Joystiq

Former DJ Hero devs exploring IPTV for multi-platform project

Mike Suszek — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:59:00 EST

DJ Hero developer FreeStyle Games is hiring a producer for IPTV gaming, according to a job listing on LinkedIn. The position will lead "the development of new multi-platform games with specific emphasis on online infrastructure-heavy video applications."

"IPTV" could mean any number of platforms, including set-top boxes such as Apple TV and Roku. The job listing noted that the developer is working on a "new ground-breaking multi-platform and mobile project."

FreeStyle Games posted a number of jobs to LinkedIn in the last week, including one for a mobile gaming producer role that will "develop strategies to leverage mobile enabled business models including free-to-play and freemium." That person would also be in charge of creating "features to bridge online, console and mobile games to create a connected product."

FreeStyle Games' most recent efforts were seen in Sing Party for Wii U, so the Activision-owned developer hasn't strayed too far from music-based games. Whether its next multi-platform and potentially free-to-play project falls in line with that genre remains to be seen.

Former DJ Hero devs exploring IPTV for multi-platform project originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 May 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubisoft Reflections hiring for Watch Dogs [update]

JC Fletcher — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST

Are you a hacker, able to remotely ID people you see and change traffic lights at will? Then you're ... in Ubisoft's Watch Dogs. However, if you're not quite that adept, but still quite good with a computer, and you're in the UK, there's room for you on the team making Watch Dogs.

Ubisoft Reflections general manager Giselle Stewart told Develop that the team is adding "over 40 permanent roles at our Newcastle office." Reflections is collaborating with Ubisoft Montreal to create the open world hacking/shooting game. "Our goal is to attract senior and experienced programmers, game designers and artists to work at Reflections, bringing our team to around 200 developers," Stewart said. Just one warning: you might end up working on Just Dance as well.

Update: We've been informed the job openings for Watch Dogs are "worldwide."

Ubisoft Reflections hiring for Watch Dogs [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raven job listings suggest next-gen game in the works

David Hinkle — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST

The last shooter Raven Software shipped was 2010's Singularity and since then the outfit has mostly helped out on Call of Duty DLC. But some job listings over on the developer's site suggest a new game is in the works, potentially for next-generation consoles.

Raven is looking for a senior lighting artist and senior environment artist to help out on "an exciting next generation title," the developer's job listing section shows. Another open job mentions an established team working on a first-person shooter right now, though there's no indication that these two projects are related in any way.

Raven job listings suggest next-gen game in the works originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visceral Games may be working on a MOBA game

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST

Visceral Games, best known for the Dead Space series, just might be working on a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) title, according to recent job listings discovered by IGN. Perhaps most telling is the listing for a Global Community Manager, who will work in the Play4Free division (EA's team focused on free-to-play titles) and is expected to have "an unhealthy passion for MOBA games."

The studio is also seeking a character designer with experience in "MOBA, Action RTS, Action RPG, or Related Genres." Finally, Visceral is looking for a character concept artist for "an upcoming PC action title." Alongside the portfolio requirement, it's noted that "highly stylized pieces with exaggerated proportions" are considered a plus. Given the typically larger number of playable characters in a MOBA, and the need to identify them from a distance, such exaggerated proportions are common among MOBA character designs.

Is Visceral developing a full-on MOBA? Given its recent history with Dead Space, it's possible the studio is working on a shooter with MOBA elements, perhaps something akin to Super Monday Night Combat (though probably much darker in design).

A third, much less likely but still tantalizing possibility: a Jack the Ripper MOBA.

Visceral Games may be working on a MOBA game originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kojima Productions LA hiring gameplay programmer

JC Fletcher — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:15:00 EST

Kojima Productions is moving forward on its California studio, according to a job listing posted by Konami. Originally mentioned in February as a tentative plan "if we can find the right people," the LA location is now actively seeking said people, including a "gameplay programmer" to work on the "core foundation of a 3D action game."

If you've ever wanted to join Kojima Productions, but never wanted to move to Japan, this is your opportunity. We suggest bolstering your resume with some really nicely photographed lunches on your Twitter feed.

