Global Agenda’s Character Rigger, Bret Kroll talks with us about realistic articulation and his bias toward the Robotics class in this weeks meet the team

Bret, tell us a little about what you do at Hi-Rez Studios.

Senior Character Technical Director (TD).  I create the underlying skeletons or "rigs" that allow Global Agenda characters to have realistic articulation.  With the help of Bryan "Riggs" Cere, my team also creates and maintains custom MAXScripts for the studio’s proprietary artist toolset in order to streamline the creation and management of game content.

How did you get into the gaming industry? How did you get to Hi-Rez Studios?

This is my first job in the gaming industry.  I was actually contacted by McKinley( Mick )  Larkins, the Tech Art Lead at Hi-Rez, 4 years ago about a MAXScript export tool I had posted on the Internet.  After setting him straight on how the script functioned, he mentioned that Hi-Rez was looking for a Character Rigger, so I applied.

Describe your video game experience; when did you start playing/making games?

I had all the early game systems - Nintendo, Sega Genesis, etc.  Then there is a gray period of about 10 years when I didn’t play video games.  I’m not even sure video games existed during that time.  If they did, nothing must have caught my attention.  But now, it’s a great time to be part of the game industry with the timely development of more sophisticated graphics cards that can truly showcase the amazing power of the Unreal Engine 3.

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

Right now, my favorite class is Robotics.  I like finding strategic areas to place turrets and then watching to see how they impact the Game play.

What are you most excited for in Global Agenda?

Besides getting the chance to kill AndyA, I think Global Agenda has the best character models I have ever seen for an MMO.  I am constantly in awe of the creativity and craftsmanship displayed by every member of the character team.

What experiences do you draw from when creating content for the game?

I draw from both sides - the technical and the artistic.  At an early age I was interested in mathematics, logic and problem solving.  That continued through college where I focused on computer programming and linear algebra.  Fortunately, I was able to take many art classes as well which were led by amazing professors that always embraced the link between technology and art.  My role at Hi-Rez requires both a solid understanding of technology while still having an eye for the aesthetics, so I am lucky to have had the opportunity to have a well-rounded education.

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

Take as many math classes as you can and read as many math books that you can get your hands on.  You would not believe how often you will utilize the fundamentals of vector math over the course of a game’s development.  It seems like I am constantly being asked if it should be (b-a) or (a-b) [for those curious, it's (b-a)].

Favorite game(s)?

Sim City because it’s awesome, get used to it.

Double Dribble because it was the only game my brother would play and he always made the craziest shots right at the end to win the game.

Super Metroid because it is one of the few games I actually beat.

What do you do in your free time?

I like to run, play tennis and pronounce the movie Star Wars as "Star War".

What is on your iPod/MP3player?

I’ve been listening to a lot of low-fi music lately - Iron & Wine, Neutral Milk Hotel, Ray LaMontagne and Lucero.

A General Quote from Bret

I once proclaimed that Snakes on a Plane was a better movie than Star War.  As of this publication, I still have not retracted that statement.