Student Code Jockeys Sum Up Summer at ROBLOX

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We’ve talked previously about how many users can use ROBLOX as a platform for starting lucrative careers. Speaking to that effect, we decided to check in with some of our summer interns, who are approaching the end of their times here at ROBLOX, and see what they’ve been up to over the last couple of months. Turns out they’ve been working on some big projects. Check it out. 

Garrett Fleenor – Senior, Oregon State University

I got the chance to work on the LEGO® Hero Factory: Breakout game, alongside fellow developer Zach Linblad (fusroblox), and it turned out to be a really fun game. Outside of our overall goal, which was to create a scavenger hunt-type-game, we were given quite a bit of creative freedom. Zach created the basic drop zone code, and John built the city. We continued iterating the game until we arrived at a rewarding, immersive 3D experience.

Hero Factory

I also worked on ROBLOX badges, which were really fun to create and share, and gear items like the Meteor Staff, which I was very happy with. Overall, my ROBLOX internship has helped me transition from an academic setting to the real world. In school, almost every project becomes an individual affair. Here, I’ve learned the importance of teamwork, and how to leverage my skills in the context of a team development effort with lots of moving parts.

Steven La – Sophomore, UCLA

ROBLOX Mobile

I started off fixing bugs and making style fixes to modernize the site, working primarily on the badges pages. Once that was finished, I began working on the mobile side of things, which was a project we started from scratch. It was a lot of fun—we got to pick pages that were key to the ROBLOX experience, and boil them down into a mobile-friendly interface.

I’m also currently working on a “Reputation” system. This would allow more reputable and less spammy users to get more attention when posting things in the Catalog—I think this would encourage a better, safer community, and make our Catalog even easier to use.

Writing code with many people isn’t an easy task, but everyone was friendly and helped me out until learned how to work efficiently with others. I was exposed to a lot of code that I didn’t write, so I learned a lot about styles and practices. Now, I’ve got the experience to start and lead more ambitious projects at school, and have also learned to organize my time and efforts in order to get things done more efficiently.

Nick Isaacs – 1st Year Masters Program, Stanford

I spent most of my time testing new features and fixes submitted by the web team– focusing primarily on the Trade System and the new Catalog. I worked with engineers to ensure that both of them worked perfectly and were easy to use.

I also spent a good deal of time making automated tests for our website. For Hack Week, I put together a small project that allows scripters to get the rank and rank name of a player in a specific group, which would potentially allow higher group game functionality. That particular project did go to production, but doesn’t yet have a solid release date.

I have been continuously surprised by how inter-connected the ROBLOX website is, and have learned how careful we must be when testing the effects of a new release. Web-security has become more important than ever–even the most innocuous updates need to be constantly checked for security. On a higher level, I learned the importance of incremental development when you’re dealing with such a large system. ROBLOX is huge, and maintaining our functionality is the number one priority.

200 thoughts on “Student Code Jockeys Sum Up Summer at ROBLOX”

  1. ROBLOX is getting better and better. Well done to the ROBLOX staff, who made this wonderful game for us to socialise with friends, build with friends, battle with friends, and make your own 3D game for you and your friends to play in.

    They are even bringing ROBLOX out for iPad, iPhone, and iPod, so you can play where ever you go (as long as you have Wi Fi).

    Can’t wait for the mobile gaming on ROBLOX. Well done again to the ROBLOX staff. Keep up the good work! :)

  8. good thing i got an i pad an i phone 4s im going to talk to ma i phone and say download roblox XDDDDDDDDD

    • No i dont thing so.i sometimes go on roblox with my ipod touch and cant play roblox.

  14. I think Robloxians should be able to climb down ladders instead of only being able to climb upwards.

  18. I want to help create one of roblox games. Ive been wanting to do that since the end of November 2010. at least create a model for there game.

  19. oh yea i got the free gear form lrgo hero factory all u have to do to get it is play lego hero factory win 10 points on heros and you win frunos gun win on villans side you win the spider droid gear thats the only gear so far for FREE

  25. You guys should work on a name changing system because i hate my name and i’m loosing interest in roblox because of it.

    The cost of changing your name should be like 100R per time.

    • Same here, Ive wanted to change my name from the old “Zeon09″ For about a year now.

  27. Once I’m old enough, I’m going to try to be an intern. Hey, my parents would defiantely approve because it’d be work!

  30. can you guys make roblox alowed in ps3′s xbox 360′s and even in cellphones please roblox send me back a message

    • It would be very difficult, if not impossible, for Roblox to go console. I’m pretty sure (keep in mind, I’m not an expert) consoles and computers use very different components and coding. Not only would Roblox have to re-create the game on another system, it would probably affect the users programming as well.

    • Lol no exploiting is back there is beta for several new exploits already out. News of it is starting to spread.

  33. Dang! Lately i have been Impressed by the Developer team! But this time they have Done something that Will change roblox History. Shout out to Shedletsky!

  40. I am seeing how Roblox is trying hard to make it self better. But if Roblox wants to keep up-to-date, they need to upgrade their markup (html). I have seen Roblox’s markup (html) and it is outdated.

  41. You should change the catalog a little bit to make a little more new and cool. I am getting tired of the old one.

  43. I would like to ask you if you can send out ROBLOX mobile on MyTouch 4G, I have one and really want it.

    Sincerely,
    ChrisG2468

  44. i dont have a phone but wouldn’t that be a distraction in class or will the app thingy not work between this time and this time?

  45. I wish roblox would do the 500K Brick update…

    Anyways. To be an intern I think you need to be 16 or 18. More likely 18. Sorry bro.

  48. For all of those asking how old, notice all of them are in college, meaning you probably have to be older than 18.

    • yeah it would be cool if u could give ppl your shirts pants (maybe even other stuff in future) for completing a task in ur game :D

    • Nah. I don’t think that they would bring back the old ROBLOX. All the awsome features now are fine. Although I joined ROBLOX around probably 2010 or 2011, I would like to see the old ROBLOX.