Kojima Productions LA hiring gameplay programmer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CD Projekt's multiplayer job listing is research-oriented

JC Fletcher — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST

The "Multiplayer Programmer" job being filled by CD Projekt Red shouldn't necessarily be taken as evidence of multiplayer, CDP marketing head Michal Platkow-Gilewski told Eurogamer. "We want to bring to the team someone experienced in this field to evaluate our concepts and ideas," he said. "He will be one of backbone elements of our R&D."

Platkow-Gilewski said the multiplayer programmer is part of CDP's desire to "explore all possible directions, check what would be cool, what's feasible and - always the most important for us - what suits our games the best."

In other words, the multiplayer programmer is there to help CD Projekt Red determine whether multiplayer would work in any upcoming games. We hope, for the sake of the person hired for that position, that it ends up working in at least one.

CD Projekt's multiplayer job listing is research-oriented originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CD Projekt Red hiring multiplayer programmer for two upcoming RPGs

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EST

A job listing for a Multiplayer Programmer over on CD Projekt Red's official site implies that at least one both of the developer's upcoming RPGs (one cyberpunk, the other dark fantasy) may support multiplayer in some capacity or another.

The person hired, in addition to be gaining health care, 26 days of annual paid vacation and relocation assistance to Warsaw, will also be responsible for designing and implementing networking and multiplayer capabilities into CD Projekt Red's proprietary Red Engine, which powers both of its upcoming games. The first to be announced thus far is Cyberpunk, a nonlinear game based on the pen-and-paper RPG of the same name.

CD Projekt Red hiring multiplayer programmer for two upcoming RPGs originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders studio hiring devs with FPS experience

JC Fletcher — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 10:05:00 EST

Vigil Games, the THQ-owned developer of the Darksiders games and the now single-player Warhammer 40,000 Dark Millennium, is hiring a "senior gameplay programmer," "senior or principal designer," and other positions with an eye toward FPS experience.

The gameplay programmer position seeks someone who "Has previously held a senior programming position on at least one shipped AAA console or PC title (preferably an FPS)," and the principal designer listing looks for "An avid FPS gamer with strong interest in pushing the genre forward creatively." The same listing looks for "Experience designing fighting and/or action adventure games for PS3 or Xbox 360 with at least 2 shipped AAA titles."

The primary takeaway from these job listings is that Vigil is likely working on an unnannounced first-person shooter - probably on consoles, and with adventure elements. But we'd also like to point out that this is an opportunity for some of our game developer readers to come live in lovely Austin, Texas.

Darksiders studio hiring devs with FPS experience originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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id Software hiring for next-generation console game

JC Fletcher — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST

id Software is preparing to create something on next generation consoles - something with a user interface, which narrows it down to any software of any kind. Luckily, the UI Programmer job listing that reveals this information also states id is specifically working on "an unannounced game on future-generation consoles."

As superannuation (who spotted the listing) points out, the listing calls for "Familiarity with id Software games, characters, brands and universes," which suggests the new game may be part of one of id's existing franchises: Wolfenstein, Doom, Quake, Rage, or ... Commander Keen. Probably not that one.

id Software hiring for next-generation console game originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Harmonix prepping 'unique motion-gaming IP' ... with storylines

David Hinkle — Thu, 03 May 2012 22:15:00 EST

We thought Harmonix had its hands full with Rock Band Blitz, but the Cambridge-based developer may also be preparing a new IP - and for the next generation of consoles. According to several different job listings, the developer is looking for narrative, content and level designers, and one software engineer to help out with "a unique motion-gaming IP."

"Harmonix seeks an accomplished Narrative Designer to incorporate creative story lines into gameplay on a unique motion-gaming IP," reads just one of the positions discovered by Supererogatory. This particular gig is a 12-month contract position, while the others make mention of a "music-based motion-gaming IP" and seem to be for more established positions.

A narrative-driven, rhythm-based motion game? Sounds a lot like one of our favorite games ever. [Wait, surely you meant this? - Ed.]

Rumor: Harmonix prepping 'unique motion-gaming IP' ... with storylines originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 May 2012 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valve job listing points to hardware plans for 'whole new gaming experiences'

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST

Yes, there are employees at Valve right now who are working on some form of gaming hardware. What that gaming hardware is, however, remains to be seen. A job listing discovered by Engadget this week offers more clues as to what that hardware could be, specifically pointing to job skills like "hardware design, prototyping, testing, and production across a wide range of platforms."

