info for candidates : Graduates

Advice for graduate programmers

So, you want to be a games programmer?

Writing computer games may seem like a dream job, but how do you actually become a games programmer? On this page:

• CV advice and general tips
• Demo advice
• Sample demos from some of our previous candidates
• Current vacancies suitable for graduate / entry-level programmers

CV advice and general tips

Be committed! Are you mad about games?

Still with us? Then..

Make your CV scream games!

Your hobbies and interests section is a great opportunity to show how keen you are. What type of games do you like? Any specific examples? Why? Here is the place to say! When you are playing think about what you like and don't like - in an interview you'll need to be prepared to talk about anything in your CV.

Use Agencies

At Datascope we now send our candidates a username and password for logging in to our website so they can see how their applications are progressing. Once you have registered you will be able to see the names of the companies we have sent your details to, and any interviews in the pipeline. (We will of course phone and/or email you if a company would like to see you - the web login feature is in addition to this!) We believe we are the only agency to offer this service.

Prepare examples of your work

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Programmers - Demo advice

This advice is subject to changes and improvements; reader comments are welcome. Please email simon@datascope.co.uk.

1. Which language/tools should I use?

Regardless of the platform(s) you wish to write games for, your demo should run on a typical Windows PC with the minimum of hassle. It's usually safe to assume Windows 98, a 3D card, a sound card and DirectX 9.

C/C++ - Undoubtedly the first choice because these are the predominant languages used on the main console platforms and PC. If you haven't already done so, get hold of a copy of MS Visual C++ and download or order the DirectX SDK (or another compiler and/or OpenGL) and experiment. If your C/C++ skills need brushing up have a look at one of the many books on the subject; ask other programmers for recommendations. Also use the web - there are lots of tutorials online, and a good starting point is the Developer Resources section of our Gateway to Games page.

Java - applets are preferable because they're easier to run than applications. Include an html page in a zip file with your class/jar etc files, or send a link to a web page which contains the applet. If your applet only works with Sun's or Microsoft's VM, and/or needs Java 3D make sure you say so, and specify which versions are needed.

GBA and mobile games - please supply the necessary emulator and instructions as necessary.

2. What should my demo actually be?

This is your opportunity to shine! What are you interested in, and what can you show off? 3D graphics, physics, AI, networking? It sounds obvious, but the more impressive your demo is the more it will stand out. Having said that, it probably shouldn't be at the expense of your formal studies or your entire social life! Even games companies like to employ people rather than coding machines ;-)

A playable game is not necessarily the most desirable kind of demo, particularly if it's 2D. Games companies see plenty of Pong and Tetris clones and tend to be underwhelmed, although by all means try writing a version of your favourite classic game as a learning exercise before trying something more ambitious. 3D graphics will impress most companies much more than 2D, and a demo showing a set of clear, well-implemented algorithms which you have had time to polish is generally better received than a complete 2D game.

Teamwork is crucial! Completing a demo game shows you have the enthusiasm and tenacity to finish what you start, but you won't be able to do everything when you're working on a commercial game. As a professional games programmer you're likely to be working in a team of 5-20 programmers, so think about how your code could work together with theirs. Can you demonstrate how other people could drive your code? You'll also be working with artists and games designers (and tools for them) - you don't necessarily need to show the tools needed to author the data for your demo, but you definitely need to know what tools would need to be written.

Use your imagination, but bear in mind that you're applying as a programmer, not a games designer or artist, so while wonderful new game concepts and beautiful artwork are great, they are certainly not necessary or expected. (Arguably your coding skills stand out more if the artwork you use is deliberately plain!) If you need textures, explosion noises and the like it's fine to use other people's stuff provided it is in the public domain or you have their permission; search the web and see our Gateway to Games. Make sure you say what's not your work, and it's good manners to credit the original artist/author(s).

Some further suggestions relating to specific types of demo (Graphics, Physics, AI):

Graphics:

1. Consider the sort of custom data you might need to export from the art packages for the artist to be able to control the look of the artwork.
2. When possible, show off 3D maths skills:
   • Projected geometry / textures
   • Environment mapping
   • Complex shadows
   • Curved surfaces
   • Complex camera tracking
   All of these require a strong understanding of the maths needed for games programming.
3. Special Effects (Explosions, Particle effects, etc.)
   • Interesting unique effects are good, but not necessary.
   • Whilst background artwork should be deliberately plain (they are not employing you for your art skills), special effects artwork (usually textures) should be as good as possible. If you can get an artist to help you that's even better. With special effects looks are all important; how you achieved them is secondary.

