Tag Archives: SEGA

Train2Game News: Games Industry Jobs – 13.3.13

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Train2Game brings you more jobs this week from around the games industry. Good luck with any you apply for!

 

ART

Job Title Artist
Job Category Art / Animation
Skills Required Art / Animation
Location Midlands
Job Description Studio Overview

Hardlight is SEGA’s third UK based studio and is focused exclusively on creating high quality, innovative game experiences for mobile and handheld platforms.

The Studio comprises small, agile teams working on new IP & well-known SEGA IP. Project durations are 5-10 months, building on the success of their first projects on iOS – Sonic Jump.

The team follows an ethos of staying compact, agile and focused – combining talent from a variety of game genres and backgrounds, and welcomes applications from candidates of all levels of experience.

Key Responsibilities

  • Produce Concept, Prototype and In-Game Art within design and technical limitations for mobile platforms.
  • Create an appealing and consistent look for the games visuals that suites both the genre and brand requirements.
  • Additional tasks as required

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

  • Self-driven individual with good organization skills
  • Traditional 2D & 3D art skills.
  • A good eye for lighting, shading, colour, detail and form
  • Thoroughly knowledge of Photoshop & 3DS Max and/or similar digital art programs.
  • An eye for accurate proportion, form, and detail

Pluses

  • Previous games industry on smart phone and tablets game titles advantageous.
  • Passion for computer games and digital arts highly advantageous

You can apply by going HERE.

 

DEVELOPER

Job Title Mobile Game Engineer
Job Category Programming
Skills Required Mobile / iOS / Android
Location Midlands
Job Description Studio Overview

Hardlight is SEGA’s third UK based studio and is focused exclusively on creating high quality, innovative game experiences for mobile handheld platforms.  With their first project ‘Sonic Jump’ released on iOS in late October, their next projects are due through 2013.

The team was founded with the ethos of staying compact, agile and focused – combining talent from a variety of game genres and backgrounds and working closely with SEGA R&D Studio to stay at the cutting edge of developments in technology, middleware and game experiences.

Key Responsibilities  

  • Work with other members of the team on creating high quality mobile titles
  • Implement game features in partnership with artists and designers
  • Learn and help develop various areas of features going into mobile handheld titles
  • Constantly develop your skillset and experience in the mobile space

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

  • Development experience in C/C++
  • Experience developing titles for mobile devices (either independently or as part of a larger studio)
  • Comfortable with game design and implementation
  • Examples of own demos, with source code, very beneficial dependent on past professional experience

Pluses  

  • Passion for computer games highly advantageous
  • Development experience with C# or HTML5
  • Knowledge of OpenGL ES and other graphical development libraries

You can apply for the position HERE.

 

DESIGN

Job Title Level Designer
Job Category Game Design
Skills Required Game Design
Location Midlands, UK, Midlands
Job Description Level Designer

My client is looking for a talented Level Designer to join their team. Working as part of the design team the successful candidate will become a key member of a creative group looking to shape the next wave of exciting triple-A action titles.

Requirements

• Understanding of game design theory such as accessibility, pacing and balancing
• Exceptional team player with the ability to collaborate and communicate without losing sight of the gameplay vision
• Previous experience of building levels in a visual game design tool
• Prior knowledge of visual scripting (using CryEngine Flow Graph, Kismet or similar) to define and develop gameplay logic
• Willingness to take design direction when offered
• Work well under pressure to meet deadlines
• Experience playing first-person shooters
• Demo / video examples of relevant work (e.g. personal portfolio or content created in at least one shipped title)
• A general passion for video games, along with the desire to make the best games possible
• Strong interpersonal and problem solving skills
• ‘Outside of the box thinking’ with a desire to create interesting and original gameplay experiences

For more information please contact Simon Hope via email at: simon@aswift.com

 

QA

Jagex Ltd, the UK’s leading independent Online Games Studio, is looking for a passionate Junior Software QA Tester to join our Web Systems team and assure the quality of company websites.

Working within our growing Software Testing Department, you will be responsible assisting our internal web developers with the creation of applications used by staff and our players. The focus of the testing team is to ensure the highest quality and timely delivery of projects. You will also be expected to provide constructive feedback throughout the development lifecycle.

