UAT Invades Microsoft!

Windows, Office and the Xbox: all originated from Microsoft, a former fledgling computer software company in Redmond, Wash. The global corporation changed the way people used their computers, affecting home users to multinational corporations. It also turned a guy named Bill Gates into a multibillionaire.

UAT toured Microsoft's campus May 19, with seven students and staff members making the trip to Redmond. They explored the software giant's hallowed halls, learned about the company's history and got retail software for cheap. It was the stuff of dreams.

The day started with a 90-minute walking trek of Microsoft's main campus, taking in the expansive grounds and buildings. The outdoor walk of fame featured plaques of the company's software releases - including yearly plaques from 1980 to the early '90's. Lake Bill, a small body of water, hosted several geese and ducks - ripe for a takeover. Also on the grounds was a sports complex, with two soccer fields and multiple softball/baseball fields.

Their private art collection - which migrated around the numerous campus buildings - was also noteworthy. The highlight was a 10x4 foot section of the Berlin Wall, given to Gates in 1996 by Helmut Kohl, former Chancellor of Germany. Industry and Career Services Coordinator Nate Bealor cited it as his favorite part of the trip.

The next stop was the visitors' center, which housed a museum of the corporation's history. Among many of the artifacts were Gates' first business card, the original Microsoft Windows box and various magazine covers chronicling the company's rise - the best portion of the trip, according to Student Life Coordinator AJ Albanese. Several stations were set up to try Microsoft products, and a handful of Xbox and Xbox 360s to play games.

A stop off at the company store yielded generous discounts, thanks to the tour guide. $60 games like Rise of Legends and Age of Empires III were had for $15-20. Office and Windows suites were marked down to $20-40.

The cafeteria - one of many strewn about the campus buildings - was the next destination. Catering to all tastes - including cooked-to-order foods, assorted cuisine styles (including a Mongolian buffet) and free drinks - wowed the visitors.

After lunch was a tour of Microsoft's game studio buildings, seeing how the offices were situated and how the employees communicated, said Bealor. Figurines and couches decorated each section, accommodating a comfortable environment for stressed workloads. A walkthrough of the executive center followed - though heightened security prevented a complete view of meeting rooms and boardrooms. A few UAT graduates employed at Microsoft were spotted along the tour.

There was no peek at Bill Gates' office, as he had several spread around the campus. According to the guide, he set up shop wherever major development problems arose, said Bealor. "He likes to be where the fire is on campus so that he can make sure that things are running smoothly."

Rounding out the visit was two Q&A sessions: one with developers, including software and tool developers, and testers; and the other with several designers, featuring a game designer, art director, production managers and writing director.

An interesting tidbit was the testing facilities to conduct psychological research on game players and buyers, measuring the emotional responses from their games - complete with two-way mirrors and testing booths. 

Students were prepared for the gatherings, which impressed Albanese. "They already had their questions, we didn't have to brainstorm. They'd already talked to a tester at Microsoft and they previously had interviewed with him, and it was kind of a follow-up, follow-up thing with them."

The trip left a favorable impression on its planners, with the hope of it becoming a once-a-year event. "E3 was a very, very cool thing to attend every year; this, in my opinion, matched it," said Albanese. "It was that freaking cool."

"The reason that it's so cool is, you get a student on that campus - you get them to those places, and they are fired up. They are charged up because it's a possible future for them," added Bealor.

Several Microsoft representatives with contacts at local companies Nintendo of America, Valve and Gas Powered Games could offer additional tours next year. Albanese and Bealor are looking at expanding the trip to two or three full days, keeping the group small to retain the comfortable atmosphere and structure.

Story by Trevor Green