Physics:

1. Consider who sets up the various physics parameters and which ones are exposed to the game designer.
2. Show collisions which cope with difficult cases
   • Stacked objects
   • Multiple collisions at same time
3. Show management of scale
   • Keeping physics at a constant frame-rate despite large number of objects
   • Spatial optimisation to prevent needing to calculate collisions when they are not occurring
4. Show numerical stability
   • Jittering when close to stationary is bad
   • Objects gaining unrealistic velocities (including angular) is bad

AI:

1. Focus not just on the behaviours, but also how a game designer might control those behaviours.
   • AI is no good if game designer cannot get it to do what he wants
   • Often custom data is required for an algorithm. Consider how that data might be authored and who would author it.
2. The behaviours must be demonstrably interactive.
   • Dynamic behaviour which can be replicated more simply by a pre-canned behaviour often shows a lack of practicality. What does the dynamism give you?
   • Consider the type of interaction which you are trying to demonstrate - is it clear?
   • AI is about the illusion of intelligence - does that come across?
   In what way is your AI intelligent and how are you selling it to the user?

3. How should I present and submit my demo?

A good idea is to consider the demo as presentation (particularly if it's not a complete game- see below) and lead the user through the various visualisations. This avoids the user having to use lots of different controls in order to see everything. Remember your demo needs to make the best possible initial impression on its own because you won't be there to explain!

Include sound effects if you wish but remember that annoying sound or music is worse than none. Arguably time spent learning the intricacies of e.g. DirectSound could be better spent unless you want to specialise in audio programming. If you do include sound, mention that you have it (perhaps by having an obviously visible option to switch them off) because in a work environment the person running your demo might have the volume turned down.

Offer a choice of screen resolutions, colour depths and windowed / full screen mode when the demo first runs or as an option accessible from within the demo itself. Do not make a user change their desktop display settings if at all possible.

Instructions / explanation of techniques - include a readme but display brief instructions (the controls at least) - in the demo itself, either during or before it starts. Most people will try and run the demo first then look at the readme file later. (Do you read the manual before trying a new game you've just bought?) A readme is good idea as well because you can use to explain the techniques you are trying to show, in addition to reiterating the controls and requirements.

Source code - we prefer you to include the source code because then it's available for clients should they wish to look at it. They are very unlikely to wade through it all so consider also providing extracts of the best and most interesting bits!

To submit your demo - please email a zip file (less than 4Mb preferred) or send a URL from which we can download it. Our mailserver won't reject larger attachments but our clients' might. If your demo is bigger than about 4Mb zipped, do you have big .wav files you could compress with e.g. ogg vorbis or mp3? Any image files you could convert to jpeg? Please post CDs only as a last resort.

Demo Checklist:

• Does your demo work reliably? Try it on several PCs and please make it as bug-free as possible; crashes do not impress!
• Have you included any non-standard DLLs it requires? (It may not be run on a development machine. In particular, compile a Release build (not Debug) if using VC++ / MFC.)
• Does it look good - immediately? Try to grab the viewer's attention straightway - as with your CV. A game could have a demo mode which plays automatically after a few idle seconds on the title or menu screen.
• Does pressing 'Esc' quit cleanly?
• Have you supplied a readme file, or even better instructions within the program? They should say:
  • how to run it (the simpler the better)
  • how to play or get started; what the controls are (ditto)
  • system / software requirements - e.g. does it need a particular type of graphics card?

You can find lots more info on the web, and a good starting point is the Developer Resources section of our Gateway to Games page. There are also some relevant newsgroups including alt.games.programming and comp.games.development.programming.misc. (These links go to Google Groups).

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Programmers - Sample demos To run a demo here download the zip file, extract its contents into a folder and run the .exe file. Controls are either displayed on-screen or in a readme file. A reasonably up-to-date graphics card is a good idea.

Recommended downloads for running demos: - DirectX - latest version available from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/ - Latest driver for your graphics card - available from its manufacturer/vendor (try this list).

Copyright notice: The original authors retain copyright © of all demo and sample work here (except where otherwise stated) and it is published here with their kind permission. You may download material from this page for your own personal, non-commercial use only.

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These vacancies are suitable for graduates or other good programmers who do not have games industry experience. They are also posted on our main games programming jobs page.

If you are interested in any of them please quote the ref no(s) and send your CV and demo work.

We are managing all of Sony Computer Entertainment's games recruitment and the London studio is a world class development studio. It has unrivalled development facilities and offers a creative and stimulating environment.

SCEE R&D have a vacancy for a full time software engineer to join their infrastructure development team who work closely with staff in their North American and Japanese headquarters in order to develop web based services that help their colleagues provide support to licensed PlayStation developers. The ideal applicant will have qualifications or significant experience in the computing field, with a software development background.

