Keith Patella Mini-Interview

Q: How long have you been at SSSI and what were you doing right before you were hired?

A: Hmm… The decimal system wasn't created yet when I was hired so I think I'll have to pass on this question.

Q: What's the best thing about working at SSSI?

A: Ok, are you ready for the cliché, the people here are the best group of people I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Since the company has become so big, from 6 people when I started to I believe over 25 now, I unfortunately don't get to work with everyone everyday, but I can honestly say that no matter what happens in my future, I'll have these people to thank for it.

Q: What's the first thing you'll do after Empire Earth is released?

A: Start working on the next project. This job is a vacation to me, I absolutely don't want to slow down anytime soon. Please don't tell my wife I said that.

Q: If you had to pick a single event that most influenced your decision to enter the gaming industry, what would it be?

A: I love answering this question. It basically went like this, after I got out of the military back in 93 (using dates… a sure sign of getting old) my friend got me a job working in a factory splicing fencing wire together. After about 3 months of this I was just sitting there waiting for my next splice to come up when I asked myself the infamous question, "Is this what I really want to be doing the rest of my life?" Needless to say I was on the phone that night to my Mom asking her to send me college applications to schools with a Computer Science program.

Q: Are you a morning person or a night person, and why do you think so?

A: I'm not sure I know the answer to this one. Does getting up at 4:30am to come to work make me a morning person, because back in college that was when I usually went to bed which I'd have thought would have made me a night person.

Q: How do Artists and Programmers REALLY get along? Do you have an anecdote that illustrates this relationship?

A: It depends. For me, I really get irritated if I'm in a room for more than 10 minutes with them. The stench gets intolerable.

Q: What's the coolest place you've ever been to? What made it the coolest?

A: Well I basically sum up my life with 2 highpoints, so I'll have to tell you about them. The first was when I got engaged. I had everything planned out a month before and it went absolutely perfect, not one thing went wrong and I've never had a night as great as that one. The second one is going to be really corny, but it was my second interview here at SSSI. I got a full fledged tour of a game company and a demo to boot. I guess I'm just a true geek at heart.