We are looking for highly motivated team players with strong communication and high attention to detail, who have a professional and methodical approach to work.

Key Duties Include:

  • Testing software tools and system applications
  • Providing constructive and qualitative feedback to developers
  • Analysing systems and developing the required tests
  • Providing design input to facilitate module testability
  • Creating structured test scripts and test plans
  • Contributing on a regular basis to improving processes and procedures
  • Regularly informing team leader of project progress and raising issues as they arise
  • Reviewing non-game website content

Essential Requirements:

  • Experience of software testing
  • Understanding of internet technologies including HTTP, HTML, CSS and JavaScript
  • Experience testing web/internet applications, including browser compatibility and security testing
  • Ability to understand software design documents to identify test scope and strategy
  • Excellent communication and organisation skills
  • Experience working in test driven agile development
  • A high level of attention to detail, strong analytical skills and problem solving ability

Desirable Requirements:

  • Good knowledge of bug tracking tool Jira
  • Experience of automated testing using Selenium
  • Experience with automated test tools, processes and test strategies
  • Experience analysing projects and determining their testing requirements
  • Passion for games
  • In-depth knowledge of writing automated and manual test scripts
  • ISEB Foundation qualified
  • Degree in Computer Science/Engineering  or equivalent experience
  • Experience of working on networked and MMO games

You can apply HERE.

Train2Game News: UK Top 20 – 14.01.13

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fifa13It has been a quiet week for the UK Top 20. The top 5 are all the same with FIFA 13 still in the number one slot. The only new addition this week is Anarchy Reigns from SEGA.
POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – FIFA 13 EA SPORTS 1
2 – FAR CRY 3 UBISOFT 2
3 – CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II ACTIVISION 3
4 – HITMAN ABSOLUTION SQUARE ENIX 4
5 – NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED EA GAMES 5
6 JUST DANCE 4 UBISOFT 7
7 HALO 4 MICROSOFT 6
8 FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013 SEGA 13
9 THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 10
10 LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 9
11 – ASSASSIN’S CREED III UBISOFT 11
12 WWE ’13 THQ 14
13 SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED SEGA 12
14 FORZA HORIZON MICROSOFT 8
15 – DISHONORED BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 15
16 ANARCHY REIGNS SEGA –
17 – SKYLANDERS GIANTS SKYLANDERS 17
18 MEDAL OF HONOR: WARFIGHTER EA GAMES 16
19 FORZA MOTORSPORT 4 MICROSOFT 18
20 – LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 20

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2013 UKIE Ltd

Train2Game News: Mid-week round up – 06.12.12

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The Train2Game team has searched around and found some of the exciting news from this week.

343 Industries, who recently released Halo 4, have said that they are in early stages of developing a new Halo. Frank O’Connor, the franchise development director for Halo, said that “a lot of people at 343 are already prototyping ideas and software and art for future Halo products”. Many within the 343 Industries studio are still working on post launch content for Halo 4.

Sega has revealed a new partnership with Games Workshop which will see Total War developer Creative Assembly making multiple titles set in the Warhammer fantasy universe. Creative Assembly studio director Tim Heaton said: “With this year being our 25th anniversary, it seems fitting for us to embark on such a dream project with such a well-established partner. The incredibly rich and detailed Warhammer world is something we grew up with, and has left an indelible imprint on us as both designers and gamers.”

Sony Pictures Consumer Products has teamed up with Capcom-owned developer Beeline Interactive to produce an Android and iOS Ghostbusters game, targeting an ‘early 2013’ release. The new Ghostbusters will be a ‘freemium’ title based on the popular eighties movies. The players will play the role of “a fledgling Ghostbuster. Who ya gunna call?

UK celebrity, chat show host and film critic Jonathan Ross has opened a new game development studio named Hotsauce Interactive, based in Candem, North London. The outfit is part of Ross’ TV production company Hotsauce, and has already released its debut game, Cacha Cacha Aliens for iOS. It is understood that Hotsauce Interactive is staffed by a number of experienced developers and the studio may look into releasing games on hand-held and console in the future.

