Six Question Mini-Interview

NAME: Mike Tatro
JOB TITLE: Graphics Programmer

1. How long have you been at SSSI and what were you doing right before you were hired?

   I was the first full-time hire here at SSSI. Officially, I guess it's been a little under 3 years. Previously, I worked for ATI Technologies in their 3D Application Research Group. My job at ATI was to research techniques to display game content on 3D graphics hardware at the highest possible performance and quality. That experience prepared me well for Empire Earth.

2. What was the last EE-related task you completed?

   I recently added rolling clouds to EE's sky. They move across the sky and change colors during sunset and nighttime.

3. What task will you be working on next?

   For the next few months, I'll be working hard at optimizing EE's graphics to run as fast as possible.

4. Are you a morning person or a night person, and why do you think so?

   I'm definitely a night person and I have no idea why. I'm not one of those grumpy, don't-want-to-be-bothered types in the morning; I'd just rather sleep late :)

5. Besides games, what other hobbies or interests do you have?

   I enjoy playing the guitar, although time for that seems scarce these days. I play volleyball often, both indoor and beach (when New England weather allows it). I also play casino blackjack in Atlantic City and at Foxwoods about six times a year.

6. What's the coolest place you've ever been to? What made it the coolest?

   Probably Japan. I traveled there in 1998 and stayed for three weeks. While I was there I caught four days of the Winter Olympics in Nagano and saw other fascinating historical sites.