Develop Jobs Extra

developjobs extra

G A M E

D E S I G N

|

C O D I N G

|

A R T

|

S O U N D

|

B U S I N E S S

03

it’s a fantastic time to be in games Amiqus’ Liz Prince introduces Develop Jobs Extra with a reflection on the opportunities for job-seekers today

Liz Prince, business manager at Amiqus

“

Studios hire candidates for their skills and ability to fit into the team.

THE UK GAMES industry was recently reported to have 1,900 businesses operating in the sector and to be growing by 22 per cent year-on-year.

Conversely, the supply of talent is not meeting this increased demand.

Industry veteran Ian Livingstone recently observed: “There is a national shortage in computing expertise beyond the games industry, where demand for these skills in the UK far outstrips supply”.

High on the 2015 talent agenda is the ongoing need for experienced specialists in graphics, rendering, VFX and engine development. The push for photorealism calls for artists and developers with proven examples of this in their work. Other in-demand skills include technical artists with exposure to cross-platform optimisation and PBR experience for growing VR and augmented technologies.

Increasing globalisation offers new opportunities in localisation, player support, translation and community management.

Advances in player-behaviour technology mean that analytics, product management and monetisation are now hand-in-hand with familiar skills such as game design. At entry level, grads with a First Class degree in Computer Science will always find a home in the industry.

When studios look to hire, they choose candidates for their skills and their ability to fit into the team. The importance of each unique studio environment can’t be underestimated. It’s

essential to research opportunities and make sure it’s the right fit for you too. Being open-minded and flexible is good, but it’s more important to be yourself when looking for a new role.

If you are considering a move, social media can help with your search. Regularly update your status on at least three platforms to show you’re looking for new opportunities. Use industry keywords so that you can be found in a search.

Check out your own social profile – how would potential employers view you online? Opting out of social media isn’t an option, if you’re not active, the results will be non-existent or out of date, which can make you look out of touch.

Remember to explain any date-gaps in your CV. Highlight non-work achievements if you had time out. Check that any links to your portfolio work, make it relevant to the position you’re applying for and label work to show timeframes and progression.

Finally, personal networks have always been one of the most effective channels for both job-seekers and recruiters. People will turn to people they know so keep connecting and making a great impression.

As Livingstone also concluded, “games-skills equal life-skills”, so it is no wonder that the games industry continues to offer a substantial, rewarding and enjoyable career. Whether you’re considering a move now or in the future, this supplement will certainly offer some food for thought.

Amiqus are professional recruiters with 14 years’ experience working in games.

We go all out to provide an amazing service to everyone who gets to know us; listening to our customers and building strong, lasting relationships.

To find out more visit www.amiqus.com, follow us on Twitter @weareamiqus for news and @amiqusgamesjobs for the latest industry roles, or get in touch by emailing hello@amiqus.com.

05

creative assembly TEL: EMAIL: WEBSITE: LINKED IN: TWITTER:

Sophie Malik, interim HR business partner at Creative Assembly

“

We’re the perfect place if you like a close-knit team that is fulfilling big amibtions.

+44 (0) 1403 756390

PROFILE: Creative Assembly is a UK studio based

jobs@creative-assembly.com

in Horsham, West Sussex. Established in 1987, the

www.creative-assembly.com/jobs linkd.in/1ul8vo3 @CareersAtCA

SEGA-OWNED HORSHAM-based studio Creative Assembly has a long history working on the critically acclaimed and successful Total War franchise, covering entries from Rome, to Empire and Shogun, including the recently released sequel Total War: Rome II. Recently the studio also branched out to new genres with its work on another well-received title, the incredibly atmospheric and terrifying Alien: Isolation for console and PC, frightening players across the globe with its unpredictable alien that closely echoes the tension of the original and iconic film.

Despite already boasting a large team, the developer has a further 18 vacancies open across its PC and console teams, though this number is always subject to change.

“We’re searching for incredibly passionate programmers to join our PC and console teams.

Our PC team is consistently raising the bar with the Total War series and our console team is gearing up for a big round of hiring,” says Creative Assembly interim HR business partner Sophie Malik.