The following skills are essential:
- A working familiarity with Linux
- OO design and development (we use PHP 5)
- Ability to develop and work to specifications

The following skills would be highly advantageous:
- Modern JavaScript techniques
- Apache administration
- PostgreSQL administration
- SQL, databases and query optimization
- Understanding of character sets and encoding, and internationalization issues
- Experience of using version control tools
- Interest in advances in web site development tools and practice

Some level of understanding of issues relating to the following would be beneficial:
- Knowledge of Perl, Python or C
- Web security
- Implementing access control levels and content management features.

London £DOE

Contact: Andrea Ref: 26317 02/05/08

We are managing all of Sony Computer Entertainment's games recruitment and Studio London is a world class development studio. It has unrivalled development facilities and a creative and stimulating environment coupled with access to the best London has to offer in Soho.

The Singstar® team is looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic junior programmer. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a keen interest in games development. Singstar® is a Bafta award winning game from SCEE which invites you to step into the spotlight and unleash your inner pop star! Its unique technology judges your vocal skills on pitch and timing and gives a score based on your performance.

Requirements
- At least 1 year commercial programming experience.
- Strong C++.
- Experience with maintaining existing code.
- Use of source control and configuration systems.
- Experience of systems (e.g. memory management) and graphics programming on PlayStation® 2 will be beneficial.
- Good communication skills with managers and colleagues.
- Good organisational abilities. Project management experience would be beneficial.

London £GOOD

Contact: Andrea Ref: 26299 01/05/08

This company is responsible for one of the most widely played MMORPGs in the world, in addition to developing and marketing over 30 different online games. They are currently consolidating a period of rapid growth and are looking for top developers and support staff to complement their dedicated and successful team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate with ambition and initiative to join a fast paced, rapidly expanding online games company based in Cambridge and help them achieve their ambitious goals for 2008 and beyond.

You will be working with their expanding Game Content Development department creating (design and script) new quests, skills and characters for massively multiplayer online games.

We are looking for passionate gamers with a methodical approach, strong creative and artistic skills and deep motivation to create games, who can cope with the thrilling challenges of a development environment releasing new game elements almost every week.

Key duties include:
- Create new game element ideas (quests, mini-games, skills, monsters etc.) based on pre-defined expectations for our products.
- Use our internal scripting language to write high quality script running the new game contents.
- Work together with graphic artists, testers and other professionals to produce the best possible content.
- Communicating complex creative ideas in a clear and concise manner;
- Participate in large scale design decisions to establish the future of the game.

Requirements:
- Good programming or game scripting skills (basic C++ or Java or game scripting);
- Good creative writing skills and imaginative storyline ideas;
- Clear understanding of game design terminology and realistic game design ideas;
- Very strong and proven communication skills;
- Experience of working to deadlines and/or in project based environment;
- Keen interest in role playing games.

Also useful:
- Previously written quests (levels) for CRPGs, MUDs or similar.
- Game industry experience preferably in creative, game design or scripting roles.
- A computer science degree is a plus but isn't essential if good programming and/or scripting skills can be demonstrated.
- Having knowledge of any European language skills would be looked upon very favourably.

In order to process applications, we need to receive the following:
- CV and covering letter;
- Creative writing sample (a short story, a novel or anything which can
show us your creativity;
- Any games design documents that you may have done at Uni, in your spare
time or during your previous experience.



Salary: £20k+ (highly negotiable depending on experience) Plus excellent benefits including annual bonus, profit share, health care, gym membership and other excellent benefits.

Location: Cambridge. Candidates must be able to work in Cambridge or willing to re-locate.

Cambrdge £20K-£30K DOE

Contact: Barry Ref: 26199 21/04/08

We are managing Sony Computer Entertainment's development recruitment in the UK. This games studio in the North of England has been producing world class games for a decade, is well funded and offers a great career structure. In 2008 Liverpool will be the European culture capital and SCEE's fabulously revamped studio reflects this. They are looking for two engineers to maintain and develop an innovative proprietry build system used by SCEE and SCEA game teams. The main duties of the role are to debug, maintain and develop code, answer queries via email, forums and telephone. Successful candidates will also write user documentation, source customer feedback and prioritise new development accordingly. Some travel may be required.

Required Skills:
- C/C++ programming.
- Java programming.
- Tools and user interface programing.
- Experience with build systems.
- Solid software engineering skills.

Advantageous Skills:
- Agile methodologies.
- Other languages (espec. C#).
- Experience with multithreaded programming.
- Experience with distributed systems.
- Low-level Windows API programming skills.
- Experience with Eclipse & SWT.
- Experience with Linux and Mac OS X.

Liverpool £DoE

Contact: Andrea Ref: 26171 17/04/08

We are managing all of Sony Computer Entertainment's games recruitment and the London studio is a world class development studio. It has unrivalled development facilities and offers a creative and stimulating environment.

The role is to become part of the Production Support team for the online games application and to help support and develop the application and the processes around moving games through development to production. The candidate will have good Linux skills and show understanding of troubleshooting methods and problem resolution.

