Datascope Newsletter May 2009

Here is this month’s newsletter, highlighting some top jobs.

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CONTENTS

1. Top jobs
2. Industry news
3. Diary dates
4. Datascope news – the Job Social Network

VACANCIES

Here are a few top jobs currently on offer. For a fuller list, please visit our website www.datascope.co.uk.

We are managing all of Sony Computer Entertainment's games recruitment in the UK and their London office is a world class development studio

They are looking for a Project Manager to take responsibility for delivery to quality, time and costs standards set by the Creative Lead and Production Manager. The manager will be the contact for all development-related issues and must enforce best practice to the entire team.

The role will also be required to:

• Identify of project milestones and develop/maintain a strategy to ensure they are attained
• Assign work through team leads; review task delivery and address slippage
• Identify and manage risks
• Track budget and spending
• Maintain communication on progress and milestones with all stakeholders and team members

• Directly line manage the assigned development team through recruiting, developing, training and appraising

Our client was established in 2001 with the aim of developing world-class gaming content on current and next-generation wireless devices. Over the past 4 years, the company has developed its own proprietary technology that contains powerful 3D/2D engines and enables painless cross-platform capabilities.

They are looking for an iPhone programmer. Candidates will ideally have 2 or more years' PC/Console Games industry experience, 1 or more previously published title and 3D experience (ideally OpenGL).

Contact Andrea Denton: andrea@datascope.co.uk

This company, located in hi-tech heart of the UK, was created in March 2000 by some of the brightest minds of a major games company who broke away to realise their vision of the gaming future.

As a Senior Designer you will take responsibility for areas of level design and specific game mechanics, taking an active part in the design creation process and ensuring the overall vision of the studio is maintained.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong world editor experience, 2 years + (eg Unreal or hammer), have knowledge of the game design development process gained from working on multiple shipped titles, ideally of a recognised AAA standard, and have A levels in both English and Maths.

This Brighton based studio is part of an extremely well known games brand and enjoys a terrific location. The studio is now looking for a five Note Trackers to work on the gameplay for an as-yet unannounced 360/PS3 music title.

Main duties for the role will involve creating and testing music gameplay data for drums, guitar or vocals (depending on skill-set), working with music assets, scripting game events and using MIDI, sequencing and audio production tools.

Candidates must have experience with the following: - MIDI, Sonar or equivalent sequencing tools, Sound Forge or equivalent audio editing tools, background in music performance/theory, strong general computer skills, knowledge of music games. Additionally, for vocal transcribing, candidates must be able to pick up a vocal/melody line and play it by ear on the piano/keyboard immediately.

Our client is a UK-based videogames developer formed by experienced industry veterans in 2005. They currently require an experienced software engineer to help develop the studios DS tools and technologies.

The successful candidate will write game-play and game-engine code and will optimise and maintain existing code. They must have a high standard of C/C++ programming (at least 3 years commercial experience), have excellent debugging and problem solving skills, knowledge of low-level assembler programming and a strong background in maths and computer science. Experience of network architecture and the ability to manage a small team of engineers would be advantageous.

Our client is the interactive wing of one of the world's largest media and entertainment companies. They manage the world's most popular sites ranging from entertainment, showbiz and media to sports. Currently they are looking for an experienced PR Manager who will accountable to the Head of PR and Marketing Director. You should have extensive PR experience within the Video Games industry, a Degree and be able to demonstrate experience of launching products to European market.

Your primary skills will include:

• Excellent PR skills and experience of working on both product-related and corporate communication PR;
• Good understanding of youth and family entertainment market;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills - ability to communicate to a wide variety of audiences and with senior level executives with internal departments and world-wide;
• Strong project management ability, be highly organised, deadline orientated and self-motivated;
• Most importantly you should have a strong interest in gaming.

Additionally you should be able to think strategically, be a relationship builder, communicate effectively, be results driven, champion change, a team builder and inspire creativity and innovation.