It’s this mix of projects that the team has broadened its reach to that Malik says shows how versatile the studio is, being able to build on huge existing IPs while keeping the same indie spirit “that makes our own games classics”.

“We also feel like CA teammates are family and we’re celebrating a departed colleague, Simon Franco, by holding 48 hour game jam,” she says. “We encourage our staff to get

developer is best known for its popular Total War strategy series, as well as 2014’s sci-fi horror hit Alien: Isolation.

involved with our hometown, Horsham, by volunteering and otherwise contributing to CA’s Legacy programme.”

Perks at the studio include a competitive salary and bonus scheme, training opportunities, private healthcare and life insurance, a contributory pension scheme – and even weekly visits from qualified massage therapists and Christmas parties for staff and their families. Plus, of course, a wide range of projects to work on.

Malik adds there’s also a fully stocked kitchen for employees to take advantage of, free games, a games lending library with all the latest titles, top-end equipment and peripherals and ice cream Wednesday.

For developers or those from other industry professions looking to apply, Malik has a few words of advice.

“Design your CV to reflect who you are as an individual; the way you explain your roles and development means a lot to Creative Assembly.

Unique formatting is also a plus,” she says.

Malik also has tips for the interview process, and says prospective employees must be able to show off their knowledge of Creative Assembly while also telling the interviewer about how they see themselves contributing to the work its talented team is already doing.

But why should developers apply for a job at Creative Assembly?

“We’re the perfect workplace for people who like a close-knit team that is fulfilling big ambitions,” she says.

07

deep silver dambuster TEL: EMAIL: WEBSITE: FACEBOOK: TWITTER:

Top to bottom: Anna Dennett, studio HR manager, and Hasit Zala, studio head and game director, at DS Dambuster Studios

“

Dambuster is an ambitious studio with great people and pastries on a Friday.

01256 385200 recruitment@dsdambuster.com

PROFILE: DS Dambuster Studios is the newly-formed Nottingham-based developer owned by European

www.dsdambuster.com

games giant Koch Media. It is currently working on

www.facebook.com/dsdambuster

Homefront: The Revolution, the open-world sequel to

@DSDambuster

IN AUGUST 2014, Koch Media and its publishing label Deep Silver announced the formation of their third wholly-owned development studio: Deep Silver Dambuster Studios.

Based in Nottingham, DS Dambuster is responsible for the development of Homefront: The Revolution, an open-world first-person shooter where you must lead the resistance movement and wage guerrilla warfare against a superior military force to ignite the revolution.

The dynamic, evolving world responds to your actions as an oppressed nation rises up in defiance against the occupation.

DS Dambuster Studios is actively looking for talented people to join the existing team and currently has up to 40 positions available. These positions cover all development disciplines, both permanent and fixed-term contracts and cover all levels of experience.

DS Dambuster Studios, although recently formed, already employs many experienced development staff including studio head and game director Hasit Zala (above left, bottom), a 17-year development veteran having held positions at such studios as Crytek UK, Free Radical and Psygnosis.

Zala states: “Homefront: The Revolution is a triple-A product with high production values thanks to the talented developers already working on the game. We are looking to expand

the 2011 first-person shooter.

the team and are seeking staff of all experience levels. Deep Silver Dambuster Studios is a highly ambitious studio with a great atmosphere, great people and pastries on a Friday.”

Studio HR manager Anna Dennett (left, top) offers advice to job-seekers: “To ensure that applicants are offered an interview, they should submit a CV which clearly demonstrates their hunger to be involved with a triple-A product and have a desire to continually evolve their skills to push themselves to the next level. Applications need to include a demo of their previous work where applicable, and of course have a clear passion for video games.”

The studio is based in the centre of Nottingham, about a five-minute walk from the main train station, so is in a very convenient location. The office design is modern, bright and open plan to foster a creative environment for all DS Dambuster Studio staff.

Koch Media also owns Illinois-based Saints Row developer Deep Silver Volition as well as Hamburg-based mobile developer Deep Silver Fishlabs.

For more information on Deep Silver Dambuster Studios, please visit www.dsdambuster.com or www.deepsilver.com. For more information on Homefront: The Revolution, please go to www.homefront-game.com.