Skills that are essential for this role is knowledge of/experience with a selection from :
- Unix (Linux) system setup and administration.
- Troubleshooting skills. A logical and methodical way of working through a problem.
- A good understanding of networks and networked applications
- Perl scripting for task automation.
- Oracle database connectivity and administration.
- PL/SQL knowledge
- Web server environments including but not limited to Apache Tomcat, with particular reference to jsp/servlet engines
- Willingness to travel as opportunities also arise, due to the close working relationship with partners in the U.S., for visits abroad.

London £DOE

Contact: Andrea Ref: 26149 15/04/08

We are managing all of Sony Computer Entertainment's games recruitment and the London studio is a world class development studio. It has unrivalled development facilities and offers a creative and stimulating environment.

This is a software development role in the area of online gaming, an integral part of SCE’s strategy for the next generation games consoles PS3 and PSP. Requirements

The candidate must have some knowledge/experience of -
- Java (1.4.2 and above)
- development of web applications (J2EE) including, common functionality (mail, messaging, logging, database connection pooling, caching etc.), setup, deployment and configuration, Java jsp/servlet engines/ application servers (eg.Tomcat)
- Basic Unix/Linux administration
- SQL and PL/SQL
- source control and build/release procedures (eg. promotion of code between environments).

London £DOE

Contact: Andrea Ref: 26150 15/04/08

We are managing all of Sony Computer Entertainment's games recruitment and Studio London is a world class development studio. It has unrivalled development facilities and a creative and stimulating environment coupled with access to the best London has to offer in Soho.
The studio is looking for a versatile, enthusiastic person willing to take on a variety of tasks within the Home Tools Support team. We require a confident programmer flexible enough to handle Lua scripting, C++ debugging and hardware issues. In addition there is an element of first line support. We need a problem solver, capable of assisting internal teams as well as 3rd party developers. This position offers a great opportunity within a high profile SCE project.

London £neg

Contact: Andrea Ref: 26113 14/04/08

We are managing all of Sony Computer Entertainment's games recruitment and Studio London is a world class development studio. It has unrivalled development facilities and a creative and stimulating environment coupled with access to the best London has to offer in Soho.

They are looking for talented tools programmers to work on the next generation of tools for PLAYSTATION® Home. Home is the next generation 3D global social gaming platform coming exclusively to PLAYSTATION®3.

If you have programming experience in some of the following areas and wish to join an ambitious team working on the next generation of tools for the cutting edge PLAYSTATION Home product from Sony Computer Entertainment, then get in contact.

SCEE will consider all ranges of experience, from talented graduates to experienced senior programmers.

Essential
C# or C++
OO design skills

Desirable
Maya API
MEL scripting
3ds Max API
Character and animation tools pipelines
General 3D exporters and converters
XML knowledge.

Central London £high

Contact: Andrea Ref: 26115 09/04/08

Our client was founded in 2001 and went on to win the 2006 Develop Industry Excellence Awards for best New UK/European Studio. Their aim is to make great games - fun, playable and exciting with maximum exploitation of technology to deliver the best visual and aural experience. They are committed to injecting original gameplay into their products. They are currently expanding and are on the hunt for experienced staff and talented graduates. Join the hand-picked team and work alongside some of the best in the business, with competitive pay and a creative role on world class high calibre action games.

They are looking for a number of programmers for various disciplines: Network, AI, Engine and Generalist. Candidates should have a solid industry experience, excellent C++ and a love of games.

Midlands £Good

Contact: Andrea Ref: 26097 08/04/08

An internal development studio from one of the world's leading developers and publishers of entertainment software, with a quality portfolio of game titles across all platforms.

They are looking for general programmer. Candidates will have some commercial experience not necessarily gained in the games industry, a minimum of one completed project, a good degree (1st or 2:1) in a relevant subject such as computer science, mathematics or physics. Excellent C++ and strong OOD skills also required as is a keen interest in football.

North London £Competitive

Contact: Andrea Ref: 26077 07/04/08

Our client is a UK-based console and handheld games developer. We have just been appointed to exclusively manage their recruitment. Founded in 2003, it employs over 70 staff at its North West offices and was voted best New UK/European Studio in the 2005 Develop Industry Excellence Awards. With an enviable back catalogue they are now launching a new recruitment campaign to build a team for an as yet unannounced original next-gen IP being developed at the studio. Datascope Recruitment have been appointed as sole agency to handle this campaign.

This is a rare opportunity to be part of a team who's talent is unsurpassed. You will be required to create high performance, robust code. You’ll be more than proficient in C++ and you will be developing game code (e.g. Physics, AI, Networking) for a new and exciting IP.

