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We're hiring writers in NYC!
If you hadn't noticed, things are changing around here. No, we haven't figured out how to clone reporters (we're just really good at Photoshop), but we do have a new vision and we're looking for a few good folks to help us see it through. If you're an experienced writer with a deep interest in technology (and a good sense of humor) living in New York City, check out the details after the break.
Microsoft job posting hints at Connected Car strategy: Azure, Kinect and WP8
Redmond seems to have more grandiose ideas for Connected Car than it's let on before, judging from a recent help wanted ad on its site. Reading more like PR for its car-based plans, the job notice waxes poetically about using "the full power of the Microsoft ecosystem" in an upcoming auto platform with tech such as Kinect, Azure, Windows 8 and Windows Phone. Those products would use face-tracking, speech and gestures to learn your driving habits and safely guide or entertain you on the road, according to the software engineer listing. It also hints that everything would be tied together using Azure's cloud platform, so that your favorite music or shortcuts would follow you around, even if you're not piloting your own rig. All that makes its original Connected Car plans from 2009 seem a bit laughable -- check the original video for yourself after the break.
RIM hiring iOS developers
On Thursday, John Paczkowski of AllThingsD wrote about a job listing at RIM for a senior iOS developer and wondered why the beleaguered Canadian company would want an Objective-C expert on staff. The explanation eventually provided by RIM suggests this hiring is not as controversial as it first seems. According to RIM's statement, the company needs an iOS developer to code a handset management client for the iPhone and iPad. The iOS software is part of a larger, cross-platform product called BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, which lets companies manage iOS, BlackBerry and Android devices on their network.
God of War PSP studio readying next-gen third-person action title
After declaring themselves as officially done with God of War PSP games, and even going as far as to announce a "story driven action-adventure game based on original IP" back in late 2010, Ready at Dawn staffers promptly revealed they were ... creating a PlayStation 3 port of their previously PSP-exclusive God of War titles. Not quite what we were expecting! If recent job listings are any indication, though, it looks like Ready at Dawn is still working on that original IP -- but now, the game is also headed to a "next-generation home console game system." Eurogamer spotted listings for a variety of jobs on Ready at Dawn's job page, seeking experienced professionals in a variety of disciplines, from concept artists to a graphics programmer to a senior level designer. Little information can be gleaned from the listings beyond the general project, but we've reached out to Ready at Dawn for more info.
Microsoft job opening hints at forthcoming backup / restore features for Windows Phone
The current state of performing backups for Windows Phone is far from ideal, although a new job posting from Microsoft suggests that a better solution may be coming to the smartphone platform in its next major software release. According to a job posting from the monolith in Redmond, the company is seeking a talented employee to join its Windows Phone Backup, Migrate and Restore team. The listing goes on to state, "Our goal is to ensure that no matter if someone loses their phone, drops their phone in a lake ... a user can quickly and seamlessly get their phone back to a good state." Whether this involves backup to the cloud, or simply more robust features within the Zune software is never explicitly stated, although Microsoft does suggest it aims to leapfrog the competition in this arena. Not a moment too soon, either.
Fable developer Lionhead seeking experienced MMO programmer
Is the world of Albion coming to an MMO near you? That's up for speculation thanks to a job advertisement on Microsoft's career board. The software giant, which owns Fable developer Lionhead Studios, is seeking a programmer "who enjoys playing MMO games and has significant experience with the workings of a massive online multiplayer environment." Further requirements include "a minimum of one shipped MMO as a network programmer." Lionhead shipped Fable III in October of 2010, and the company is rumored to be developing a "controller-based" Fable IV in 2013, according to Eurogamer. When contacted by Eurogamer, Lionhead had this to say in an official statement: "Thanks for checking in with us! We're happy to tell you all about what we're working on. Just apply, get hired, and we promise to spill our guts!"
Microsoft job listing hints at annual Windows Phone updates
From the looks of it, a job posting on Microsoft's career site has informally confirmed that Windows Phone is on track to receive "major yearly releases." The idea of pushing a hefty Mango-sized package of features to its phones once a year shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as both iOS and Android aim for the same goal, but it's nice to see that the folks in Redmond have a good feel on exactly where the platform is headed. Now, update fans need not be worried about refreshes only coming once a year; the listing asks for someone to head up work on minor amendments in between these releases, which means we should look forward to NoDo-style maintenance updates on a regular basis. Or it could all amount to absolutely nothing. Your move, Ballmer. Your move. Head to the source link for the job listing.