08

dovetail games TEL: EMAIL: WEBSITE: FACEBOOK: TWITTER:

Gemma Johnson-Brown, VP of HR at

“

Dovetail Games

Make us want to hire you.

+44 (0) 1634 890026

PROFILE: Formerly known as RailSimulator.com,

jobs@dovetailgames.com

Dovetail Games is a developer and publisher based

www.dovetailgames.com/vacancies

in the Historic Dockyard of Chatham, Kent. The firm

www.facebook.com/dovetailgames

specialises in authentic simulator products, such as

@DTGjobs

A SPECIALIST IN simulation products, Dovetail Games began a new chapter earlier this year with a major partnership.

“With the exciting news that we’re distributing Microsoft FSX Steam Edition and creating a new benchmark in flight simulation using the Microsoft technology, in the year ahead we’re hiring over 50 people,” says Dovetail’s VP of HR Gemma Johnson-Brown.

Vacancies are open across all areas of the business, including its Train Simulation and Fishing Simulation divisions, and Johnson-Brown is proud of the studio’s established culture.

the Train Simulator series and Dovetail Games Fishing.

“The emphasis here is on creating a fun and relaxed atmosphere,” she says. “We offer flexible working and a great social club with a whole range of activities from archery to astronomy and five-a-side to flying.

“We would love to hear from talented individuals with a passion for creating high quality simulation entertainment products. It sounds obvious, but to make sure we notice you, think about how you make your CV and application stand out. Make them relevant to the role you apply for, and to us as a company. Make us want to hire you.”

09

future games of london TEL: EMAIL: WEBSITE: FACEBOOK: TWITTER:

Valentina Marchetti, HR and marketing manager at Future Games of London

020 7278 2539

PROFILE: Future Games of London was formed in

jobs@fgol.co.uk

2009 with the plan to build games for this new smart-

www.futuregamesoflondon.com

phone era. Titles was acquired by Ubisoft in October

facebook.com/futuregamesoflondon @FGOLnews

FUTURE GAMES OF London, under a Ubisoft studio develops titles for mobile and tablets and has built a reputation with fun games like Hungry Shark, Grabatron and Little Raiders. The studio is also working on new IPs. FGOL HR manager Valentina Marchetti says, the firm is always on the lookout for exceptional talent.

The team is currently recruiting for 3D artists, platform mobile engineer, junior gameplay programmer, senior gameplay programmer and a junior graphic designer, to name just a few.

“Aside from the joy of working on numerous award-winning IPs, we also have a comprehensive

2013. Its portfolio of games includes Hungry Shark Evolution, Little Raiders, Pool Bar and Grabatron.

benefits package including a travel loan scheme, health insurance and childcare vouchers” she says.

“We boast a great location in the heart of Farringdon, London. We strive to meet our staff’s training desires giving opportunities to those wishing to learn new skills. We also have parties to celebrate studio accomplishments as well as fresh fruits, monthly breakfasts and social drinks every Friday.

“Be a part of a dynamic, growing work force under the Ubisoft umbrella and work on some of the best mobile games in the world”

11

fuzzy frog TEL:

located in the historic city of Nottingham. Founded

WEBSITE:

www.fuzzy-frog.com

in 2009, it has created and released a wide range of

TWITTER:

“

We are looking to increase our headcount by another ten people.

PROFILE: Fuzzy Frog is a games development studio

jobs@fuzzy-frog.com

FACEBOOK:

Richard Flower, CEO at Fuzzy Frog

0115 9247170

EMAIL:

on.fb.me/1ul8qAP @FuzzyFrogGames

BASED IN NOTTINGHAM, Fuzzy Frog has come a long way in the last five years. Since starting in 2009, the firm has moved from working at founder Richard Flower’s kitchen table through three office moves to become a fully equipped games development studio.

Staffed by a mix of industry veterans and ambitious university graduates, the development team has dedicated itself to creating more unusual, even beneficial video games. A prime example is Phobia Free, a title that helps people overcome their fear of spiders by playing games and was even featured on Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies.