Customers of Valve’s Steam digital distribution service can now play their PC games on a TV. The much anticipated Big Picture mode has been in beta for some time, but has only now seen public release. Big Picture is designed to be compatible with gamepads, but also supports the use of a Mouse and Keyboard. To celebrate, Valve has placed over thirty “controller-friendly” games on sale.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 made $1 billion a day quicker than Modern Warfare 3, Activision has announced. That’s $1 billion in worldwide retail sales in 15 days since launch, based on Chart-Track and internal figures. Modern Warfare 3 took 16 days to cross the $1 billion mark. For comparison, James Cameron’s Avatar made $1 billion in 17 days. Since launch, more than 150 million hours have been logged online playing the game on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.

Kickstarter’s United Kingdom operation has reached £2,069,164 in pledges since its launch late in October. 45,799 backers contributed to the £2 million, with 30 projects having successfully ended their funding drive out of 407 launched. Of those backers, 39 percent came from the UK.

Train2Game News: Games industry jobs – 17.10.12

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Developer

SEGA are looking for a mobile games engineer for their studio in the Midlands.

Studio Overview:
Hardlight is SEGA’s third UK based studio and is focused exclusively on creating high quality, innovative game experiences for mobile and handheld platforms.

The Studio comprises small, agile teams working on new IP & well-known SEGA IP. Project durations are 5-10 months, with their first projects due for late 2012.

The team follows an ethos of staying compact, agile and focused – combining talent from a variety of game genres and backgrounds, and welcomes applications from candidates of all levels of experience.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Work with other members of the team on creating high quality mobile titles
  • Implement game features in partnership with artists and designers
  • Learn and help develop various areas of features going into mobile handheld titles
  • Constantly develop your skillset and experience in the mobile space

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

  • Development experience in C/C++
  • Experience developing titles for mobile devices (either independently or as part of a larger studio)
  • Comfortable with game design and implementation
  • Examples of own demos, with source code, very beneficial dependent on past professional experience

Pluses:

  • Passion for computer games highly advantageous
  • Development experience with C# or HTML5
  • Knowledge of OpenGL ES and other graphical development libraries

You can find out more HERE.

Art

Fullfat Games are looking for a UI Artist for their studio in Coventry.

Position Overview:
• This position involves designing and creating 2D Artwork and Graphics for the UI Interface as well as other 2D items on various mobile and console platforms, which include Wii, DS and iphone.

Key Responsibilities:
• Working with the entire Development team to design and implement focussed, practical solutions within a realistic time frame.
• Design Icons and logos within the style constraints of the product.
• Work efficiently and at a speed representative of the platform.
• To be responsible for all 2D art aspects of any given project
• Be able to create all levels of Art from palette controlled pixel sprites up to hi Res Marketing Assets.

Skills and Experience:
• Excellent 2D background, including ideally pixel work.
• Use of Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Willing to work with Engineers to work within the technical limitations of the platform.
• Self Organised and willing to participate in team meetings.
• The ability to draught out a variety of concepts styles at speed to fit within the design constraints before game assets are created.

You can find out more HERE.

 

QA

Fullfat games are looking for a Mobile Test Engineer for their studio in Coventry. They unfortunately had no information on the position on the website but you can email them and find out more from HERE.

Train2Game News: Games industry jobs – 10.5.12

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This is going to be another regular blog where I post up the latest jobs from around the games industry. Making it easier for you to find the jobs you want.

ART

CREATIVE ASSEMBLY are looking for an Animator. The job is based in Horsham.

Key responsibilities:

Full responsibility of producing high quality animation for in-game animations and cinematics as set by the animation lead.
Deliver work in the required time.
Make sure all work is implemented correctly, providing feedback to other members of the production team so all issues are driven to closure.
Reports to the Lead Animator

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

Have an excellent understanding of animation principles – timing, weight and staging
Must be self-motivated, enthusiastic and a team player
Good knowledge of a 3D package (Motionbuilder, Maya, Max, XSI)
Good knowledge of human and animal anatomy
A strong passion and enthusiasm for animation and video games
Critical analysis and problem solving

You can find out more about the job HERE.