Getting more direct, the "electronics engineer" position entails working "with the hardware team to conceive, design, evaluate, and produce new types of input, output, and platform hardware." Wait, platform hardware? That sounds an awful lot like the Steam Box rumors we heard earlier this year (rumors that were later semi-shut down).

But don't get your hopes up just yet - just because Valve is experimenting with different types of hardware doesn't mean that it's looking to produce a piece of consumer hardware any time soon. We've reached out to Valve for further clarity, but aren't expecting much beyond silence.

Valve job listing points to hardware plans for 'whole new gaming experiences' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft seeks executive producer for 'AAAA' Xbox title

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:10:00 EST

Microsoft is apparently no longer satisfied with creating pedestrian, run-of-the-mill "AAA" games and has upgraded to "AAAA" titles, according to this want-ad for an Executive Producer. We honestly thought that was a typo at first, but sure enough the "AAAA" designation is used no fewer than three times to describe the type of project Microsoft Studios will be constructing.

An executive producer's responsibilities sound pretty intense on a "AAAA" title, they've got to "deliver the end-to-end AAAA title experience" while they "maintain high-level relationships with external developers" and "represent and ensure that the project is aligned internally," all while traveling domestically and internationally.

That means that, basically, the only person qualified for this position is Commander Shepard. That works out though, because a fictional person is the perfect candidate to work on something as made up as an "AAAA" title.

Microsoft seeks executive producer for 'AAAA' Xbox title originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bethesda hiring 'Future Generation Console Programmers'

JC Fletcher — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST

Bethesda Game Studios is looking toward the future, hiring for "Future Generation Console Programmer" positions. We should be clear: these jobs are for working on "an unannounced game on future-generation consoles." They're not for future generations of people. In fact, you need 5 years of development experience, so not being born yet is actually a big disadvantage.

The listing doesn't give much of a clue as to the technology Bethesda is targeting with its future Elder Scrolls or Fallout or whatever -- applicants need experience programming for PS3 and Xbox, and DirectX 11 experience is "a plus."

Bethesda hiring 'Future Generation Console Programmers' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Journey dev's next project to take online play one step further

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST

When is thatgamecompany's Journey coming out? March 13, as it turns out. But what's next, you ask? Man, you're so impatient! Anyway, it sounds like the next project from TGC is just as online focused (or more so) than Journey, as a job listing for the indie studio's next game reveals. "With our last game, Journey, we began incorporating online interactions into our projects, and we'd like to take it a step further on our next game," the listing reads.

"While we're pretty experienced making games, we've never built a full scale online service available to hundreds of thousands of users. We're looking for someone to help us plan and build our online infrastructure in a way that scales," it continues, demanding direct experience "building a scalable online service." More ambiguously, the listing also requires applicants have a "desire to see the medium of games mature and increase in relevancy for people around the world." That sounds more like TGC to us!

Also of note, applicants are "more likely to enjoy this job" should they have a "desire to create something not just for core gamers but everyone you respect in your life." So, uh, if you don't respect anyone in your life, probably not an ideal job for you.

Journey dev's next project to take online play one step further originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft hiring for 'LEAP' and 'Platform Next' game studios

JC Fletcher — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Microsoft is staffing up for two new studios within Microsoft Studios: LEAP and Platform Next. The job listing for Platform Next sufficiently explains the purpose of that studio: "pioneering experiences on Kinect." We assume that means innovative uses of the tech, not The Oregon Trail.

LEAP, however, is more nebulous: it's an "incubation team," identified as "the people that developed Kinect and profoundly changed the way people interact with technology." It sounds like some kind of think tank for games -- but one that is making a game right now, as it needs a level designer.

Microsoft hiring for 'LEAP' and 'Platform Next' game studios originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One more Diablo III console development job opening for 2011

Arthur Gies — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST

At this point, the "Diablo III is probably coming to consoles" thing is like a joke without a punchline. We just keep building and building on the premise, but there's no release in sight. Still, Blizzard keeps giving us material for the setup, this time in the form of another job posting on Gamasutra for a Console Network Senior Software Engineer.

In English, Egon? According to the job listing, "this position is responsible for ensuring the best implementation of sophisticated networking systems on consoles."