Fuzzy Frog has also developed its own game engine tech, as well as working extensively with the Unity engine, releasing games across a variety of platforms. The studio’s work even won it an accolade for Animation or Gaming Project of the Year at the 2014 Digital Entrepreneur Awards.

But the studio is determined to do more, and is currently recruiting across a range of positions as part of a major expansion.

“We have a diverse portfolio of titles, including console-quality mobile games in development featuring Hugo, our own IP with Animal Planet, and NHS-approved serious games, corporate health and well-being applications,” says Flower.

“We are looking to increase our headcount by another ten people over the next 12 months, split equally between art and code,” says Flower.

mobile games, as well as serious and beneficial titles across a wide variety of platforms.

“We have positions available for experienced staff and post graduates in all disciplines. Our current head count is 18, so this is a sizeable expansion plan.

“We are an award-winning developer and we believe it is an opportunity to be part of a successful studio and get in at the ground level to help shape its future.”

Flower cites many perks to working at Fuzzy Frog, including the studio’s city centre location, good transport links and a “great working environment”. The firm is also able to offer flexible working hours and remote working to the right candidates.

When applying for a role at Fuzzy Frog, the studio’s founder says a candidate’s portfolio is one of the most important things he and his team take into consideration.

“We need to see as many examples of work as possible, not only from employment but also from home projects,” says Flower.

“A diverse range of examples or playable demos always goes down well, too. We get a lot of applications, so you must be original to stand out and get noticed. And don’t forget to check your spelling.”

For applicants that manage to secure an interview with the team at Fuzzy Frog, Flower offers the following advice: “Be prepared with your portfolio and examples of work, research what we do, be enthusiastic – and don’t be afraid to ask questions. We don’t bite.”

13

gameduell TEL: EMAIL: WEBSITE: FACEBOOK : TWITTER:

Ian Bowden, art director of social and mobile (top) and Todd English, head of studio social and mobile games (bottom)

“

at GameDuell

Our agile organisation allows for sharing of ideas and flexibility.

+49 (0)30 288 768 210 jobs-dem@gameduell.com

PROFILE: GameDuell is a leading online games community, offering web, social and mobile games to

inside.gameduell.com

millions of players – more than 125m across all

www.facebook.com/GameDuell

platforms around the world. The company was

@gameduell

founded in 2003 and is based in Berlin, Germany.

You joined GameDuell in February coming from Popcap, the casual games branch of EA, where you were responsible for the label wide product strategy as core studio director. Why did you decide to join?

Todd English, Head of studio social and mobile games: The people I met when I toured the office impressed me. It’s full of smart, ambitious and humble people who want to create amazing products. When I combined this great team with the founders’ genuine interest in creating a successful social mobile gaming studio that focuses on innovation instead of fast following, I was sold.

Since we are in the formational stages of our social and mobile studio, it’s a great time to join if you are the type of person who likes to have a real and immediate impact on everything you touch.

through a well-defined production process that gives us a very efficient roadmap with fast development cycles, but still allows enough creative freedom to bring our vision to life.

Who are you looking for?

Mostly we are looking for experienced experts in mobile and cross-platform development, skilled games designers, product managers, IT experts and analysts. They should have a deep passion for games that create fun shared experience for users.

Currently we are working on new prototypes for multiplayer social and mobile games with a cross-platform approach. The studio is organised in small and independent agile teams. We work

How are you working with the artists now at GameDuell?

Our agile organisation allows for sharing of ideas and the flexibility to move between projects and disciplines. In the creativity workshops that we regularly run we have the freedom to look not only at pop culture for inspiration, but also to the wider world of fine art and literature, science and architecture. No idea is wrong. All things are considered by this incredibly artistic and flexible team.

Ian, you were founder and art director of Rockstar Leeds, where you worked on GTA, Red Dead Redemption and Max Payne 3.

Why did you quit there and join GameDuell?

Ian Bowden, Art director social and mobile games: After two decades in the field of core game production, I felt that the time was right to dive into to the exciting field of social and mobile games. GameDuell is positioned in a unique way for the opportunities out there. That someone of Todd’s quality and reputation is running the social and mobile studio gave me great confidence in its potential.