Contact David Rowden: david@datascope.co.uk

The UK's largest games developer and publisher, this company has 5 UK studios and 6 branches abroad. Growth over the last 2 years means that 800 staff now achieve a turnover of £150 million from some of the biggest titles in the business.

Currently they are looking for an experienced Senior Web Programmer with a minimum of four years development experience. Your role will involve maintenance, development and support on Content Management and Asset Publishing tools. You should be a well rounded C# Developer with good exposure to MS SQLServer and ASP.NET. In addition you should ideally have C++ or Java rather than PHP or VB. This position offers a great opportunity within a high profile project.

It is essential that you have strong Object Oriented Programming skills, experience of Source Control Tools, Visual Studio 2005, SQLServer 2005 (stored procedures, table design/creation). You should be a strong team player with a professional attitude, experience of website deployment to web farms and large-scale distributed systems. Knowledge of database design and search techniques. Most importantly you should have worked on a large scale business critical web project.

Contact David Rowden: david@datascope.co.uk

Our client is a publishing company with a well established portfolio of consumer titles. They are looking for an experienced Digital Content Executive to co-ordinate, focus and manage the company’s on-line activities.

Your main responsibilities will be to manage both the creative and the technical aspects of their on-line business rather than doing the actual programming. You will be responsible for the migration from print to digital on a product by product basis and to a given brief. Your remit will include such things as video step by step guides, games and communities in addition to proposing new ideas for product enhancement on the web.

You will also work closely with the Marketing Department on strategies for acquiring new, subscription based, business from the internet and implement agreed strategies.

Finally you will work with Senior Management to create new business models, create communities of people that the company can then sell to and plan how they sell advertising to any of their internet communities. 

Contact David Rowden: david@datascope.co.uk

As the Lead artist you'll be required to manage the day to day operations of a talented art team.

A proven track record of working on games with strong stylisation is necessary.

Traditional 2D draughtsmanship would be a distinct advantage. Character animation skills would be a bonus.

Minimum software knowledge would include 3DS MAX or Maya, and Photoshop.

Work for one of the most exciting world-wide gaming giants, based on the Canadian East coast.
- Participate in the development and growth of creative projects
- Participate in the definition of history, emotions and mechanics of the game
- Write and maintain design documents to be submitted to the development team.

The Senior Manager of Test Operations will provide overall management and leadership of the Test Operations function and be responsible for the Quality Assurance programme of regional and global operations of Test Teams.

Responsibilities:

- Manage multiple functions within the department through subordinate supervisors/managers, and assist in recruitment, selection, development and promotion of Test Operations Management personnel;

- Collaborate with studios during the software development lifecycle to evaluate and monitor processes, controls, gates and quality of software products;

- Provide technical, tactical, strategic leadership and planning to the QA Test Operations managers/teams.

Skills/experience required:

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;

- Understanding of global business and global team interaction;

- Experience of software testing and the video game industry;

- High level of competency in all typical MS Office applications; (ISEB) Foundation Certificate in software testing (or higher) desirable; further education and/or professional management qualification desirable; good understanding of online testing technologies and principles;

- Ability to plan strategically and to implement, measure and control testing/QA strategies;

- Ability to see a task through to completion, on time and to quality;

- 6+ years experience in a software QA/Test Management capacity.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Top Selling Games UK

The UK’s top selling entertainment software titles (all prices) for week ending 9 May, 2009

1. Wii Fit
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
3. FIFA 09
4. Wii Play
5. Mario Kart Wii
6. Resident Evil 5
7. Call of Duty: World at War
8. Professor Layton and the Curious Village
9. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
10. Rhythm Paradise

DIARY DATES

2-4 June 2009

Los Angeles, USA

www.e3expo.com

23-24 June 2009

Newcastle, UK

www.gamehorizonconference.com

30 June – 2 July 2009

Cannes, France

www.idefexpo.com

14-16 July 2009

Brighton, UK

www.develop-conference.com

DATASCOPE NEWS

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