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Foreword

A new industry needs new recruits Amiqus’ Liz Prince introduces our latest Develop Jobs Extra with a look at the biggest opportunities for those seeking new challenges

I If you are considering a new role, have a think about what you can realistically commit to for your next step.

AMIQUS STARTED back in 2000 with a mission to take its love of the games industry and combine it with its experience in recruitment to help more people ﬁnd the right job, at the right time. Building relationships, creating networks and supporting industry growth are key focuses for the company. 15 years on and the team is able to connect all levels of skilled and passionate candidates with the right studios in the gaming industry internationally. Everyone at Amiqus loves what they do and works super hard at it – and along the way the team has been rewarded with seven industry awards. Get social with us at amiqus.com by following @AmiqusGamesJobs for live job updates and @WeAreAmiqus for all its games industry news.

t’s an amazing time to be a part of the games industry. With wearables, virtual reality, social integration, eSports and 3D printing all emerging and evolving, alongside this new tech is the growing demand for skills. Still high on the 2016 talent agenda are coding specialists such as server engineers, physics programmers and Unity developers on mobile platforms. Unreal Engine devs are also in demand to provide robust middleware solutions. Physics-based reality (PBR) has become a theme for many new VR roles coming along to support the tech in 2016. As for the creative, a raft of triple-A console titles lined up for 2016 demand super photo-realistic artwork, so these are exciting times for people pushing the visual quality bar. Looking at the amazing games being produced, it’s jaw dropping to think that graphics can get any better. At entry level, grads with a First Class degree in Computer Science, strong mathematics or physics and good A-levels will always find a home in the industry. If you are considering a new role, have a think about what you can realistically commit to for your next step. Can you relocate? Will you have time to work through an art, design or code test? What remuneration can you expect for your skills and will this provide what you need? Check your portfolio and online presence is up to date with recent work that you’re proud of. When creating your CV, be specific about how many people you have in your team, the tools or technology you’ve used and be precise with your input into a title or project. Demonstrate your appetite for keeping up to date with new developments though work, personal projects or opinion pieces. This is particularly important if you have work that can’t be released under NDA. If you’re just starting out in the games industry, take time to research your future employers. Poor research will not impress so make sure you dig deep and think about why you specifically want to work for them. The games industry continues to offer an evolving, rewarding and enjoyable long-term career. Whether you’re considering a move now or in the future, this supplement will certainly offer some food for thought.

Creative Assembly 05 proﬁle ESTABLISHED IN 1987, this Sussex-based studio has almost 30 years of acclaimed games under its belt. Best known for the popular PC strategy series Total War, Creative Assembly has more recently made a name for itself with console gamers thanks to last year’s sci-ﬁ blockbuster Alien: Isolation. Future releases include Total War: Warhammer and Halo Wars 2. This year it has completely refurbished its Horsham-based studio and has a brand new recruitment team handling the company’s hiring needs. It is currently growing to match its expanding portfolio, seeking talent from all over the globe to full a wide range of positions, with an emphasis on designers.

hanks to the ongoing success of Total War and hype around this year’s surprise announcement of Halo Wars 2, Creative Assembly is one of the highest profile studios in the UK – and its on the hunt for new talent. “We are looking to fulfil a variety of roles that support our current and future projects, with a particular focus on bright designers with a high calibre background,” says talent manager Emma Smith. “We have a multi-national team, with opportunities for visa sponsorship, as well as support with relocation and adjustment to UK life. “We recognise investment in our people is paramount. Acquiring and nurturing talent to match the calibre and scope of our portfolio is extremely important to us and we are committed to investing in career development opportunities for our team and a wealth of benefits.” Those benefits range from competitive salaries, healthcare and childcare benefits to “posh coffee machines and free ice cream on Wednesdays”. There are also regular parties for the team and their families, plus workplace massages and access to free games. Smith says Creative Assembly is seeking “quality candidates who are looking for an opportunity to truly engage and immerse themselves in the role they are applying for”. She adds: “Candidates who know our games and have a genuine interest in the studio will naturally stand out and it is always good to hear from developers who have additional interests such as game jams, speaking at conferences and other industry events. “This is the place to be if you want a long-standing career where you are excited about coming to work. If you are talented, at whatever level, we want to hear from you.”

T This is the place to be if you want a long-standing career where you are excited about coming to work.

Tel: 01403 756390 Email: emma.smith@creative-assembly.com Website: www.creative-assembly.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Creative-Assembly/109626332396235?fref=ts Twitter: @CAGames LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-creative-assembly

DOVETAIL GAMES proﬁle DOVETAIL GAMES creates digital hobbies enjoyed by passionate enthusiasts across the globe, in the form of simulation experiences that faithfully recreate real world situations and put players at the heart of the action. As well as being a multi-award winning developer and publisher, the team was recognised in the Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100 list earlier this year. Dovetail is working with Microsoft on Dovetail Games Flight Simulator, built on the foundations of Microsoft’s Flight Technology. And in addition to releasing one of the ﬁrst games built utilising Unreal Engine 4, Dovetail Games Euro Fishing, it is using the same technology for the next generation of the Train Simulator series.

