BioWare Montreal seeking multiplayer programmers with Unreal Engine experience

by Ben Gilbert on Jun 1st 2010 1:30PM

A job listing for "multiplayer programmers" has appeared on EA's official website, specifically for BioWare Montreal -- a studio that describes itself in the same listing as "working on Mass Effect, one of the industry's most beloved and acclaimed franchises, as we build our way toward becoming a fully self-sufficient BioWare studio." EA's Montreal-based recruiter, Jeff Goldstein, apparently had a similar listing on his LinkedIn page (no longer available but captured by CinemaBlend), which pegged the multiplayer programmers as working on the "Mass Effect Franchise."

The position additionally requires "experience with the Unreal Engine" -- out of BioWare's current and known franchises, Mass Effect is the only one to use Unreal. Alarmingly, the listing fails to point out that, if applicants are to work on a Mass Effect 3 multiplayer component, they'll be working on the hardest game development task of all time. We can't even begin to wonder how multiplayer dialogue trees work.

When contacted for comment, an EA rep told Joystiq, "Mass Effect is a rich, dynamic fiction designed as a trilogy. The team at BioWare is working on new downloadable content for Mass Effect 2 and are in the early stages of Mass Effect 3 development."

[Thanks, Khai; via NeverKnowTech]

Source

Tags: bioware, bioware-montreal, ea, Electronic-Arts, job-listing, mass-effect, mass-effect-3, Microsoft, unreal-engine, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (68)

Multiplayer ship-to-ship combat?

keep dreaming.

If it were true I'd retract me other statement.

They didn't need this for ME3...

Later, a DLC multiplayer map will be available where you swing Jokers around and quote "This map is my favorite map on the Citadel".

We didn't need multiplayer for a lot of games. But I don't really think multiplayer brings down the experience of the single player, unless you only have one development team that only focuses on the multiplayer aspect. Then again, I'm reminded of BioShock 2 multiplayer, which in my opinion, completely insulted the masterpiece that was the first game (Kill 'em Kindly). I desperately hope that if it's true that Mass Effect 3 has multiplayer, that it doesn't insult past experiences.

ME2 was already a step back overall from ME1 in my opinion. I say ME3 does not need multiplayer because I think they already have their hands full with redeeming what ended up being a slightly disappointing sequel, again, in my opinion.

Don't need the movie either. The second game was almost a movie in itself which is why I love the series. It is based on making tough choices and I highly doubt this will carry over well in the 'movie'. ... Thank$ EA.

I think it's a shame that people on this site down vote opinions instead of general scumbags and such now. I don't down vote everyone that says "ME2 is great" afterall. I was just saying ME1 was better.

You didn't really say why it was disappointing. That's probably the reason for the down vote.

I probably would have gotten more down votes to be honest. Truth is people just get pissy when people don't conform to their opinion. That said, it's various reasons. Almost everything besides the gunplay in ME2 was a not as good as ME1. The story arc, The customization, RPG elements, Exploration, Characters ( a couple exceptions), and several other things were better in ME1. For example he citadel felt like a massive structure in ME1. In ME2 is felt like a shopping mall. The crap armor dlc is almost an insult considering the small amount of armor in the vanilla version of the game. Hell, there is more armor available via dlc and promotions (Dr.Pepper, gamestop) than in the actual game.

I kind of agree. I love ME2, don't get me wrong, but while they streamlined the incredibly tedious armor/weapon upgrade system from ME1, they also dumbed it down way too much in ME2. I mean sure, you get to research plenty of upgrades for everything, but I'm 30 hours in and there appear to be maybe three different weapons for each category. There aren't any more weapons throughout the immense amount of space? Really? They spent so much time writing planet backgrounds that I bet no one ever bothers to read, yet they can't throw in a few more hand cannons? Not cool, especially if they keep up the trend of making people pay for interesting weapons.

Isn't it entirely possible that BioWare is just working in a new unannounced Unreal Engine based game that will have multiplayer?

Because I honestly can't begin to fathom how multiplayer in ME would work.... I also can't see how it could possibly make the ME experience necessarily any better.♠

Some type of Co-op is the only possible way I can see to make it work. Because the idea of an ME deathmatch just seems dumb.