Required
- 2+ years' C++ experience preferably within the games industry.
- Strong understanding of Maths and Physics.
- Network or online programming experience an advantage.
- Experience in working with PC & Console Development.
- Previously shipped game titles or strong demos.
- Excellent problem solving and communication skills.
- Self-motivated and able to work without close supervision.
- Passion for video games is a must.

Warrington £DOE

Contact: Andrea Ref: 26079 07/04/08

This is the largest visual effects and computer animation studio in Europe, with over 20 years of experience in digital film and video technology. The company has won numerous international awards including two Technical Academy Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, three BAFTA Craft Awards and thirteen Primetime Emmy Awards.

They need an Assistant Developer. The role will involve development and maintenance of the core asset management and tracking system for the production of a fully computer generated feature film. The Developer will be responsible for both maintaining the existing code base as well as gathering requirements for, and carry out further development. The ideal candidate will be experienced with SQL, C++, Python, Linux, web development and have thorough knowledge of relational database design and implementation. The candidate needs to be creative and proactive and have experience from working in a fast paced environment. Good communications skills are necessary. Experience from large scale development projects would be beneficial. Candiates may be recent graduates with good Computer Science or related degrees. Key Technical Skills: C++,SQL Python, Linux. Knowledge of QT4 C++ is a plus.

Soho £OE

Contact: Andrea Ref: 25940

This Northern company has been around for years, and is headed by some of the biggest names in the games industry. They are currently one of the most successful independent developers in Europe, selling more PS2 software units than most other developers. They are now in a really exciting period of growth and are looking for serious talent to push the boundaries of next gen technology.

They are looking for various programmers to work on their Next Generation team. They need experienced programmers for various areas: Physics, Tools, Render, Online, Animation, Audio and General. Candidates must have some games industry experience, preferably next gen (although strong graduates will be considered) and strong C++ skills.

North West £DOE + excellent benefits

Contact: Andrea Ref: 25921

This award winning company is one of the world's leading developers of mobile phone gaming technology and content. Based in London and founded in 1998, the company has an unparalleled track record of innovation and market leadership in this rapidly expanding field.

They are looking for a Junior Game Programmer to work in a small team (2-5 coders), developing cutting-edge mobile titles, either original IP or working with the world’s biggest existing brands. Development lifecycles are 4-8 months. Programmers work with their world-leading native mobile gaming development SDK.

Skills/experience required:
- Strong academic background, else a strong games-related demo.
- Excellent C/C++ skills.
- Excellent logical thinking.
- Use of C/C++ in a games context an advantage.

Central London To £30k + excellent benefits

Contact: Andrea Ref: 25919

This award winning company is one of the world's leading developers of mobile phone gaming technology and content. Based in London and founded in 1998, the company has an unparalleled track record of innovation and market leadership in this rapidly expanding field.

They are looking for a Senior Game Programmer to work in a small team (2-5 coders), developing cutting-edge mobile titles, either original IP or working with the world’s biggest existing brands. Development lifecycles are 4-8 months. Programmers work with Ideaworks3D’s world-leading native mobile gaming development SDK.

Skills/experience required:
- Role on at least 1 game for full development cycle.
- Excellent C/C++ skills – at least one year in a games context.
- Demonstrable excellence in general programming.
- Good knowledge of 3D methods.
- Mobile development experience a bonus.

Central London To £38k + excellent benefits

Contact: Andrea Ref: 25906

This company is one of the largest independent game developers in Europe. With studios in London and Surrey, they develop games for all major platforms. The company is also developing ideas and technology for mobile and fixed internet games.

This person will be responsible developing a gameplay area from day one on an exciting new project

Taking ownership of their game area in regards to implementation and functionality. Working closely with other game programmers, artists and designers to make sure their needs are met in an efficient manner. Growing their knowledge of AI, networking and gameplay.

Essential Skills

- 1st Class or good 2:1 degree in computing (similar subjects such as Maths or Engineering welcomed)
- Genuine passion and enthusiasm for quality games
- Strong C++ and OO skills
- Good communicator and team player
- Quick learner.

Desirable Skills

- Solid Maths / Geometry skills highly advantageous
- Commercial games experience is not essential but welcomed
- Knowledgeable in both AI and networking.

Guildford £20K + Benefits

Contact: Andrea Ref: 25839

This company has been around for 5 years. They have just undergone a merger and are now in a really exciting phase of development. They have won great acclaim for their two flight sim titles and are currently working on a project for PS2 and Xbox.

We are seeking an enthusiastic graduate programmer to join our team. The position offers an ideal opportunity for a recent graduate with willingness to learn and develop their skills.

Required experience and skills:

- Degree in Computer Science (or similar);
- Solid understanding of C++;
- Code demos that demonstrate a variety of programming skills.