Futurlab is looking for a Junior Artist for their studio in Brighton. As Junior Artist you will be assisting the Lead Artist in the creation of both 2D and 3D game assets. You will be working closely with all other members of the team to ensure high standards of presentation are maintained across each project.

Requirements:

Exceptional 2D draftsmanship essential.
Strong ability in 3D modeling and texturing a plus.
Animation, lighting and rendering skills a plus.
General understanding of game design and development.
Ability to work both individually and in a small team.
Excellent communication skills with a friendly and positive demeanor.
Self motivating and diligent.

You must also be excited about working in the sci-fi genre!

You can find out more about the job HERE.

DEVELOPER

SEGA is looking for a junior developer for their studio in central London

Key Responsibilities:

Learn and help develop various areas of the game on handheld platforms
Work with Senior Developers and increase skill set
Help analyse existing projects and improve upon them.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

Experience in C/C++
Comfortable with game design and implementation
Examples of own demos, with source code, very beneficial.

You can find out more about the job HERE.

Q & A

Creative Assembly are looking for a games tester. The job is based at their studio in Horsham. These fixed term contracts are for our established Total War team, testing our project currently in development

Requirements

Test games in development for software bugs

Enter bugs clearly and accurately into our bug database

Verify and recreate bugs as required

Report additional balancing, design and accessibility problems

Essentials

A clear understanding of QA process

A keen enthusiasm for gaming

Good communication and reporting skills

Driven and flexible approach

You can find out more about the job HERE.

Train2Game News: Ron Gilbert on game design “For me, it almost always starts with the world”

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Game design begins with building a world before adding characters and then a story. At least that’s the case for Maniac Mansion and The Secret of Monkey Island co-creator Ron Gilbert.

“For me, it almost always starts with the world.” he told The Guardian in an interview about The Cave, the adventure game he’s developing with Tim Schafer’s Double Fine Productions.

“Maniac Mansion is really all about that mansion, that was the genesis of it. The Secret of Monkey Island all started for me because I loved the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney – I wanted to live in that world.”

“It’s the same thing with The Cave; it started with the setting and the characters kind of get built up from that – I think, okay, now I have the world, who would live there? Who would want to adventure in that place?” Gilbert continued, before going into a little bit about game design in adventure games.

“So the characters come about, then the story starts to form, and very quickly after that I start to figure out the major puzzle beats – because in an adventure game it’s the puzzles that drive the narrative forward.”

“ I start with that over-arching narrative then, I go, ‘okay, I need a big puzzle here, another one here, and one there’, and I start building backwards from all those big puzzles to all the little ones that lead up to them.” he added.

Ron Gilbert’s The Cave involves taking three of seven adventures into a cave, battling monsters, solving puzzles and stealing loot. It’s scheduled for release by SEGA on PC, Xbox Live and PlayStation Network early next year.

There’s more from Ron Gilbert here on The Train2Game Blog in this video where he discusses game design with Tim Schafer

What are your thoughts on game design? Does the world form the base of the games you’re building?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog or on The Train2Game forum.

Train2Game News: Phantasy Star Online 2 open beta begins this week

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Phantasy Star Online 2 enters open beta this week, and you can get involved.  You can sign up to take part in the beta test by downloading the game here.

Those taking part in the Phantasy Star Online 2 open beta, which begins on Thursday 21st June, will be able to reach Level 30 as the game is tested before its planned full release as a free-to-play title this summer on PC, PlayStation Vita and smartphones.

41,500 players took part in a test of SEGAs MMO last weekend producer Satoshi Sakai revealed, say Siliconera.

There’s more beta testing news, and information on how it’s useful for developers and Train2Game students, here on The Train2Game Blog.

Will you sign up to take part in the Phantasy Star Online 2 beta? Were you a fan of the original?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game News: Aliens: Colonial Marines delayed until 2013

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Train2Game News recently reported that both Tomb Raider and Bioshock Infinite have been delayed until 2013, and now Gearbox Software and SEGA’s Aliens: Colonial Marines has suffered the same fate.

