Tabula Rasa : Illumination - Matt

Hometown
Austin, TX

Favorite games
Deus Ex, System Shock, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, City of Heroes, Battlefield 1942, Rogue Spear, Ghost Recon

Favorite books
Larry Niven's Ringworld series and the other Known Space books; Lord of the Rings; The Ender's Game series and Enchantment by Orson Scott Card; Eon by Greg Bear

Favorite movies
Lord of the Rings, Escape from New York, Repo Man, They Live, The Fifth Element, Blade Runner, The Longest Day, The Great Escape, The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly.

Favorite websites
Google

Favorite bands or songs
Rush, Dream Theater, Jethro Tull, Yes

Favorite quote or personal mantra
"Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.'' Sir Winston Churchill, Harrow School, October 29, 1941.

Previous projects
Ultima Online 2, Ultima Online (briefly)

Describe your job
As lead programmer, my job is to do whatever is necessary to allow the programming team to succeed. This can take many forms, from participating in or guiding a technical discussion, to helping with a debugging problem, to mentoring and training someone in a new skill, to recognizing when someone is burned out on something and needs a change of pace. My time belongs primarily to my team, and I start feeling like I'm not doing my job when circumstances limit my availability to them.

How did you get into the industry?
I asked the recruiter, "Do you think there is a chance in hell Origin will want to talk to me?"

What do you like most about your job?
That I get to work with some of the most talented programmers I've ever known.

Who are some of your role models or heroes and why?
Winston Churchill - he is the epitome of a leader and an inspiration.

What sources have inspired you?
My wife's unwavering support and encouragement and my parents' nurturing guidance and values.

What tools or software do you use most often?
MS Visual C++, Python

What advice would you give to someone with aspirations to do what you do?
See the Churchill quote above.