MY VISIT TO IRRATIONAL

Last week, I went to Irrational Games up in Boston to do some work and meet with the team. The weather was colder, the town quieter, but Irrational’s offices were just as busy as when I was up while they were about to finish Alpha. Now, a few days before Beta, the halls were filled with sounds of screaming children, water lapping, gurgling and gasping voices, and the echo of shooting. It was delightful. I think I’m still having nightmares.

I’m sure, before the game is released, you’ll get to know the Irrational team a lot better through the Cult, but for now, here’s a glimpse at what it’s like to work in Irrational’s offices.

Click the images to enlarge.

This is the QA pit. It’s grown enormously since my last visit. I kind of feel like the cubicle-esque walls are in place to try and keep the QA people from multiplying and taking over the entire office.

This is the artist pit. When I first visited, I sat in the couch in the middle of the room and played some BioShock on the TV, but I was really bad, and attracting a lot of attention from the guys around me. I think they were horrified at how I was butchering their game. I’m now taking lessons. I will never attain their level of expertise, though. They could be sharpshooters.

This is the design pit. When I walked in, I snapped off two shots and although I got some sideways glances, no one asked “Whose the strange girl photographing us?” When I walked away, though, I heard someone say “What’s up with that?” but got no answer. I suppose when you live in the world of Rapture 18 hours a day, a photograph doesn’t phase you.