help wanted
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Wanted: App reviewers for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who applied! We're turning off the email and going through the applications now. There were hundreds and we can't reply to everyone, so bear with us as we slog through the pile and pick out those who we think can do proper reviews for TUAW. Thanks! - ed. TUAW is looking for a few good iPad app reviewers, and we're not leaving iPhone or iPod touch users out of the game, either. We pay for reviews (although not for the apps themselves) and we're looking to increase our dedicated app review coverage. To start, read this entire post and follow the directions. We'll call that Test #1. What we're looking for: A good grasp of the English language. Stuff like the difference between "its" and "it's" and the ability to present a cogent argument for why you like or dislike something are mandatory. We're going to assume your application is the best example of your writing, but we don't want the worst to be a long journey into the land of bad grammar and typos. Able to work. You must be 18 years old or over, preferably in the US, but if you're overseas you'll need a bank account capable of receiving wire transfers so we can pay you. Punctuality -- because if we need something posted ASAP, we mean it. Passion for detail. The advantage most bloggers bring to the table is a passion for their subject. You may read TUAW because you love Apple products, but can you name the 10 reasons why Apple makes a better MP3 player? You have to consider all the angles before writing a review or you'll wind up missing the point sometimes. Living, breathing, witty humans to write ONLY app reviews and consider a specific beat, like music or games. What we need are dedicated app reviewers to help us review some of the amazing (or bad) apps out there. If you can specialize, we can throw as much at you as you can handle.
New Square Enix RPG coming to the iPhone this year
A job posting on a Japanese developer's site has hinted that Square Enix will be releasing a brand new RPG on the iPhone sometime later this year. Media.Vision has posted that they're seeking to fill a number of positions related to building an RPG on Apple's platform in conjunction with Square Enix. The Final Fantasy Ring fansite says that the game will be called Chaos Ring, and will by produced by the same team that made the popular Wild Arms console series. FFRing also says (via Japanese translation) that the game will be a 3D title, and it will feature a storyline concerning five pairs of warriors who fight to the death for the right to eternal youth. Each game stage will consist of a ring of battles with a boss in the center, and some choice in how the player takes on enemies -- more challenge for more risk. It sounds intriguing. Square Enix has been seeing some success with its older titles on the iPhone, and we know it's got a few original titles already in the pipeline for Apple's platforms. It'll be great to see what they can cook up for the App Store. [via TA]
Blizzard hiring for unannounced fifth project, might use new IP
Blizzard has a quite a bit on its lavish, diamond-encrusted plate -- between Diablo III, Starcraft II, yet another expansion to World of Warcraft and a mysterious "next-gen MMO," you'd think it would be hesitant about taking on new projects. However, the company recently published a "Help Wanted" ad searching for two up-and-coming developers. The employment opportunity wasn't filed under the site's "Next-Gen MMO" category -- rather, it can be found under the infinitely titillating "Unannounced Project" section.Even the most spot-on industry soothsayers haven't been able to predict what the project will be, though Blizzard COO Paul Sams has repeatedly stated the company's interest in starting up an entirely new franchise. The game is apparently temporarily running on the World of Warcraft engine until the aforementioned new hires can create an interface of their own -- an interface that hopefully won't include karts, and the inevitable racing of those karts.
