Melissa Batten, 36, who worked as a software development engineer in Microsoft's Xbox division, was killed by her estranged husband earlier this week. Her husband, Joseph Batten, also 36, murdered Melissa before shooting himself.
Melissa had worked for Microsoft since 2002 and her name can be found in the credits of such games as Halo 3 and Gears of War. She had been working more recently with Rare for its Xbox 360 titles. Prior to joining Microsoft, Batten had worked as a lawyer with a Harvard education.
Joseph Batten, who had also worked in Microsoft before joining Wizards of the Coast, was described as verbally abusive and obsessive. Melissa had previously sought a protection order after finding out her husband had purchased a handgun.
Destructoid offers its condolences to Melissa's family and colleagues.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
Likes
PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
94 comments | showing # 1 to 50
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
10:57 AM on 08.03.2008
| 
My heartfelt condolences go out to her family, and to her husband's, as though his foolish actions, robbed his own family of happiness
I'll refrain from the easy cheap shot and offer my condolences her family and colleagues as well.
There you have it though: videogames don't cause violence, trading cards do. He did it wrong too: sacrificing himself to Channel-Fireball...
This guy is fucked up for what he did.
Stay tuned for more Fox News.
This is horrible, and I really hope it doesn't get turned in to a media circus.
My thoughts exactly, news media is morally bakrupt, I won't be surprised to see that very title you suggested by used by the fucktards at fox news when(not IF, but when)they use this story to futher push thier vile agenda against videogames. :(
@Depchet
Dude, I partially agree with you, I really do, but no matter what the outcome is, he will still be a muderer.He at least deserves to be criticised for the murder, don't you agree.
No matter what was in his head at the time, ultimatly he commited a vile act.
"not fare to say things about the husband, we dont know what went on and even if we did its not our place... "
It said that he was abusive and obsessive, and that she sought a protection order from him when she found out he bought a handgun. We may not know specifics, but suffice it to say that should be plenty of information. Besides, he KILLED her before killing himself. I think it is plenty fair to say what we want about him.
I agree with Poopface Morty, go ahead and kill yourself but don't take someone else (or others) with you.
"Melissa had previously sought a protection order after finding out her husband had purchased a handgun."
So what were the authorities doing? I think they should be a change in the law concerning things like this, you hear lots of cases in the media where someone knows that someone else has the intent or potiential to kill (like stalkers)but can't do anything about it because they haven't hurt or killed the person yet.
"Melissa had previously sought a protection order after finding out her husband had purchased a handgun."
So what were the authorities doing? I think they should be a change in the law concerning things like this, you hear lots of cases in the media where someone knows that someone else has the intent or potiential to kill (like stalkers)but can't do anything about it because they haven't hurt or killed the person yet.
I can only hope no children lost any parent's because of this tragedy.
Note: for those saying that there is no reason to ever take another persons life, I disagree. I think it is acceptable in situations of self defense and in letting people with terminal illnesses die with dignity. This tragedy, however, is horrifying.
Hug me?
My condolences to the wife and the husband, as well as their family. It's a sad thing that happened to them. It's a shame the husband ended up taken over by his mental illness, and it's a shame the wife ended up a victim because of it. I feel sorry for both the husband and the wife.
I also agree with Infinitestrike. The Virginia Tech shooting for instance was a big example of guns being readily available to someone mentally deranged. Personally, I don't understand the need for guns being so available in general. While not everyone can agree with full on gun control, I don't see why everyone couldn't agree that people like this man, as well as several other deranged shooters throughout modern history, should not have been able to get their guns. Obviously this person had a history, or at least reputation, of being abusive, violent, and mentally unstable. Is that the type of person that should be able to buy guns in this country?