The game based on the classic film franchise was previously delayed from a spring release date to autumn, and now until next year. It’ll be released on February 12th 2013.

“I am thrilled to announce the definitive launch date for Aliens: Colonial Marines,” said President of Gearbox Software Randy Pitchford. “Aliens: Colonial Marines is the culmination of a life-time of inspiration from the films and relentless passion and drive from the exceptionally talented development team behind the scenes.”

“We knew this game would be incredible from the moment Gearbox began developing Aliens: Colonial Marines,” said  SEGA Senior Vice President of Marketing for Gary Knight,  “Now that the title is in its final stretch of development, we can confidently release the exact date that gamers will finally get to experience this blockbuster thrill-ride.”

Aliens: Colonial Marines is scheduled to appear at PC and indie gaming show Rezzed in July.

There’s more from Gearbox Software here on the Train2Game Blog.

What are your thoughts on the Aliens: Colonial Marines delay?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: Shooters have “biggest window of entry” says Binary Domain producer

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Train2Game blog readers would’ve seen this recent post which reported Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima believes the success of shooters means there isn’t much demand of other types of games.

It’s a view that ultimately wasn’t shared by Train2Game students, with many responding on the Train2Game Facebook page.

However, appeals of shooters include the fact they’re popular and relatively simple to jump in and play, and according to the producer of SEGA’s upcoming title Binary Domain, that’s the studio decided to develop the game.

“The genre was chosen to have the biggest window of entry for as many gamers as possible. Yes it’s the studio’s first shooter and there’s a lot of challenges. Within the studio there are so many who are total enthusiasts and who play a range of western titles.” Binary Domain producer Masayoshi Kikuchi told CVG.

However, he explained that SEGA also want to bring something new to the table with Binary Domian which features voice commands and an in-game consequences system.

“I’ve looked at a lot of shooters for good references. But also there’s a good point of comparison: identifying where the genre lacked and trying to bring something new to it. We wanted to contribute to the ‘gap’, and this is where having robotic enemies comes in. It ties heavily into the gameplay and with the very detailed procedural damage, giving you a different sense of feeling.” said Kikuchi.

And he added that SEGA have used both Japanese and English speaking writers to aid with the appeal of Binary Domain.

“For Binary Domain a Japanese and UK writer collaborated on the story and all the little dialogues, Subtle differences were discussed so as not to alienate anyone despite where they’re from.” Kikuch said.

Binary Domain from SEGA “puts players in the middle of a fast paced and intense battle for humanity in a robot-invaded 2080 Tokyo” It’s scheduled for release on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on 17th February.

So Train2Game, do shooters have the biggest window of entry? And what are your thoughts on Japanese and English speaking writers working together to smooth out dialogue?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: CVG]

Shogun 2: Total War story trailer

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Shogun 2 Total War

SEGA has released a brand new trailer for Shogun 2: Total War. The new Story Trailer shows the background behind the battles that’ll take place during Shogun 2: Total War.

The narrator tells us that 15th century was a ‘Dark time in Japanese history’ with the fall of the Shogun that ruled all of Japan leading to ten legendary warlords doing battle to follow in his footsteps. Of course, only one man can become the Shogun of Japan, and Shogun 2: Total War places you in the Samurai Armour of a Warlord with this goal.

You can see the beautifully crafted Shogun 2: Total War trailer curtsey of IGN below.


Shogun 2: Total War doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’ll come sometime during 2011. Shogun 2: Total War creator Mike Simpson told the audience at the games’ Eurogamer Developer Session that it’ll only be released when it’s suitability playable.

You can read everything that Simpson had to say about Shogun 2: Total War in the Train2Game write up of the games’ Eurogamer developer session. Alternatively, if you have a spare 43 minutes on your hands, you can watch the whole Shogun 2: Total War Developer Session on the Eurogamer website.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the Shogun 2: Total War Story Mode trailer? Is Shogun 2: Total War a game you’re looking forward to? And are you impressed by the unique art style that features in the Shogun 2: Total War Story Trailer?

You can leave your thoughts about Shogun 2: Total War here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.