15

hardlight studio TEL: EMAIL: WEBSITE: LINKEDIN : TWITTER:

Chris Southall, CTO at Hardlight Studio

“

We’re expanding the team to be able to produce more games.

0208 996 4429

PROFILE: Hardlight Studio was acquired by Sega

hardlightdevelop@sega.co.uk

back in 2012, and has quickly become a key player at

www.hardlightstudio.com

the publisher, developing mobile games such as Sonic

linkd.in/1H9cZ8c

Dash and Crazy Taxi: City Rush. The studio currently has

www.twitter.com/hlgames

HARDLIGHT STUDIO, BASED in the thriving development hub of Royal Leamington Spa, is best known for its mobile titles that include Sonic Dash, Sonic Jump and 2014’s Crazy Taxi: City Rush.

One of three UK studios owned by Sega in the UK, Hardlight was opened by the Sonic publisher back in 2012, and CTO Chris Southall says this has introduced a number of good reasons to work at the Warwickshire studio.

He says: “We benefit from all the perks the group has, while remaining a relatively small team: a yearly bonus, flexible working time, health insurance, pension plan, free fruit, breakfast and drinks, ride-to-work scheme, events, and plenty of other advantages that make your daily life at work easy and enjoyable.

“Whilst belonging to Sega, we benefit from 30 years of knowledge as well as the respect it has for developers. We started the team in Leamington Spa from scratch and therefore crafted a really passionate team of experts, making sure that the people fit well together.”

And Hardlight hopes these perks form just part of the appeal job-seekers, benefits which have helped keep its staff retention rate at 96 per cent in the last 12 months, as the mobile studio embarks on a significant recruitment drive.

“We’re expanding the team to be able to produce more games while keeping the high quality of our production at its best,” says Southall. “Thus, a majority of the 14 new members we’re looking for are within the

numerous open vacancies.

development team itself. Please have a look at the full list for detailed job descriptions of each position.

“If you’re looking to work in a passionate environment, developing ambitious mobile games based on world famous intellectual property, while also having the opportunity to be creating brand new ones, we’ll be more than happy to welcome you.”

Southall offers plenty of advice for applicants unsure how to stand out and improve their chances of employment.

“First off, there’s what I’d call the standard stuff for any CV,” he says. “It should be clearly presented, the content should be relevant to the role, mustn’t include typos and shouldn’t be approaching the length of War & Peace.

“On top of that, depending on the role, an example of work is very useful. A showreel for an artist, an application the engineering applicant has written or a ‘teardown’ of an existing game with analysis for a design-focussed role.

“When it comes to the job interview, again the standard stuff is the best place to start – be on time and well presented, be open and engaged in the interview.

“We’re looking for people who will enjoy working here and have an affinity with the games we are making. It’s great to see people who know a bit about our previous work, and even better to be curious about what we are doing next and have some opinion on that.”

17

playground games TEL: EMAIL: WEBSITE: FACEBOOK: TWITTER:

Alex Wright-Manning, head of talent at Playground Games

“

We have exciting opportunities for some exceptional new people.

+44 (0) 1926 338338 tellmemore@playground-games.com

PROFILE: Playground Games is one of the UK’s most recently established, yet already most successful

www.playground-games.com

studios. With two critically acclaimed Xbox exclusive

www.facebook.com/PlaygroundGames

titles, Playground has firmly established itself as true

@weareplayground

PLAYGROUND GAMES was established in 2009, bringing together some of the most experienced and talented developers from the UK games industry, with the vision to create big budget console titles for a global audience.

From these relatively humble beginnings, we now occupy three floors in our state of the art studio in the centre of Leamington Spa, with more than 100 staff making up the Playground Games family.

We don’t intend to become the largest studio in the world, but we do intend to become the best. Our debut title, Forza Horizon, released in 2012, was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, winning 18 Driving Game of the Year awards.

Our latest title, Forza Horizon 2, takes players onto the next generation of console hardware with stunning results, marrying incredible visuals with thrilling gameplay.

We’re now ready to embark on our next project, so we have exciting opportunities for some exceptional new people to bolster our world-class team. Areas we’re looking to grow include environment, VFX and technical art, animation, rendering and tools engineering.