As of now it can only be ME2, ME3, Dragon Age, or something new. Old Republic is on the Hero Engine, so we're limited to options.

I retract Dragon Age. Forgot that was on the Eclipse engine.

Dragon Age doesn't use the Unreal Engine, basically it's either ME or an entirely new game we don't know of yet...

I am hoping it's a new game, the idea of multiplayer in ME doesn't sit well for me.

Mass Effect 3 will have a multiplayer component. They aren't talking about a new game.

i think a horde-type mode would be pretty sweet.

Hmm..

Mass Effect multiplayer, if done right, could be pretty sweet..

No it couldn't, shut up.

Everyone is so hostile today!

BioWare has already designed multiplayer dialog trees for Star Wars: The Old Republic. It's basically a turn based system.

Another game that doesn't exactly need Multi, might be getting Multi. Great.

I sense a bit of sarcasm in the above statement, dood.

Well, the EA head guy did say there'd be something "far reaching" for Mass Effect next year in February, maybe instead of ME3 it'll be a spin off multiplayer ME?

Wait, stop the press... Bioware opened a studio in my courtyard????? Where the hell was I when that happened?

it happened like 6 years back

what is this i dont even

ray muzyka would like to apologize for clogging your toilet.

Maybe a MassEffect MMO? I don't see why they would want to add multiplayer to a story arc that's set to end in the next installment anyway.

uhhhh lets hope this leads to Co-op for the story mode in ME3....I mean that is a form of Multiplayer....

Three player co-op would be fun. =P

I can see how they'd work that in. Like in the ending of ME2 when you have to pick which characters to control which groups, you could split up your team so each person controls a small group and has to fight through a section of the map.

Or even in ME1 when you have to pick who plants the bomb and who rushes the entrance.

I think scenes like those would work great with co-op.

I would baww manly tears of awesome for co-op in ME3

yea Sonic that would be pretty damn bad ass....

Entering a room full of baddies.. splitting up, attacking them from all sides!

/roar

How would the power wheel work in co-op? If anything, Bioware should be trying to balance the RPG and shooter elements for ME3, and bringing in co-op just seems like another step away from that balance.

Never too early for ME3 news eh? barf barf.

You came into an article about ME just to say that?

How very constructive.

Please please please let it be co-op. It was the one biggest feature missing from ME2.

ME2 was missing a lot of things (like most of the RPG elements), but it was not missing co-op.

EA - You're getting multiplayer and you better like it.

EA - you're getting multiplayer and we don't care if you like it as long as you buy it

Could it be?

Could the rumours be true?

Could this actually be.... Sonic Chronicles 2 with multiplayer?!?!?

:D

I'm still boiling over Dungeon Keeper MMO

seriously ea

The first two games didn't have nor NEED multiplayer. Why is this suddenly necessary NOW? I'll admit I love a lot of games that have co op features and if the multiplayer is slightly fun then okay I'll take it, but the game really has to have the chemistry for it. I don't see them pulling this off like Bioshock 2. ME has been a solid series just being an RPG and a shooter. It doesn't need anything else added on like multiplayer. I'm really losing my cool with companies deciding just because it's neat in most games, that its okay to throw it into everything new and that it will miraculously work out.

Guys guuuys seriously just focus on the story because this IS the third and LAST game for Shepard. He/she deserves not a shitty ending.Tweak the combat a little more if you want, not too much as it was actually fine. Think of ways to make the game bigger if you will, but not through multiplayer. That will never make up for how limited I felt with exploring in the second game. And I'm sorry with games like ME I enjoy running solo.

it may not need it, but why would it be a bad thing? they're apparently hiring new employees to take care of it, so it's not like they're diverting resources away from the campaign.

personally i've been curious about a mass effect multiplayer since the first one. squad vs squad combat could be pretty fun, and a horde mode could be good too. but i shouldn't have that simply because you think the game doesn't need it?

What maveric101 said. People said the same thing about Uncharted 2, and I believe they can pull it off with ME3 as well.

that's exactly what this post was about. No doubt about that

Please... don't let this be for Mass Effect 3, they should be focusing on the story, not some poor multiplayer mode slapped onto the side in a hope to boost sales.

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BioWare Montreal seeking multiplayer programmers with Unreal Engine experience

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