Last time we checked, Diablo III game director Jay Wilson said "we don't want to announce something until we're sure." Blizzard sure does hire a lot of people without being sure!

One more Diablo III console development job opening for 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LucasArts job listing hints at in-development 'open-world RPG'

Mike Schramm — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:30:00 EST

Lucasfilm's recruiting website says the studio is hiring a developer for "an open-world RPG." The mid-level gameplay designer position will work on code and engines for an upcoming (and presumably unannounced) role-playing game set to take place in an open-world environment. Other than that, the listing is unfortunately vague, asking only for a talented and experienced individual to work with artists and designers to put code together.

There's no mention of online or multiplayer features at all, and no hint of what platforms (other than PC) the game might be built for or run on. It does seem like LucasArts is working on putting together some kind of RPG, possibly based on one of its current properties, in an open-world setting. That's intriguing news on its own.

LucasArts job listing hints at in-development 'open-world RPG' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epic hiring for 'new unannounced IP'

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST

If you're an experienced gameplay programmer with strong C++ skills and a history with Unreal Engine, Epic wants you to work on Gears of War 3. They also want to tease the entire human population of the universe by mentioning a "new unannounced IP" in the same want-ad, which could be literally anything.

The possibilities are endless; that's why a secret new IP is always such an exciting thing. Without an existing universe restricting their creativity, Epic's designers are free to follow their whimsy. If we may be so bold as to make a suggestion, Epic, how about a point-and-click rhythm-adventure game set in an alternate future-history, where mathletes compete in life-or-death tournaments to decide the fate of nations? Or, alternatively, a twin-stick puzzle-racer about an army of genetically engineered Marmadukes?

Epic hiring for 'new unannounced IP' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Games at Google service revealed in job listing

Mike Schramm — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:20:00 EST

Search engine giant Google is apparently looking to get even further into the gaming market, according to a job listing on its corporate site. The prospective employee would serve as a Product Manager for Games at Google, and "design strategies for game distribution and discovery, player identity, game mechanics, and more" as well as "initiate and prioritize projects within engineering, assist in determining the best technical implementation methods, track product development, and develop product launch plans."

Unfortunately, there's not much to go on so far -- the listing does refer to a "gaming platform" at Google, as well as "developer relations," so in between the lines here there's the idea of some service that would involve other developers in some way. But whether that means games actually developed and released by Google or just a portal to games online, we'll have to wait and see.

Games at Google service revealed in job listing originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard hiring 'PlayStation 3 specialist' for Diablo 3 team

JC Fletcher — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:05:00 EST

Normally, job listings that seem to suggest unannounced games can be interpreted in multiple ways, but this one seems fairly cut and dried. Blizzard is hiring for a "Senior Software Engineer, Console -- PlayStation 3 Specialist" within the Diablo 3 team.

"This position is responsible for overseeing Playstation 3 (PS3) architecture design," the listing explains, "as well as other PS3-specific game code development to maximize platform performance."

Even though this looks an awful lot like an indicator of an upcoming PS3 version of Diablo 3, of course, the standard disclaimers still apply. It could end up being a research-related job and not anything that leads to a console port; it could merely be part of the company's ongoing "investigation." If any company has money to burn on projects that don't turn into retail games, it's Blizzard.

[Thanks, John]

Blizzard hiring 'PlayStation 3 specialist' for Diablo 3 team originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GameStop porting game-streaming Spawn Player to Android devices

James Ransom-Wiley — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST

GameStop is wasting little time expanding the scope of Spawn Labs, its newly minted "cloud gaming division." A recent job listing for the company seeks a senior software engineer to be "responsible for the development and maintenance of our Player software on Android tablets and smartphones." (Additional job postings are for key roles in the division, which is also looking to port the Spawn Player app to Linux-based systems.)

Upon announcing the acquisition of the game-streaming tech outfit late last month, GameStop laid out a clear goal: "Once the Spawn Labs integration and testing on a new consumer interface is complete, users will have immediate access to a wide selection of high-definition video games on demand on any internet-enabled device." Android phones and tablets (and Linux systems) would appear to be next on the checklist, but what about iOS devices?

