Sad Tragedy At Microsoft Games

[Adam]

Very sad news from Redmond, Wash. Melissa Batten, 36, a software development engineer in Microsoft's Xbox division, was murdered by her estranged husband, who then shot himself to death, earlier this week.

Batten, a Harvard-educated lawyer, was a Software Development Engineer in Test for Microsoft, supporting Rare on its 360 titles work. She had worked for Microsoft since 2002, earning credits in Halo 3 and Gears of War as an SDET. Earlier, as a lawyer, she had been a public defender for the Mecklenburg County (Charlotte, N.C.) Public Defender's Office.

Her husband, Joseph Batten, was also 36. He had also worked for Microsoft but most recently worked for Wizards of the Coast, publisher of hobby games such as Magic: the Gathering. Melissa had obtained a restraining order against her husband on July 21. Another news story describes Joseph Batten as obsessive and verbally abusive, and when she learned he had obtained a handgun, she sought the protection order.

This is a video from Coin-Op TV showing Melissa at E3 discussing Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts:

This is very sad, and I'm personally freaked out by this, as the Bluerealm Team was up visiting microsoft and to think this happened at the same time. Please pray for her family.

 

[CPU64]

This is very sad, and I'm personally freaked out by this, as the Bluerealm Team was up visiting microsoft and to think this happened at the same time. Please pray for her family.

Sad, no wonder I don't like Magic: the gathering games...

 

[gamerguy55]

Woah...

 

[Widman2013]

Woah. Im speechless. May she rest in peace.

 

[hayato619]

OMG ... my prayers go out to her family

 

[Spartas Phalanx]

second'd

 

[rowan]

Wow... this is a shock, it just shows that this kind of thing can happen to anyone.
Jack Thompson will probably try to blame the games once again...

 

[alpha2section]

shocking , rest in peace, and my prayers go out to her and her family

 

[link4044]

man that sux, sorry to hear that

 

[tlither]

It's a shame but things like this happen every day all around the world. GTA IV banned in Thailand because of a taxi driver getting murdered. Kid wanted to see if it was as easy in the game.

 

[Adulese]

I am so sorry for her family. That is very unfortunate and devistating. Jack Thompson better not blame this on any video games.

- Adulese

 

[xalener]

This is terrible. Also, why would anyone let a dude with a restraining order get a hold of a hand gun?

To adulese:
Oh, damn.....I didn't even think about that.......


This could be a bad blow.

 

[Fenix Chief]

May she rest in Peace ........ And her horrible husband rot in hell ........ I honestly think that this was horrible. I have a Feeling many at Microsoft are Mourning. . So sad, my prayers go out to her family also.

 

[ACDCrockr209]

This is sad to hear.

My prayers go out to her family.

-Pony

 

[leegrisham]

This kind of thing truly lowers my faith in humanity.

 

[Fragclone]

sigged

 

[odst26]

This kind of thing truly lowers my faith in humanity.

i agree what is this world coming too

 

[Fragclone]

i agree what is this world coming too

a hole in hell you could say

 

[Arthraxis]

This is terrible. Also, why would anyone let a dude with a restraining order get a hold of a hand gun?

To adulese:
Oh, damn.....I didn't even think about that.......
This could be a bad blow.

If you buy a gun off the street they don't give a $#!T if you've got a restraining order.

 

[xalener]

Well, yeah......wait......



Were is Microsoft?