S We’re looking for people with the skills and ability to create highly realistic games to suit simulation.

imulation entertainment specialists Dovetail Games are looking forward to a very exciting 2016. “With a vision to become the number one simulation entertainment company in the world, we are continuing to grow our development teams and are recruiting to a variety of technical roles, including content and core game development, programming and physics,” says talent attraction manager Rob Murray. “Alongside this, we are in the process of building an exciting team to explore virtual reality opportunities for our games. “We’re looking for people who not only have the skills and ability to create highly realistic games to suit simulation, but who can demonstrate their passion to be part of a fast-growing and fast-moving business. “In return, we’ll give you the chance to grow and shine. You’ll work in a supportive environment where people at all levels are encouraged to share best practice says and you will get kudos from your colleagues for outstanding work. You’ll also beneﬁt from the fact that we experience far less crunch time than is typical across the games industry. “Based at the heart of a multi-million pound retail and leisure development in Chatham’s historical dockyard area, we encourage ﬂexible working to ensure that our employees maintain a healthy work-life balance. We also offer a wide variety of social activities for employees and their families to enjoy. “Using cutting edge technology, such as Unreal Engine 4, exploring virtual reality experiences and building our games across multiple platforms, you’ll get the opportunity to do some of the best work of your career at Dovetail Games.”

Tel: 01634 890026 Email: jobs@dovetailgames.com Website: www.dovetailgames.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/dovetailgames Twitter: @DTGjobs LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/dovetail-games

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FERAL INTERACTIVE proﬁle LONDON-BASED studio Feral Interactive specialises in porting Windows titles to Mac and Linux, working on some of the biggest triple-A games such as Batman: Arkham Knight, Alien Isolation, Thief and Lego Jurassic World. It is currently hiring for C++ programmers and permanent QA testers.

We’re always on the lookout for talented applicants.

eral interactive has worked on some of the biggest games on the market, but not in the way you might expect. The studio ports titles to Mac and Linux, and is currently on the hunt for programmers and testers to help with its growing workload. “Experience with either of those platforms is a big plus, but we’re always on the lookout for talented applicants from any background and with any level of experience,” says operations manager Tom Leather. “We know that a good work-life balance is important to our employees, so we provide a generous ﬂexitime system, as well as offering schemes for childcare vouchers and sponsored further education,” says Leather. “We also have competitive salaries, a kitchen stocked with free fruit and soft drinks, and regular company drinks and dinners.”

Tel: 0208 875 1375 Email: recruiting@feralinteractive.com Website: www.feralinteractive.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/feralinteractive Twitter: @feralgames LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/feral-interactive

SUMO DIGITAL Profile SUMO DIGITAL is one of the UK’s most successful studios, developing a range of triple-A titles for publishers and platform holders such as Sony, Microsoft, Sega and Disney across multiple genres and platforms. Located in Sheffield, the firm is known for its acclaimed work on titles such as LittleBigPlanet and the Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing series, as well as its contributions to Forza Horizon 2 and the Disney Infinity series. It is currently working on the return of Microsoft’s popular Crackdown franchise. These projects have helped the developer grow to the point where it is in the process of opening a second studio. And, of course, with expansion comes the need for new talent.

apidly becoming one of the UK’s biggest studios, Sumo Digital is about to double its development empire with the opening a new studio and gearing up for fresh projects. As such, it needs dozens of new recruits. “The opportunities we can provide for working on such a wide variety of projects across several genres is unique,” said recruiter Rebecca Askham. “We are actively hiring across all disciplines at the moment to work on a variety of hugely exciting projects across several genres and platforms. “Sumo is opening a new UK studio in early 2016 with a projected headcount of 30 before the end of the year, plus our Sheffield studio is projected to reach 260 staff in the same timeframe – it’s currently at 230. So I’m going to be very busy.” Job security is often cited as a high priority for anyone considering changing jobs or roles, and Askham is confident that Sumo Digital’s stability will reassure and impress prospective employees. “They will see that our studio is established, secure and growing responsibly under a strong leadership team that place the security of our employees’ jobs at the heart of everything we do,” she says. “We have a very low staff turnover with many long standing team members who have grown with us.” Perks available to Sumo employees include generous holidays, flexible working, childcare vouchers, pension schemes, a cycle-to-work scheme and a free on-site gym. There are even slightly quirkier benefits such as cash gifts on your birthday, monthly alternative travel prize draws, a big Christmas party and the summer Sumo Big Day Out for all staff and their families. Sumo has also begun running a regular internal game jam, where the entire company can spend a full day working on game ideas of their own. These concepts are then submitted and judged by an internal panel, chaired by industry veteran Ian Livingstone. “We hope to develop and publish some of the winning games with a percentage of the revenues going to the person or team with the original idea,” says Askham. “We have had some fantastic submissions from the game jam and opportunity to develop new IP within the studio has gone down very well with our team. “From a recruitment perspective, I know that this will have a positive effect with prospective employees knowing that there is

