favorite Games?

Currently - GA, TF2, L4D, and WoW

In my free time…

Well I’m married with kids so yes…
With the free time that I do have I like biking, gaming, watching reality shows, and just hanging out with the family.

What is your favorite aspect of Global Agenda?

I think the most exciting part of GA is going to be the agency vs. agency campaign. I have always dreamed of the dynamics of a board game in an exciting action orientated team based game. Getting to see the progress your agency is making evolve over a month by month basis is really going to be engaging. This, I think will be the defining feature of GA that will ultimately attract the masses.

Name three things you can’t live without?

High speed Internet, movies, and well, you know…

What is on your iPod/MP3player?

Wow mostly heavy metal… old school metallica, in flames, megadeath, some rap, some classical, some new age…

What advice do you have for someone who wants to break into gaming?

Well if you want to program I would get a computer science degree, work on game mods, or write your own indie game. Participate in industry events like SIEGE, GDC, etc. Make friends with someone in the industry.