Blizzard LF numbers geek, pst
If your idea of fun in playing World of Warcraft is to mine the auction house or raid buffers for statistics and then turning them over every which way, then Blizzard may have a job that's of interest to you. Admittedly, the best candidate would also have a degree in "computer science, statistics, operations research, industrial engineering, and mathematics, or business administration, marketing, or management with strong quantitative focus" but we're sure there are some WoW Insider readers who fit their Data Analyst posting bill. Sure, it may not be the most glamorous position ever offered, but it's still working for Blizzard - and in this case, working away from the front lines. Think of the perks; the awesomeness of being able to get in on Blizzard games well before anyone else gets to; the cool gifts that Blizz seems to like to give employees; the ability to get in to BlizzCon without having to play tag with the mrglrfrling Failoc. All that, and hey - it's translating numbers to non-number-geek English, which seems to be a passion amongst many of the numbers geeks I know. So if you've got the chops and are looking for a job many would envy you for, what are you waiting for? Get to applying - and good luck![Via Virtual Economy Research Network]
Help Wanted: live the sumo-refereeing dream
The latest batch of screens from Hudson's Help Wanted introduce some new jobs from the game's selection of fifty. Though the screenshots are mostly self-explanatory, we've labeled all of the new screens with the job they depict. Hudson may be breaking new ground by creating the first game in which you play a sumo referee -- although we're sure we'll hear about it if there's already some sumo referee franchise! "Security Guard" seems to involve watching a bunch of security monitors and setting off an alarm at the appropriate time, which means that, though we never expected to relate this game to Night Trap, we totally can. And "Interviewer" is a game based around bothering celebrities on the red carpet. The game's central storyline involves earning enough money to buy a watch that transforms you into a giant, capable of saving the world from an incoming meteor. Amusingly, you can also get a job demonstrating products on the home shopping channel from which you plan to buy the watch.%Gallery-29606%[Via press release]
Hudson announces one for Wii, three for WiiWare in North America
Last week, Hudson announced new three new WiiWare games for download in Europe. This morning, the company sent out a press release confirming the (eventual) WiiWare release of all of those games in North America. Pool Revolution: Cue Sports is a pool game featuring online play and a puzzle mode in which players attempt to successfully sink prearranged trick shots.Snowboard Riot is a snowboard racing game "utilizing weapons such as homing bullets and invisibility!" It has 1-4 player online play and, continuing with Deca Sports' vaguely silly athletic-wear advertising, allows players to customize their avatars with Oakley sunglasses and outerwear.Pit Crew Panic is a game about all-female racing pit crews fixing what Hudson refers to as "WHATSITS" -- bridges, cakes, toilets, aircraft carriers, and all manner of non-race-car items. Pit Crew Panic also features four-player online functionality, with 2-on-2 and 3-on-1 teams.The company also confirmed a North American release of Hard Working People, the retail Wii game about taking on various part-time jobs, for summer 2009 under the title Help Wanted. It will come out in Europe in March 2009 as Job Island. Head past the break for more screens!%Gallery-36617%%Gallery-36618%
Hard Working American People
Because there's nothing like heading to work as soon as you get home from work, Hudson is planning on bringing Hard Working People to North America. There's just one thing: it may not actually be called Hard Working People when it gets here. The game's final title is up for debate, or rather, vote; on Hudson's website, you can choose from possible titles like Help Wanted (currently in the lead), the good ol' Hard Working People, and Job Heroes, among others.While this one looks pretty hilarious, we're always a little wary of games that require work (see also: Animal Crossing and more), but when that game is centered around working, we're doubly uncertain. Maybe we shouldn't be translating everything into a waggling mini-game simply because we can. Then again, Hard Working People really does look like Everything Mama, and thus could be promising. The jury, as they say, is still out. Out working.%Gallery-29606%[Via Siliconera]
Want to work for NCsoft?
As we mentioned a few days ago, the gang at Dungeon Runners is looking for a few good dungeon builders. Turns out, NCsoft in general is looking for some new blood in their Austin (TX) office as well as their two offices in California.Aside from the DR jobs in Austin, there's an interesting hybrid position NCsoft calls the Minigame Designer-Programmer now open. they also need an Associate Community Coordinator for Lineage II, and a Web Production Manager. The QA department needs an experienced tester and some folks in Tech Support. The brand new NorCal studio in Mountain View is where City of Heroes has been moved to. They are looking to hire "a ton of people" in the near future: Art: Animators, Character Artists, Concept/2D Artists, Technical Artists, User Interface Artists and VFX Artists. Engineering: Game Engineers, Junior Software Engineers, Server Engineers and Software Engineers. Design: Missions, Powers, Systems and Worlds. Aliso Viejo is down in SoCal (Orange County to be exact) are working on "a top, top secret project." They need qualified peeps for a Lead Quest Designer and a Lead Level Designer. If you're interested (and qualified), view all of their openings at the NCsoft Job List. Good luck!
Xbox 360 Fanboy is hiring!
Xbox 360 Fanboy is hiring a new blogger. That's right, your years of obsessive video gaming are about to pay off. Your mother said it would never help you in life. Your friends scoffed at your nerdy hobby. But now all that will change, because you will become a blogger. Not just any blogger either. An Xbox 360 blogger. Truly the most highly evolved and sexy form of journalism, 360 blogging is where it's at.If you think you has what it takes, check out the requirements after the break.