Oxford £Excellent

Contact: Barry Ref: 25814

This is the Sheffield studio of one of the largest independent games developers in Europe. With studios in London and Surrey, they develop games for PS2, Xbox, and PC. The company is also developing ideas and technology for mobile and fixed internet games.

They are looking for a Junior Programmer to create a suite of tools to support next-gen development for a sports game using Unreal Engine 3 on PC using C/C++/C#, Visual Studio 2005 and Perforce. Good degree and excellent C/C++ experience necessary, C# experience valuable. The successful candidate will be joining one of the UK's top developers.

Sheffield £18K to £25K

Contact: Andrea Ref: 25798

We are managing Sony Computer Entertainment's development recruitment in the UK. This games studio in the North of England has been producing world class games for a decade, is well funded and offers a great career structure. In 2008 Liverpool will be the European culture capital and SCEE's fabulously revamped studio reflects this.

They are looking for a Server Programmer. The candidate would be aiding more senior programmers with implementing server-side features. The job would be focused toward server code but provide opportunities for a progression towards a more game oriented role.

CORE COMPETENCIES
- Prioritisation
- Pro-active
- Organisation skills
- Ability to grasp new concepts quickly.

Duties and Responsibilities
- Implementation of servlets in an existing server framework.
- Liaising with game programmers, to provide relevant interfaces.
- Configuring leader boards, organising per player storage.

Skills and Experience:
- Good communication skills.
- Ability to work in a team.
- Good problem solving skills.
- Understanding of multi-user environment issues and techniques for writing stable distributed systems.
- Ability to think on feet and adapt to design changes and SDK differences.
- Ability to work on own initiative and unsupervised
- Previous Java, J2EE and C++/C programming skills preferred.

Liverpool £DoE

Contact: Andrea Ref: 25756

This long established games company is one of the leading independent international developers and publishers for high-end computer and video games. Owning six development studios in Europe and Asia, this company develops games for all relevant segments in the games market across all major platforms. Working on exclusive IPs with excellent industry talent, they offer great career opportunities for passionate game developers.

They need a Junior Programmmer to
=- Create game code for Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Sony PSP, Xbox Live Arcade platforms
- Participate and contribute to an agile development process
- Use test and behaviour driven development for robust game code
- Maintain and refactor existing game code
- Create technical documentation

Successful candidates will have/be:
- Good C++ skills
- Degree in a related field, or equivalent experience
- Very good communication and problem solving skills
- A passion for games, attention to detail and a desire to create outstanding game experiences
- Team player
- Willingness to work with agile methodologies (Scrum, Extreme Programming)
- Capable of working in English

The following are desirable:
- Console development experience, especially NDS, PSP, WII
- Shipped 1 title, preferably on a console
- Good math skills
- C# skills
- Knowledge of scripting languages.

Germany £High

Contact: Andrea Ref: 25655

We are managing all of Sony Computer Entertainment's games recruitment and Studio London is a world class development studio. It has unrivalled development facilities and a creative and stimulating environment coupled with access to the best London has to offer in Soho.

They need a talented programmer to port an aracade game from Java to Lua. The contract will be for a maximum of 6 months. Please contact me for more details.

London £DOE + benefits

Contact: Andrea Ref: 25554

This is the Sheffield studio of one of the largest independent games developers in Europe. With studios in London and Surrey, they develop games for PS2, Xbox, and PC. The company is also developing ideas and technology for mobile and fixed internet games.

They are looking for a UI Programmer to be responsible for the User Interface Implementation and general coding duties of a groundbreaking first-person shooter. Candidates will have at least one published title and solid C++ experience.
Also beneficial would be Unreal Engine experience and PS3 / Xbox 360 experience.

Sheffield to £33k

Contact: Andrea Ref: 25532

This Northern company has been around for years, and is headed by some of the biggest names in the games industry. They are now in a really exciting period of growth and are looking for serious talent to push the boundaries of next gen technology.

They are looking for a Junior Support Analyst to provide a responsive deskside software and hardware support service, to monitor the call queue and IT inbox and ensure that issues and requests are expedited promptly.

Experience needed:
- 1 year deskside support experience
- Good understanding of workstation and latop hardware
- Good understanding of desktop and laptop software
- Working knowledge of PSP and PS3 Devkit hardware
- Understanding of audio visual kit (projectors, audio equipment )
- Ability to work under own supervision ( monitor call queue and inbox and self allocate tasks)
- Customer focused, responsive with a good deskside manne.

North West £DOE + excellent benefits

Contact: Andrea Ref: 25522

This cutting edge company creates games that appeal to more than just the hardcore gamer. They design social and innovative games that everyone can enjoy, without facing a steep learning curve. Every game they've worked on has been BAFTA nominated.

We are looking for a Junior Programmer to expand our PS3 Team. This could be an ideal opportunity for a recent graduate, particularly from a Computer Science or similar background.