We’re also looking for mobile specialists that can help us branch out into new areas of games development.

We want to work with games professionals with a passion verging on an obsession for their chosen field, the willingness to go the extra mile to create great games, and the drive to push

players in the triple-A console market.

themselves, their colleagues and our studio to new heights.

Playground team members are furnished with the latest technology and facilities to ensure that we’re at the cutting edge of development practice, and we also offer all of our employees training, mentoring and development opportunities to help them achieve their goals and fulfil their potential.

Downtime is important too, and PG staffers can unwind with a game on our pool and football tables, and relax in our fully stocked recreation area, crammed with breakfast cereals, fresh fruit, juices, smoothies, awesome fresh ground coffee and seasonal treats (not to mention our fridge of ‘adult beverages’!).

On joining Playground, you’ll find something a little different from the norm. Sure, we produce blockbuster triple-A games for a global audience, but we’re still indies at heart.

Everyone has a voice in the direction we take, and though we’re consummate professionals, we operate in a fun, non-corporate environment, and we always challenge the status quo in regards to our approach to games development.

What makes us a great studio isn’t the awesome office space, or the beautiful location, or even the amazing games we have and are creating. It’s our people. People we’re proud to call colleagues and friends. People that shape us, inspire us, and contribute to our goal of becoming the very best video games studio in the world.

19

sumo digital TEL: EMAIL: WEBSITE: FACEBOOK: TWITTER:

Craig Albeck, business development manager (top) and Rebecca Askham, recruiter (bottom) at Sumo Digital

“

We’re looking to hire talented people across all disciplines.

+44 (0) 114 242 6766

PROFILE: An independent games developer based

raskham@sumo-digital.com

in Sheffield, Sumo Digital is best known for its work

calbeck@sumo-digital.com

on the Sonic & Sega All-Stars games, and is currently

www.sumo-digital.com

developing Sony’s LittleBigPlanet 3. Sumo also has a

www.facebook.com/sumodigital

dedicated art studio in Pune, India.

@CareersAtCA

SUMO DIGITAL HAS gone from strength to strength in recent years, working on high-profile products from the Sonic & Sega All-Stars series to Forza Horizon 2 and LittleBigPlanet 3 and also winning two TIGA game awards, positioning itself as one of the UK’s most versatile and creative studios able to work in a variety of genres.

With fresh projects on the horizon, the Sheffield-based studio is currently expanding its already sizeable 250+ workforce to bring in fresh faces with fresh ideas, and has vacancies across numerous professions.

“We’re looking to hire talented people across all disciplines – art, code, design and production – as a result of having a number of exciting development opportunities across all platforms,” says internal recruiter Rebecca Askham.

Business development manager at Sumo Digital, Craig Albeck, offers some insight into why job-seekers might want to consider applying for a job at the developer, which include competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package.

“We also offer a vibrant working environment, a culture of togetherness – from the range of social clubs to the annual family ‘Big Day Out’ – and the opportunity to work on some of the most exciting games and technologies in the industry,” he says.

“Sumo is an award-winning studio and we make sure the contribution of our staff towards these awards is celebrated. A key pillar of the company is security, making sure we look after

the best interests of staff. This in turn generates loyalty, and reinforces a culture of togetherness.

“We’ve been developing games for more than 11 years. With each year the desirability of the IP and scope of the projects has increased exponentially. We are developing multiple games across all genres, all platforms, with different publishers – we never get bored. We also love what we do, and we believe sincerely in the mantra we are only as good as the last game we deliver.”

Applicants interested in working at Sumo Digital must be ready to showcase their work, not just namedrop the projects they have contributed to, says Askham.

“We want to see work examples as well as a CV,” she says. “Artists should always place their reel or website link at the top of their CV, and programmers – particularly graduate programmers – should include code samples or a link to their demo.

“We want to know what your personal contributions were to the projects worked on so need that detail in the CV. We also want to understand what motivates people, so a cover letter explaining your reasons for applying is good too.

“At the interview we want to find out who you are and where your strengths and passions lie.

We want you to be yourself and talk confidently about your knowledge, skills, experience, and the contributions made to the projects you have worked on.”