Quoted from Eryeal:Weird .. It seemed there that Ritchie didn't exactly know how the game plays. He was asked what happens when you hit the ramp with the blinking sword, and he seemed a bit stunned and stuttered on the answer as if he really didn't know. Not trying to be a downer, it just seemed to be that Ritchie would be an expert on the game and the rules.
The designer is like the executive producer - he isn't always in the weeds of the implementation. Classically the designer is more about the game's physical layout, physics, and overall direction and leadership... while the software programmers are more the rules guys.
Plus, the man is probably going over hundreds and hundreds of choices in the game... you can't memorize them all while trying to push through it all of getting a game out the door. And don't discount if Steve heard the question clearly or not...