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Xbox developer killed by husband in murder-suicide photo

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.








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94 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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next 50 comments

MATTFOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 10:55
MATTFOO
that's really sad.
Mushman's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 10:55
Mushman
That's awful, really.

My heartfelt condolences go out to her family, and to her husband's, as though his foolish actions, robbed his own family of happiness
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 10:58
John B
Ditto what Mushman said. I can't think of anything else to add to it. :(
DemonEyes23's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 10:58
DemonEyes23
it's a shame people like this dont just kill themselves and leave everyone else alone
Batthink's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 10:58
Batthink
Damn, that's bad... :O(
aaronf's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 10:59
aaronf
This really sucks. At least there were no children involved, that would have been a whole lot worse.
dephect's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:00
dephect
I am sorry to hear about anyones loss when it comes to things like this, my heart goes out to both familys involved.
Y0j1mb0's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:01
Y0j1mb0
Wizards of the Coast?

I'll refrain from the easy cheap shot and offer my condolences her family and colleagues as well.
Maurice Tan's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:03
Maurice Tan
:(

There you have it though: videogames don't cause violence, trading cards do. He did it wrong too: sacrificing himself to Channel-Fireball...
dephect's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:04
dephect
I didnt even know what Wizards of the Coast was... until I looked it up.
kohelhunter's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:06
kohelhunter
wow that sucks :(
UglyDuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:08
UglyDuck
Very sad, somewhat puts recent events into perspective. Also, what Mushman said.
commish's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:14
commish
That does make my heart drop.
bahss's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:16
bahss
I'll keep the family in my prayers.
adultswim810's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:16
adultswim810
wow, thats actually fairly sad...
Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:18
Justice
I know about WotC because of my old days playing the Pokemon TCG. Sad to hear this, Mushman put it best.
Danzflor's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:24
Danzflor
even if you don't who she is, you already know that is a huge loss for the industry :S
bmdubya's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:32
bmdubya
That is terrible. My thoughts are with Melissa and her family. I hate people like her husband. People looking for attention, so they cause these catastrophic events to get attention. Way to go jerk off.
ChronicLogic's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:34
ChronicLogic
Does this mean, xbox games will be delayed?
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:35
Holyetheline
Seriously I would never even think of hurting my wife. Never physically or verbally... all is love.

This guy is fucked up for what he did.
RJG's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:37
RJG
Video Game Maker Trains On X-Box and Shoots Wife DEAD!
Stay tuned for more Fox News.

This is horrible, and I really hope it doesn't get turned in to a media circus.
dephect's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:44
dephect
I understand the horrible loss and can never understand how it feels... but I really dont think its fare to say things about the husband, we dont know what went on and even if we did its not our place... no matter the outcome he had a family as well.
Matthew Blake's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:47
Matthew Blake
Even though we don't know what happened, it's still terrible. My thoughts are with the family as well.
Sueng's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:51
Sueng
This is sad. But in order to lighten the mood, lets assume Joseph Batten was a PS3 fanboy.
B-Radicate's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:51
B-Radicate
There's nothing to say but that I'm sorry and hopes she may rest in peace.
Alexradl's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:53
Alexradl
Wow, that's horrible. My thoughts are with her family and friends.
kwaselow's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:54
kwaselow
R.I.P Melissa Batten
Mushman's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:55
Mushman
@RJG

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.
Poopface Morty's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 11:57
Poopface Morty
How unbelievably sad. My condolences. You know, if you're that big of a coward that you have to go and kill yourself, then fine, I got no problem with that, but could you at least do it without taking anyone with you?

"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.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:00
Sharpless
This sort of thing is always an absolute tragedy. Ladies, please choose your douchebags more carefully. :(
The Incredible Edible Egg's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:05
The Incredible Edible Egg
I cant fathom what would drive someone to taking anothers life and hopefully I never do. I hope the remaining family pulls through.
bmdubya's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:08
bmdubya
@ dephect: Even though we don't know what happened, all we do know is the husband is a little crazy. No one should ever kill another human being, ever. Especially your wife, the person you vowed to protect and take care of for the rest of your life. I know he had a family as well, and they are in my thoughts too, but not the husband.
kohelhunter's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:17
kohelhunter
Ill be pouring liquor for them.
DV2FOX's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:18
DV2FOX
....Damn...
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:21
mix
Horrible.

I agree with Poopface Morty, go ahead and kill yourself but don't take someone else (or others) with you.
13thDragon's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:26
13thDragon
That sucks.
JTHomeslice's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:32
JTHomeslice
Wow. It sucks that we're in a world where shit like this happens. I'll be thinking of her family.
ExGazer's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:41
ExGazer
HAHA! Take that, Xbots!
Infinitestrike's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:44
Infinitestrike
That's terrible.

"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.
Infinitestrike's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:44
Infinitestrike
That's terrible.

"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.
Wexx's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:44
Wexx
:(
VixenFox's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:55
VixenFox
So sad. My heart goes out to her family and friends.

I can only hope no children lost any parent's because of this tragedy.
kwaselow's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:56
kwaselow
If any news media outlet ever suggests that this terrible occurrence had anything to do with video games, I will personally void all of their organ donor cards (how can you be an organ donor when you have no heart?). Melissa will be missed, and I know one, if not multiple upcoming games will be dedicated to her memory. She will be sorely missed. My condolences go to both her and her husband's families. May they both rest in peace.

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.
cjpkiller's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 12:58
cjpkiller
must've been all those video games he played.
Infinitestrike's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 13:00
Infinitestrike
Whoops, sorry for the double post, don't know how that happened.
Maurice Tan's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 13:06
Maurice Tan
Oh my god, Dephect is no longer a PS3 fanboy AND he is a bleeding heart liberal. How can I ever hate him now???
dephect's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 13:09
dephect
@Pew

Hug me?
LarkOhiya's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 13:32
LarkOhiya
lets all go out for free pizza!
Maurice Tan's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 13:33
Maurice Tan
Hugz r u!
Matlox's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/03/2008 13:34
Matlox
I agree with Dephect. It's not our place to criticize the husband. Killing your wife and yourself is not "a little" crazy. The guy obviously had a severe mental illness to say the least. I'm not saying this justifies his actions (because it doesn't at all), but what I am saying is that criticizing this guy as though he were just as normal as anyone, and assuming he just did what he did because of a lust for evil is downright wrong. Saying that he "deserves death" or our judgment is not true at all. It's not our place to judge, and it certainly isn't right of us to spread hatred during a tough time for the families involved.

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?
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