There is an avenue for employees to put game ideas forward for development.

avenue for them to put their own game ideas forward for possible development and publishing.” Sumo is looking for new recruits at every level of experience, particularly entry-level and graduates willing to go the extra mile. Askham adds: “We expect more than their coursework, and expect them to have done lots of work and research in their own time, and have a portfolio, reel or website showcasing this. “We expect more experienced candidates to have a strong track record working on triple-A console games and a CV clearly explaining their contributions to the games. A clear career timeline and clarification on permanent roles vs contract work answers any questions that could arise if a candidate has moved roles frequently.” The studio also runs a placement scheme for programming students, something that has proven to be a great pipeline of talent for Sumo. In 2016, this will be expanded with the firm’s first ever game are placement scheme, and applications are open now. Several 12-month graduate internship opportunities are also planned for spring 2016. “We have close links with Sheffield Hallam University that run two Creative Skillset accredited Games Software Development degrees and we are also developing links with the University of Derby and Nottingham Trent University among others,” explains Askham. “We have a busy university lecture schedule at this time of year and the staff who get involved with this really enjoy talking to and giving feedback and advice to students. “We hired seven incredibly talented graduates in 2015 with similar numbers projected in 2016 so this effort is definitely worth it.”

Tel: 0114 2426766 Email: raskham@sumo-digital.com Website: www.sumo-digital.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/SumoDigital/ Twitter: @SumoDigitalLtd LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/sumo-digital

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OUTPLAY ENTERTAINMENT profile SCOTTISH developer Outplay Entertainment works on globally recognised, self-published IP as well as in partnership with other leading studios. The firm is best known for Angry Birds Pop, Alien Creeps TD, Crafty Candy and Bubble Genius. Many of its titles have gained high-profile Featured spots in both the iOS and Android app stores, as well as award nominations and a combined total of over 50m downloads. Located in Dundee, Outplay hires talent wherever it can find it, assisting with relocation where necessary, and is currently hiring across a variety of disciples and at all levels, from entry to lead. While still a young company, it is one that is evolving to match the ever-changing games industry.

utplay Entertainment is a company enjoying rapid growth. Within four years, the studio has expanded beyond its two founders to become a team of more than 100 employees – 40 of which were hired in the last year. But the growth doesn’t stop there, with president Richard Hare expecting an even bigger year for the firm in 2016. And there’s plenty of room for new talent. “Our ongoing success has allowed us to expand the business further, opening up brand new roles across all disciplines, at all levels of experience, from entry level to lead,” he says. “To support our quick-paced growth, we will be adding to our support functions too in QA, analytics, marketing and DevOps.” Hare also promises a wide range of benefits that support the teams, rewarding everyone for their hard work. “We offer a great share option scheme through which everyone will share in the success of Outplay, extensive health and dental care, insurances, employee discount schemes, and family-focused benefits,” he says. “If you’re worried about relocating, don’t be. We have relocated 20 per cent of our new starters this year alone and offer a great bespoke relocation package. We also assist with everything that comes with moving and starting a working life in a new country.” Outplay is looking for a passion for games in its new recruits – and particularly a keen interest in the studio’s own titles. Hare adds: “With so many projects running simultaneously, we assess each candidate’s compatibility and gauge which development team and product would be most suitable. By not taking the time to learn our games beforehand, candidates can’t provide real insight to what their skills and experience have to offer our products.”

O If you’re worried about relocating, don’t be. We have relocated 20 per cent of our new starters this year alone.

Tel: 01382 236003 Email: info@outplay.com Website: www.outplay.com/careers Facebook: www.facebook.com/outplay/ Twitter: @outplayent / @outplayjobs LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/outplay-entertainment-ltd

EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS

We are hiring After huge successes with Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2 weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re now working on an exciting new project, and we have opportunities for some exceptional people to bolster our world class team. We want to work with games professionals with a SDVVLRQ YHUJLQJ RQ REVHVVLRQ IRU WKHLU FKRVHQ ÂŻHOG WKH willingness to go the extra mile to create great games, and the drive to push themselves, their colleagues and our studio to new heights.

