Champions Online: Meet Adam Lee

One of most unheralded positions in any game company is that of the Quality Assurance tester. Champions Online, in this week's installment of "Meet the Team", focuses on just such a hero. Find out more about Adam Lee:

Q: What do you do in Champions Online?

A: Basically I do what my job title says - I assure quality. It is up to us to help ensure that the game is entertaining and fun, while at the same time pointing out bugs, exploits and problems that could detract from the gaming experience.

Besides game testing, I also have been asked to help with providing QA for the Champions Online web site and assisting in the recording of some of the gameplay demos you may have seen floating around here and there.

Q: How long have you worked in gaming, and what did you do before working on Champions Online?

A: I've been a gamer since my dad brought home an Atari 2600 when I was about 4 years old. As far as working in the industry, I've been in it for about two years. Previous to working on Champions Online, I was in the trenches doing PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 console testing at Namco Bandai.

Q: What is your typical workday like?

A: I usually come into the office around 9 a.m. and spend the first 15 minutes updating all my game files and reading all of my e-mails. Once everything is updated and ready to go, I verify with my lead what we have on our plate for the day. Usually, there are test cases that need to be written up, or something that came in overnight that needs to be tested. Once that is all taken care of, I log into the game and help the designers and programmers perfect their code and designs by pointing out problems and potential fixes.

Q: What is the weirdest bug you have found?

A: There have been a lot of weird bugs, but weird and bug are kind of synonymous. Besides issues with text, I've never seen a "normal" bug. The most excellent bug that I found was actually more of an exploit in which it was possible for a single player to solo a boss that is supposed to take at least a whole team - if not several - to defeat. Needless to say, our designers are quick to fix problems we find and my monster solo bragging rights were very short-lived.

Q: What part of Champions Online are you the most excited about working on?

A: I'm all about team-oriented content. I feel that the thing that makes MMOs great is the fact that you are able to team up and work together with other players to accomplish a common goal, whether it is an end-game boss, PvP or any other number of group-oriented tasks. It has always fascinated me when you have to work as a team and know your specific role in the group to reach your goal. There is some awesome group content in Champions Online, and I'm really excited to run through it with my friends when the game launches.

I also like the fact that I am able to play with keyboard and mouse while my Xbox buddies can play with their controllers. I know that the Xbox controller has gotten a lot of attention, but personally, when I am playing the game all day long, I prefer to use the WASD keys and mouse simply because it's what I'm used to from previous MMO experiences. Besides, a laser is way cooler than a thumb-stick any day of the week.

Q: What superpower would you want and why?

A: I would love to have Mind Control. I mean it would also be cool to have invisibility, super strength or flight, but can you make a group of people run around acting like the Three Amigos because you have flight? I don't think so.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Free time? When making a game as stupendous as Champions Online there is no free time! Well, OK, I do have some free time, but only because they don't let us sleep here at the office. Until recently, I was a big player of Age of Conan and World of Warcraft. But, because I just don't have the time to raid or put in several hours a night to achieve what I would want to, these days I'm limiting myself to only playing one MMO, Champions Online.

Another passion of mine is music. I was in a band up until a year ago as the drummer, and it was a blast. I still play for fun, but I would eventually like to start playing in a band again.

Q: What games are you obsessing over currently?

A: Besides MMOs, my recent vices have been GTA IV and Call of Duty 4 on 360, and as crazy as it sounds Wii Fit. (That game makes you WORK!)

Q: Pirates, ninjas or ...?

A: Ahh, one of the age old questions .... I would have to say Ninja. Some people would say "but wait - wouldn't you get tired of being a Ninja?" At which point I would reply "do you ever get tired of being alive?" Go NINJAS!

Q: What is something interesting about you that players would be surprised to know?

A: I used to sit and have full-on conversations with myself when I was a kid. I was just like a half man, half dog - I was my own best friend.

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

A: The only advice I can offer is to try and get your foot into the door anywhere you can. This is an industry that has a lot to do with experience, both in game and in real life. I had always wanted to be a game tester, but I had no clue how to get into the industry. I saw an ad that game testers were needed for a temporary position. I applied, got the job, and put in my time learning about test plans, test cases, common testing practices - the basics, really. It gave me the experience necessary to land a job here at Cryptic, which is the best company that I have ever worked for. So all I can say is get your foot in the door and learn as much as you can from all those around you. Always ask questions if you don't understand something.

Q: Is there anything that you would like to add?

A: I was once a Cryptic customer. Now I'm a Cryptic employee. Never thought I would be here, but now that I am I can't imagine being anywhere else. I hope you all enjoy our games as much as we do!

Ninjas? *gasps* I be astounded, ye black-garbed sissy boy! YARR! *g*

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