Sony Santa Monica hiring devs with open world and shooter experience
God of War developer Sony Santa Monica has posted two new job listings, one for a Level Designer that specifically asks for experience with "'open world' games," and another for a Senior Combat Designer that mentions both first- and third-person shooters, as well as "experience working with, developing or designing vehicle combat." That's all in addition to the job listing posted at the studio last month, which had the team looking for a Senior Online Programmer with lots of experience developing social tools. So we're not sure just what they're working on over in Santa Monica -- we drove by there the other day to try and sneak a peek, but all we heard coming out of the doors was a few band saws and loud hammering. It could be anything!
Trion hiring for untitled SyFy action MMO, looking for XBox 360 programmers
With RIFT launching in the very near future, Trion Worlds is resting on its laurels and doing absolutely nothing... by which we mean the exact opposite. The team is looking for new staff to help develop the yet-unnamed action MMO created in partnership with SyFy, currently just named the "SyFy Action MMO." This in and of itself is good news for those who had thought the project had been abandoned, but it gets even more interesting when you realize that two of the jobs are targeting XBox 360 programmers. Assuming that the game is targeting the 360 -- which seems likely under the circumstances -- it would join Final Fantasy XI as one of the only MMO options on the console. That would be a significant boon from a marketing perspective, as would the show/game integration promised back when rumors first began surfacing. The 360 programmers are not explicitly linked to the long-dormant game, but neither are they linked to the two existing games in Trion's stable. Although the job listing alone doesn't promise a future for the game, it's a step in the right direction for what might be a very different take on MMOs after all.
Tomb Raider dev seeking multiplayer developers
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]
Qualcomm job listing for iPhone dev guru sets internet absolutely aflutter
"The iPhone has no secret for you? Well, that's what you think... join us and develop the most challenging product of your life!" So reads a now-removed job listing on Qualcomm's website for an "iPhone Developer Guru" (still cached, thanks to Google). Responsibilities will include "iPhone software design and development but not restricted to it" as well as some Android and... oh, you've already jumped to conclusions, have you? The forerunners of CDMA technology asking for iPhone software engineering? Teasing with the most challenging product of your life? We wouldn't fault for Qualcomm for a bit of boasting, and for all we know this could be much ado about nothing. Then again, we really don't know anything, and this isn't exactly some super clue in some giant mystery. Sorry, Encyclopedia Brown; don't get your hopes up.
CCP looking for lots of new people
Are you one of the myriad pilots in EVE Online? Does the idea of DUST 514 make your thumbs twitch in anticipation? Are you waiting for any news on the World of Darkness MMO? If you answered yes to any of the above, you have experience working on games, and are looking for a change, then you'll want to check this out. CCP have posted a gobsmackingly enormous amount of openings on their website for any game development folks currently looking for a new spot -- or to just make a career change. The current openings are in their studios around the world: Atlanta, GA (USA); Newcastle, UK; Reykjavik, Iceland; and Shanghai, China. Positions listed are for everything from Programmers and QA Testers to more specialized spots like Lead Fashion Designer. Some of the spots are more obvious than others: console designers are undoubtedly tied to the development of DUST 514. The QA job in Atlanta references "our upcoming MMO" which, along with White Wolf being headquartered there, reinforces it as the likely spot for the World of Darkness MMO. Iceland, of course, is the long-held bastion of EVE Online -- and The Party on Top of the World will be local if you land a spot there!So if the idea of becoming part of a company that seems to understand that working hard and playing hard can happen in the same place, then get that resume shined up and head on over to CCP's job listings.
Apple taking their Maps app to 'the next level'
Apple is looking for yet another engineer to help make the iPhone even better. A new job listing found on Apple's website was posted looking for a full-time software engineer to be a part of the Maps application team. The position description explains that Apple wants to take their Maps application to "the next level" and states that they've "only just started." From the listing: We want to take Maps to the next level, rethink how users use Maps and change the way people find things. We want to do this in a seamless, highly interactive and enjoyable way. We've only just started. It's pretty clear that Apple is feeling the heat from the increasing number of GPS and augmented reality applications available from third-party developers and even the advancements that Google has made on their Android platform. This job application definitely shows that Apple is certainly not resting and that work is continuing on the iPhone OS and the applications it offers. While this listing is far more specific than usual, it could be a sign of great things to come. [via Macrumors]
Become a professional MetaPlace guru
Want to work for Raph Koster?If you have some object-oriented programming experience and a "familiarity with game and user-interface design," you may apply for a job as a Content Designer at Areae. If hired, you'll provide the MetaPlace community with game content as well as support and documentation for the MetaPlace toolset. Plus, you'll get to be one of Master Koster's Padawan learners.For those who are unfamiliar with Koster or MetaPlace, Koster was the lead designer of Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies. He also worked on some other SOE projects, and wrote the book A Theory of Fun for Game Design. Now, he's helming the Areae project MetaPlace, which is a platform on which users can create their own online games and virtual worlds.[Via Raph Koster]