Key responsibilities will be to:

- Help plan and work on games within Relentless
- Produce and maintain clean, efficient, stable and well commented code

deal candidates will have:

- Good C++ software engineering skills
- A degree in Computer Science (or similar)

An advantage would be:

- Knowledge of computer games development
- Knowledge of other languages such as C, Lua, Perl, Python, Java and C#.

Brighton £Neg

Contact: Barry Ref: 25518

This company is a very well established and highly regarded developer based in the Midlands. The founders are legends and have been producing big games since the early 1980s. They develop for Xbox and PS2 and treat their staff very well indeed - employees receive an excellent benefits package which includes pension, health insurance and a loyalty bonus.
An enthusiastic junior Programmer is needed for Next-Gen consoles, including 2Dand 3D graphics and tools. General C/C++, some assembly knowledge would be an advantage. Knowledge of 3D would be beneficial.

Warwickshire £DOE

Contact: Barry Ref: 25509

This is the biggest independent mobile games developer in the UK. Located in the heart of Sheffield city centre they have a second to none reputation amongst the leading mobile game publishers. Their clients include Electronic Arts, I-play, Namco, CAPCOM, Konami, Eidos and PlayerOne. They have been nominated for a BAFTA games award two years in a row.

You will be responsible for developing mobile games across multiple handsets to world-class quality levels. You will work with others within the development team to bring the game design to life. You will report directly to the project lead and producer.

Responsibilities

- Working with the project lead assisting with core development tasks.
- Assist with writing regular reports of project progress to the producer.
- Produce readable/maintainable code adhering to the coding standards.
- Assist with the writing of technical design documentation.


Qualifications

- A 1st class degree or MSC in a related subject.
- Strong C/C++ or Java programming ability.
- Ideally experience of mobile phone programming
- Quickly learn new API's and technology.
- Self-motivated and an eye for detail.
- A love of games.

Sheffield £16K- £18K

Contact: Barry Ref: 13487

We are managing all of Sony Computer Entertainment's games recruitment and Studio London is a world class development studio. It has unrivalled development facilities and a creative and stimulating environment coupled with access to the best London has to offer in Soho.

They need a Gameplay C++ Programmer with scripting experience. The successful candidate will be responsible for implementing gameplay mechanics and systems using C++ and lua. Games industry experience is desirable but not required - strong graduate/entry level applicants are welcome.

Requirements
- The candidate should have a degree in Computer Science or other technical subject (e.g. engineering, maths, physics, etc) or the equivalent experience.
- He/she should have covered software engineering principles, preferably using C++, and have completed programming coursework or real-world tasks to a high standard.
- Solid software engineering skills, including C++ programming experience
- Experience of creating games using scripting languages, especially Lua
- Good communication skills

Optional requirements
- Knowledge of games console development, especially PlayStation 2
- C# experience
- Experience and interest in prototyping new game mechanics.

London £DOE + benefits

Contact: Andrea Ref: 13418

Our client is a UK-based console and handheld games developer. We have just been appointed to exclusively manage their recruitment. Founded in 2003, it employs over 70 staff at its North West offices and was voted best New UK/European Studio in the 2005 Develop Industry Excellence Awards. With an enviable back catalogue they are now launching a new recruitment campaign to build a team for an as yet unannounced original next-gen IP being developed at the studio. Datascope Recruitment have been appointed as sole agency to handle this campaign.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a proficient C++ game programmer to join a talented team developing an original next generation driving game. You must have a passion for driving games and be competent in one or more of Maths, Physics or AI.
Required:
- 2+ years C++ experience preferably within the games industry
- Strong understanding of Maths and Physics
- Experience in working with PC & Console Development
- Previously shipped game titles or strong demos
- Excellent problem solving and communication skills
- Self-motivated and able to work without close supervision
- Passion for video games is a must

The Offer
- Competitive basic salary
- Pension
- Discretionary Annual Bonus on achievement of set objectives
- Private Health Care
- Life Assurance (4 x basic salary)
- Income Protection Insurance
- 25 days holiday
- Share Options
- Interest Free Season Ticket Loan
- Reduced cost membership of Gym.

North West £DOE + benefits

Contact: Andrea Ref: 13387

This Huddersfield based studio designs and develops mobile games and applications for global markets. They work with some of the best licences in sport and casual gaming to create great mobile experiences. Their studio also works with brands and advertising agencies to develop interactive mobile campaigns to truly harness the potential of mobile.

Established at the end of 2004, the company combines commercial game development with the a special Academy, a learning and skills-based environment offering work placements to students. The aim of the Academy is to provide employment and training to young people who are passionate about games.

They are currently looking to fill a number of junior roles. Candidates will have good J2ME/C++ skills and strong Maths/Physics. A good degree in Computer Science or related discipline and good A levels.