"Getting the audio and video onto the iPhone or iPad is not too hard," Spawn Labs' David Wilson pointed out in the community forums (some months ago). "Getting game control in a way that works for console games is hard -- but only because Apple controls both the physical and Bluetooth interfaces to the device." In response to a followup question, he added, "Yes, Android is more within our control than the iPhone."

While Spawn Labs has operated as a sort of "Slingbox for gaming," with its Spawn HD-720 box providing the technology to stream your game consoles' content to a computer, GameStop appears to be angling to cast a much wider net -- not just to stream your console games on more devices, but to sell you new games to stream on more devices. The retail giant has also scooped up a digital distribution platform in Impulse, which would seem just the thing to provide that "wide selection of high-definition video games on demand" -- just as soon as Spawns Labs' "new consumer interface is complete," of course. (Muahahahahaha!)

[Thanks, Gregory]

GameStop porting game-streaming Spawn Player to Android devices originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visceral Montreal studio staffing up for Army of Two, Dead Space franchises

James Ransom-Wiley — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST

A series of job openings in EA Montreal's Visceral Games division point unsurprisingly to ongoing projects associated with the studio's homegrown Army of Two franchise, as well as for Dead Space. Positions for a senior producer, art director and lead environmental artist for Army of Two have been posted on the EA jobs site, in addition to a number of non-franchise-specific roles.

Also of note, the studio is looking for a senior development director for the Dead Space franchise, in addition to a lead writer (in English) and senior AI programmer for a "new action adventure IP."

The EA Montreal location includes Visceral Games Montreal, EA Mobile, BioWare Montreal and other groups. The now Visceral-branded studio is best known for its pair of Army of Two games, which have sold millions -- fist bump! -- despite mixed critical reception. Additionally, the Montreal studio collaborated with EA's Redwood Shores outfit to develop Dead Space 2.

While EA has made no official statement about new iterations of these franchises, we clearly haven't seen the last of them. And you can put your bro on that!

Visceral Montreal studio staffing up for Army of Two, Dead Space franchises originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visceral seeking producer for work on 'bold new IP'

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:31:00 EST

Dead Space 2 is finished. So, what's next for Visceral Games? Dead Space 3? Dante's Inferno 2? The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King 2: The Returnening? Anything is possible, it seems, as a new job listing on Gamasutra reveals that the studio is hiring for an executive producer to lead a "bold new IP," one that is "heavily backed by EA leadership." (So, anything but Mirror's Edge 2.)

Our best guess? It's that Macbeth game Dante's Inferno producer Jonathan Knight has "been thinking about for years." Of course, Knight is no longer with Visceral nor EA, so perhaps he took his idea with him.

[Image mock-up incorporates art from a 2007 production of MacBeth staged by the Workshop Theatre Company; source: andycomusic.com]

Visceral seeking producer for work on 'bold new IP' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trion hiring Xbox 360 programmers for unknown project, designer for 'Syfy Action MMO'

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST

For the second time in as many years, Trion has posted job listings for console-specific programmers, perhaps quietly staffing up for the long dormant "Syfy Action MMO" (thought to be named "One Earth") that was announced back in 2008. Rather than spell out exactly what these programmers would be doing, the listings only explain that Trion seeks two Xbox 360 "senior console programmers" to "work on AAA titles in a highly collaborative environment."

A third job listing for a "senior game/systems designer" gets more granular, specifically naming the "Syfy Action MMO" as the project in question and requiring potential candidates to have "experience working on action games for consoles, such as PS3, Xbox, etc." Trion had yet to respond to our request for more information as of publishing.

Trion hiring Xbox 360 programmers for unknown project, designer for 'Syfy Action MMO' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tomb Raider dev seeking multiplayer developers

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST

Among listings for a technical producer and a senior level designer at Crystal Dynamics on the forthcoming Tomb Raider reboot, two positions popped up that we didn't expect to see: "multiplayer producer" and "senior multiplayer game designer." Though no multiplayer of any kind has been announced for the upcoming TR game, the listings go a long way in confirming it -- the job descriptions explicitly say "Come and work on the new Tomb Raider," for instance. It wouldn't be the first time a game starring Ms. Croft contained multiplayer functionality, as this year's Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light featured co-op play.

