Featured Developer: Christen Lorensen (Reto.Chrestangen)
August 1st, 2011 Posted in Developers By Reto.KenSolo Write comment
Each week we’ll feature one of the developers from the team and tell you a bit about who they are and what they are working on.
What is your gamertag in Heroes & Generals?
Reto.Chrestangen and it is properly the longest username we’ve got.
What is your position at Reto-Moto?
My title is “Programmer”, more specific I handle the frontend of the strategy part of the game. So ActionScript programming is my middle name.
For how long have you been working here?
I joined in May this year, so it has only been two months. I have just scratched the surface and I’m now digging deeper into the code and concepts.
What games have you worked on?
I come from the casual game industry and web development. This is my first AAA title. But for casual games, I can mention “DR’s store pakkeleg” – DR, “Diego dino rescue” – NickJr, “Max and Ruby – Ice Scating” – NickJr, “Jungledyret Hugo games” – A-film, and a bunch of other small casual games.
Which tools do you use for making Heroes & Generals?
I primarily create Flash in Flex 4.5 and AS3, so most of my time is used in Flex Builder, and internet browsers. But it is still early.
What are your hobbies?
I use most of my time with my daughter and wife. Other recreational activities include volleyball, the indoor season is over at the moment, so right now it is beach volley. I have a love for board games, so I am at the moment ¾ through a campaign in Descent – Road to Legend, with four friends, and it has only taken us half a year to get here. Other favorite board games include, Twilight Imperium, Space Hulk, Tide of Iron, Zombies, Warhammer (FB/40K), Arkham Horror, and I could go on. Guess I’m a big board gaming geek. I also have a thing for zombies and co-op social gaming, so when it come time to do some gaming on the old comp I break out Left 4 Dead 2 and Alien Swarm.
What’s the best thing about Heroes & Generals?
The very simplified strategy campaign part of the game. I like to make a plan with other people and see it being executed in war games, but I’m not big on micro management and speed clicking which is so important in most RTS. It is also super cool that I can take the game with me on a mobile device in some form.
What’s the best thing about working at Reto-Moto?
I get to do stuff I love (creating games, using browser tech, WWII stuff), with super talented people. And we are creating a game we want to play ourselves, so the whole team is fully involved and dedicated.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on getting the strategy campaign part more snappy. That involves getting the data, for the strategy part, into the flash with push from the server instead of pulling it. In other words using socket and protocol buffers.
What are your favorite games of all time?
My favorite computer game is at the time Left 4 Dead 2, I love how those guys constantly makes new campaigns, I love the co-op against the PC, and the AI for both the players and the zombies is really good. The hectic fighting, bowing and cutting of zombie-heads just never get boring. My favorite board game is Twilight Imperium, a space strategy game somewhere in between Risk, Axis and Allies and Junta.
What are your favorite movies?
Dawn of the dead, Army of darkness, Aliens, Zombie Land, Book of Eli, and Resident Evil series (except Apocalypse). There is kind of a pattern here. Slimy gooey monsters trying to kill everybody, some heroes come blasting with guns blazing, leaving a gory mess for the cleaners.