Huddersfield £DOE

Contact: Barry Ref: 13347

Formed in March 2000 this company has quickly earned a reputation for delivering unique, action packed, high quality games on schedule. Renowned throughout the games industry for developing high-octane team shooters with a strong tactical element, this company is truly pushing the boundaries of possibility with regards to the genre.

Gameplay / Physics / Animation / General / Tools

If you're passionate about great video games and you're interested in how they're created then why not put all that new-found knowledge from your degree to use in a career within the games industry?

You should be a recent graduate with a 1st or 2:1 in a numeric or applied science and have knowledge of programming in C or C++. If you're interested in a career that will see you work as part of a group of experienced developers working on next-generation platforms including PC, PS3 and XBox360 then we would certainly like to hear from you. The programming team has a vast array of experience with programmers who have recently joined us from University through to industry veterans with 20 years' experience. We all learn from each other every day and there are always new challenges to solve.

Requirements:

- First class or 2:1 degree (relevant fields include Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics, Astrophysics and Informatics)
- A level Maths or Physics or equivalent (grade C and above)
- An excellent knowledge of C/C++.
- Good communication and problem-solving skills.
- The ability to work as part of a team.
- A genuine enthusiasm and passion for video-games and their development.
- A positive, diligent attitude.
- Salary: neg (dependent on experience and skill set)

All candidates invited for interview will be assessed for their technical knowledge. You must be mathematically minded, willing to learn and be able to work in a team based social environment.`.

Bath £DOE

Contact: Barry Ref: 13334

We are managing all of Sony Computer Entertainment's games recruitment and Studio London is a world class development studio. It has unrivalled development facilities and a creative and stimulating environment coupled with access to the best London has to offer in Soho.

They need a Gameplay C++ Programmer with scripting experience. The successful candidate will be responsible for implementing gameplay mechanics and systems using C++ and lua. Games industry experience is desirable but not required - strong graduate/entry level applicants are welcome.

Requirements
- The candidate should have a degree in Computer Science or other technical subject (e.g. engineering, maths, physics, etc) or the equivalent experience.
- He/she should have covered software engineering principles, preferably using C++, and have completed programming coursework or real-world tasks to a high standard.
- Solid software engineering skills, including C++ programming experience
- Experience of creating games using scripting languages, especially Lua
- Good communication skills

Optional requirements
- Knowledge of games console development, especially PlayStation 2
- C# experience
- Experience and interest in prototyping new game mechanics.

London £DOE + benefits

Contact: Andrea Ref: 13220

This award-winning West Sussex company was founded over a decade ago by one of the games industry's veteran programmers, and presently has a staff of around 70, as well as a second office in Australia. They are currently working on another eagerly anticipated military strategy game.

They are looking for a programmers with at least a year's software development experience. Successful candidates will generally be working on one or more areas of the game together with a Senior Programmer, producing code ranging from gameplay to UI to tools.

Requirements:
- A very good BSc in Computer Engineering or Computer Science (or similar)
AND/OR
- 1 years' relevant industry experience
AND/OR
- A stunning demo (with source) of own work.

An understanding of techniques in one or more of the following areas: graphics, AI, multiplayer, game mechanics is required.

West Sussex £Neg

Contact: Andrea Ref: 13223

Founded in 1988, this company has created over fifty successful titles and is established as one of the leading games developers for the software industry. The company is best known for designing one of the most consistent best-selling series of all time.

Junior C/C++ Programmers are welcome to apply to any of our locations. Competition is fierce so ideal applicants have some experience of game programming as part of a professional team, as well as a computing, maths or physics related degree, and maths and science A Levels. Even if you don’t have professional experience, if you have excellent programming skills, experience of game programming as a hobby, and the motivation to become a successful games developer, we may have a position for you.

Derby, Liverpool (Runcorn) & Oxford £neg

Contact: Barry Ref: 13200

We are managing all of Sony Computer Entertainment's games recruitment and Studio London is a world class development studio. It has unrivalled development facilities and a creative and stimulating environment coupled with access to the best London has to offer in Soho.

Sony are looking for graduate programmers to be part of a core in-house team developing in game and tool based audio and music applications.

Duties and Responsibilities:
- Developing next generation audio tools and technology
- Supporting existing code and libraries and integrating audio technologies into game code

Skills and Experience:
- C++ skills with application development
- Familiar with common data formats, such as XML
- Comfortable with 3D Maths/Physics
- Good communication and collaboration skills
- Responsive to feedback and keen to learn
- Passion for audio and games

Desirable:
- C#/.NET/STL/Python skills
- Existing audio background (using DAWs, basic knowledge of DSP, VST, etc.)
- Game programming experience
- Experience with audio/cross-platform/multithreaded programming.

London/Cambridge £DOE + excellent benefits

Contact: Andrea Ref: 13188