Crystal Dynamics is hoping to fill the multiplayer producer position with an individual who has "demonstrable project management experience," and can "take on a major production role in the multi-player part of an upcoming action adventure title." The senior multiplayer game designer position listing notes some potential info about what the game's multiplayer might have, cursorily detailing it as both co-op and "player vs. player." The latter position will also be "responsible for the overall multiplayer design vision for the game," so, uh, good luck with that, potential employees! A Crystal Dynamics representative gave us an official "No comment," but wouldn't say anything else regarding the listings.

[Original image: GameInformer.com]

Tomb Raider dev seeking multiplayer developers originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Treasure hiring for a new 3D shooter

JC Fletcher — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:35:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Fresh off the North American release of Sin & Punishment: Star Successor, Treasure is beginning work on another 3D shooting game. If you live in Japan and have strong programming skills, perhaps you could be among the first to find out what it is. By making it!

The news comes from a job listing on Treasure's website, seeking a programmer for a "new project '3D action shooting game.'" In addition, a cryptic image on the front page, advertising the job listing, looks like it might be some kind of hint.

Treasure has made four games in the past that would fit in this genre: the PS2's Silpheed: The Lost Planet, the licensed Dragon Drive: D-Masters Shot on GameCube, and the two Sin & Punishment games. It is, however, a company that usually expresses more interest in original games than sequels, so past games are not necessarily any indication of future plans. Perhaps it's the company's long-awaited Xbox 360 shooter -- although that one was originally meant to be 2D.

Treasure hiring for a new 3D shooter originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare Montreal seeking multiplayer programmers with Unreal Engine experience

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST

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]

BioWare Montreal seeking multiplayer programmers with Unreal Engine experience originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dante's Inferno dev hiring for 'sequel to major new IP'

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:45:00 EST

In a recent job listing on Gamasutra, EA's Visceral Games studio put out a feeler for "an experienced Environment Artist for an existing action/adventure franchise." We might normally excuse this as a job listing for the currently-in-development Dead Space 2, but the listing further details the project as "a major opportunity to contribute to a bold new franchise, heavily backed by the EA Games Label ... the sequel to a major new IP at the award-winning Visceral Games."

The listing concludes with another vaguely suggestive line about creating a sequel that will "set new quality standards and make the franchise the world-leader in the action/melee-combat genre." Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are mentioned as target consoles. All these clues add up to reasonable speculation that Visceral is recruiting for a sequel to this year's Dante's Inferno.

In December, the first game's producer was all for the idea of a sequel, but admitted that continuing to follow the path laid out by the The Divine Comedy source material, which would lead to Purgatory and perhaps on into Heaven, might not make for a great game -- especially in the action/melee-combat genre. Perhaps then, a Dante's Inferno sequel could take a few liberties with the story.

[Via Superannuation]

Dante's Inferno dev hiring for 'sequel to major new IP' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 May 2010 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square Enix job listing reveals preparation for 'next generation platforms'

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST

Sony may have a 10 year plan for PS3, and Microsoft may be extending the life of the 360 with Project Natal -- heck, even Nintendo has repeatedly stated it's sticking with the Wii -- but Square Enix is reading between the lines and gearing up for the next generation of gaming regardless. IGN spotted a listing over at the official Square Enix website that seeks a variety of technical positions "in anticipation of the appearance of next generation platforms."

From 3D graphics core programmers to technical artists (and pretty much everything in between), the new hires will be charged with development of a "new generation game engine development project" -- presumably the next iteration of the company's Crystal Tools game engine. Square notes the intention of this early development as "for competing beyond the level of the world's powerful developers," though we should note that you kinda sorta have to move to Tokyo if you're interested in applying for such a lofty position. Oh, yeah, and you should probably be able to speak Japanese.

[Via IGN]

Square Enix job listing reveals preparation for 'next generation platforms' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You could design the next revision of the 360 motherboard

JC Fletcher — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST

A Microsoft job listing reveals that the company is looking for staff to design a new Xbox 360 motherboard. From the sound of it, the new "Motherboard Design Engineer" will be helping to design further revisions of the existing Xbox 360 architecture, rather than the hardware for a next-next-generation system. "The responsibilities of this position are focused on specifying, designing (schematic capture, PCB layout, BOM, cost analysis), implementing and verifying the mother-board and other various sub-system boards that make up the Xbox 360 product line," the job description reads.