Want to know more? Visit us at www.playground-games.com or drop us an email at: tellmemore@playground-games.com

Current vacancies include: Art

Engineering

Environment Artists Senior Environment Artist Character Artist Lighting Artist Art Manager Technical Artist

Rendering Engineer Tools Engineer UI Engineer Generalist Engineer

Production

Art Production Manager Project Manager

Design

Cinematics Designer Senior Game Designer Game Designer Design Assistant

PLAYGROUND GAMES profile FORMED IN 2010, Playground Games has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s leading triple-A games studios, thanks primarily to its acclaimed work on Forza Horizon and its sequel. These open-world spin-offs from Microsoft’s flagship racing franchise have driven the team’s growth over the past few years, earning a plethora of award nominations – including five places on BAFTA shortlists between them – and Metacritic scores of 85 and 86 respectively. Playground operates from a state-of-the-art studio that takes up three floors of a Georgian building in Royal Leamington Spa. Many of the team pride themselves on being ‘petrolheads’, but the studio is keen to find new talent with a variety of interests.

orza Horizon 2 developer Playground Games has made a name for itself with its hugely popular open-world racing games, and is now expanding ahead of its next project. Crucially, it needs new recruits with a passion for driving quality. “We set the bar high and then strive to exceed it,” says resource manager Nick Duncombe. “We are always pushing the envelope in terms of quality and creative innovation and it’s the calibre and passion of our staff that allows us to do so. “We’re currently hiring across all disciplines, particularly our Art and Engineering departments, and at all levels too. Our career page on the Playground Games website will give you the most up-to-date vacancies we are recruiting.” The studio offers “very competitive salaries”, as well as private healthcare and a contributory pension scheme, but it also takes steps to ensure the entire team shares in the company’s success. All employees are automatically included in a royalties scheme that Duncombe proudly reports has paid out to the team every quarter for the past two years. “Of course, working here has lots of day-to-day perks too, including ﬂexible working hours and 25 days holiday per year,” he continues. “On top of this everyone who starts at Playground has an additional two ‘duvet days’ to use as they wish. ‘Duvet days’ allow you to book a day’s holiday the same morning, and you’ll earn an additional one for every year of service, up to a maximum of ﬁve. Even better, if you don’t use your full allocation in a calendar year, we’ll pay you for the ones you don’t use.” Duncome says he wants applicants to tailor their applications to the job ad, and declare not just industry and university projects, but personal ones as well. Playground likes to promote from within, offering long-term prospects for new recruits.

F We are always pushing the envelope in terms of quality and creative innovation, and it’s our staff that allows us to do so.

Tel: 01926 338338 Email: tellmemore@playground-games.com Website: www.playground-games.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/PlaygroundGames/ Twitter: @WeArePlayground LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/playground-games

VOOFOO STUDIOS profile FOUNDED in 2007, VooFoo Studios is an established indie studio of experienced games developers building games with its own cutting-edge proprietary technology. The firm has established strong relationships with major publishers and platform holders, and is best known for games such as Big Sky Infinity and the award-nominated Hustle Kings, as well as the Pure series of chess, pool and poker titles. VooFoo is now widening its games portfolio with even more creative projects in development as is inviting games makers in search of a new challenge to join the team.

ndie developer VooFoo Studios is currently planning to expand as it branches out into new territory with projects that will broaden its portfolio. “We are currently looking to recruit a talented artist specialising in 3D modelling and an experienced senior technology/engine programmer, both of whom will play a big part in the on-going success of our studio,” says creative director Shaun Reed. “These roles present an exciting opportunity to be a part of a highly successful indie team in a busy and friendly environment where you can be sure your contribution matters.” Located near the city centre of Birmingham, Reed says the team “works hard but also plays hard in a relaxed and enjoyable office environment”, with perks for its members including 25 days of holiday, flexi-time and regular social events. “As well as a very competitive salary and significant project bonuses, working for VooFoo presents an opportunity to spread your creative wings and feel a real sense of achievement,” says Reed. Applicants wishing to improve their chances need to not only demonstrate their achievements, but show their individuality. “Specifically, artist applicants need to present a comprehensive portfolio that showcases their artistic/technical skills,” Reed adds. “For the programmer, ideally, you’ll have worked on at least two published console titles, and will have taken a senior role in the development of proprietary engine code. A demonstrable passion for and knowledge of games are advantageous. “If you’re invited for an interview, show us your passion, creativity and talent; be able to explain why you want this job and what makes you the best fit. Be prepared to demonstrate how you see yourself contributing to projects and fitting into our team. Be positive and full of enthusiasm, and come equipped with questions and a smile.”

I Show us your passion, creativity and talent. Be able to explain why you want this job and what makes you the best ﬁt.

Tel: 0121 633 3912 Email: jobs@voofoostudios.com Website: www.voofoostudios.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/voofoo/ Twitter: @VooFoo LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/voofoo-studios

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Right time for a change? Visit amiqus.com or call 01925 839700