If you're a qualified electrical engineer and want to do work that may cast you as a hero in the eyes of many, many gamers, this is your chance. Please fix the Xbox 360 motherboard once and for all!

[Thanks @GameAddict!]

You could design the next revision of the 360 motherboard originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blueside's 'Project T' MMO also in development for Xbox 360

Mike Schramm — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST

We'd heard before that Korean developer Blueside (of Ninety-Nine Nights and Kingdom Under Fire) was working on a sekrit massively multiplayer game called Project T for the PC, but now we've learned that it's also planning to release the game on the Xbox 360. A Korean job listing for the company says that the MMORPG is in development for both platforms, and asks for game programming skills of all kinds, including experience working on commercial MMOs.

The game is supposed to be an "action RPG," so it actually sounds like a pretty good fit to try for the more action-friendly console world. The job listing specifies a contract time of one year (though that seems pretty boilerplate in these situations), and the MMO was last scheduled for a release sometime in 2011. The company's also working on some MMO-style gameplay for its upcoming Kingdom Under Fire II.

Blueside's 'Project T' MMO also in development for Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dead Rising 2 dev working on new action project

Justin McElroy — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

Before we've even laid hands on its death-by-giant-cellphone sim, Dead Rising 2, developer Blue Castle Games is thinking about its next project. According to a job listing spotted by VG247, potential applicants will be required to have their finger on the pulse of "open world and FPS games like Prince of Persia, Assassins Creed, Halo, and everything in between."

Right, so look for Blue Castle's Dead Rising 2 follow-up, Royal Wall-Running Secret Killer Space Marine, coming in the fall of 2011.

Dead Rising 2 dev working on new action project originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tomb Raider studio seeking multiplayer devs for 'AAA title development'

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST

For the last few years, Crystal Dynamics has been pumping out nothing but Tomb Raider games. Normally we wouldn't lead a job listing post with such information, but when Crystal Dynamics says it's looking for developers who are "able to effectively create and lead the multiplayer vision and design effort," it gets us thinking that we could be tomb raiding with (against?) other actual human beings!

Considering this year's layoffs, we're not convinced that the developer could be working on another "AAA title" in addition to the Tomb Raider franchise. Given the leaked images of a "reboot" and assurance from Eidos "Life President" Ian Livingstone that Lara's next installment will "reinvigorate the franchise," we're pretty confident that Crystal Dynamics is hard at work on whatever the next game in the TR series will be. For now though, we have a job listing and plenty of educated guesses.

[Via CinemaBlend]

Tomb Raider studio seeking multiplayer devs for 'AAA title development' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft lists more jobs for Project Natal, 343 Industries; hiring Shadow Complex, Gears of War franchises lead

David Hinkle — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST

With Shadow Complex setting very specific week-one sales records on XBLA, Epic and Chair would be kind of nuts to not consider a sequel. One job listing out of a recent crop on Microsoft's employment boards seems to out that likely scenario, implying that Shadow Complex is a bona fide franchise for Microsoft Game Studios and Epic. Said listing specifically calls for a Lead Producer to "lead the publishing side of games made by Epic: Gears of War and Shadow Complex."

Additionally, Microsoft appears to be looking for more able bodies to join its growing pool of Project Natal and 343 Industries employees. Existing job listings call for everything from designers to engineers to even a few artists. Sadly, the company isn't looking for MJOLNIR armor models yet, but just in case, Microsoft, you know how to reach us.

[Via Develop]

Microsoft lists more jobs for Project Natal, 343 Industries; hiring Shadow Complex, Gears of War franchises lead originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sucker Punch hiring network programmer, adding online support to next game

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Normally, we wouldn't write a story simply stating that a developer's next, unannounced title will include some form of online multiplayer support -- however, based on the cliffhanger ending from InFamous (and the apparent re-casting of Cole MacGrath's voice actor) it would be completely logical to assume that Sucker Punch is working on a sequel to its electrified superhero sim. Therefore, one might also assume that the company's recently posted job listing, which requests the services of a network programmer who has "experience building on-line components of video games," means InFamous 2 will have some form of online mode.

We know, we know -- that's a whole lot of assumptions. Still, we're sticking to the old adage of "when you assume, you make an ass of you and me, but sometimes, you can totally predict things before they happen by simply making an educated guess." We'll contact someone over at Sucker Punch to try and help our chances.

[Via CVG]

Sucker Punch hiring network programmer, adding online support to next game originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA job listing hints at online multiplayer for Dead Space 2

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

If an Electronic Arts job listing is any indication, Dead Space 2 is set to receive a gameplay feature that none of us saw coming -- online multiplayer support. The listing, which calls for the aid of a "Senior Online Level Designer," mentions that the new hire should "be able to work collaboratively with Creative Director and Online Producer to create extremely fun, satisfying and polished multiplayer levels." Those who desire to create droll, unsatisfying and shoddy multiplayer levels should probably look for employment elsewhere.

We'd call this move surprising based on the fact that we have no idea how it would work out. Given the first game's heavy focus on "strategic dismemberment," we can only imagine that multiplayer matches will quickly devolve into hilarious, appendage-removing duels. Kind of like Bushido Blade meets the Black Knight scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. (Actually, that sounds pretty awesome!)

[Thanks, Andrew!]

EA job listing hints at online multiplayer for Dead Space 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft hiring for Project Natal and Halo

David Hinkle — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

A variety of new job listings have emerged on a Microsoft employment site, including positions for Project Natal and -- perhaps more interesting -- positions for a new Halo game. These listings for Halo, likely for Halo: Reach, call for designers, AI developers and animators -- even a multiplayer game design lead.

As for Project Natal, some listings point to "a large franchise," whereas others quote "an excellent next-generation" project -- which could be just about anything. We confirmed with Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb that the listings were legit, though he couldn't provide us with any more info beyond that.

[Via HotBloodedGaming]

Microsoft hiring for Project Natal and Halo originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA job listing mentions next-gen project for Boom Blox team

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST

We've heard sly references and seen mysterious job listings indicating that Xbox 360 and PS3 owners would soon know the joy of tower toppling -- however, we've not seen anything as concrete as a recent help wanted ad from EA's Boom Blox team. According to the listing, "our last two titles were Wii-based, but our next titles will be for the next generation." We assume they actually mean the current generation's high definition consoles. Otherwise, whoa, we just confirmed the PS4.

This job listing, which was initially discovered by internet detective extraordinaire supererogatory, is supported by two other EA job listings he (or she) previously uncovered -- both of which reference Project Natal or the unnamed PlayStation Motion Controller. Unless the studio is changing directions to work on a motion-controlled Mirror's Edge (which would be unimaginably dangerous on Natal), the odds of an upcoming high-def Boom Blox announcement seem pretty good.

EA job listing mentions next-gen project for Boom Blox team originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crystal Dynamics hiring for an 'AAA' game

JC Fletcher — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:40:00 EST

Current Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics hasn't had much good news to report, with much of its workforce laid off, and disappointing sales of Tomb Raider Underworld. However, a job listing posted on Gamasutra's job search site reveals that the company is still at work, bringing in at least one new hire for something big.

"Crystal Dynamics has a rare opening for a Senior Art Director on one of the most prestigious AAA franchises in the industry," the listing opens. The obvious, exciting conclusion to be inferred from the fact that Crystal Dynamics is working on a new big-budget franchise game: Gex is coming back. We suppose there's also the remote possibility that it could beTomb Raider.

[Via Develop]

Crystal Dynamics hiring for an 'AAA' game originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Job listing suggests Microsoft working on 300K-player game

Majed Athab — Sat, 30 May 2009 05:00:00 EST

A job listing found on both Gamasutra and Microsoft's careers website is seeking out an engineer to work on a "game" that will support up to "300,000 players in real-time." The job ad states that Microsoft is working on "building an extremely high performance system to extend console games to the server in new ways" and that it's "creating a completely new set of web services" for Xbox Live and Xbox.com integration.

It sounds to us like Microsoft is planning to overhaul the Dashboard and Xbox Live service and combine it with an MMO-like system (given the 300K-player support). Or, it could be building a separate virtual world interface like Sony's PlayStation Home. What do you think Microsoft could be working on?

[Via CVG]

Job listing suggests Microsoft working on 300K-player game originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 May 2009 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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