Software Engineers/ Tool Engineers Havok (Dublin)

Havok has been at the cutting edge of innovation in game development for over a decade. We provide cross platform game engine technology, mainly on AAA titles, with top clients such as EA, Sony, Activision, Nintendo, Ubisoft, Bungie, Guerrilla, and DICE. We have a unique environment made up of talented, small, stable teams. We provide each of our engineers with an opportunity to make a real impact on our environment, our business and the direction of our industry standard products.

We are now hiring:

SOFTWARE ENGINEERS/SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEERS

 

You will work in small focused teams of highly motivated and talented developers
You will be part of a professional stable development environment that is not subject to the long periods of crunch time typically associated with game development
Each developer/programmer will be expected to take responsibility for, and strongly influence the products they develop and the customers they work with at Havok
You will have the opportunity to work on and gain experience with the expanding range of hardware platforms we support
You will have the opportunity to work with some of the best games teams in the industry

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

– Developing optimized code in C/C++ for the very latest hardware platforms e.g. (PS4, PS3, PS Vita, Wii U, Wii, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Android, iOS, Windows)
– Writing cross-platform, multithreaded engine code
– Leading and participating in code reviews with other members of the engineering team
– Working on all aspects of Software Development including implementation, testing, documentation and delivery
– Working directly with product management and customers to understand their requirements and implement software solutions
– Developing and maintaining one of the most respected codebases in the games industry
– Drafting tutorials, white papers and speaking at technical meetings / conferences
– Taking ownership of more general projects/responsibilities within the development team such as recruitment initiatives, presentations and technical relationships with partner companies
– Working directly with customers, often on-site, to ensure they are getting the most from Havok products

REQUIREMENTS:

– Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or equivalent
– Exceptional C++ skills and experience
– Strong knowledge of 3D math and linear algebra
– Proven ability to work in a team environment on a shared code base

DESIRABLE SKILLS:

– Background in game development
– Experience developing 3D graphics applications and tools
– Low level optimisation skills, experience in middleware and physics
– Experience working with established, large-scale software architectures
– Experience working within and extending one or more scripting languages (e.g. Python, Perl and/or LUA)

At Havok, we offer a unique environment and opportunity to work alongside talented colleagues in a challenging role with real job satisfaction.We have a supportive environment where you will have career, travel and research opportunities. We operate in high spec, relaxed offices in some of the most exciting cities around the world. Our salaries are competitive and we provide excellent benefit and relocation packages. We at Havok are very proud of who we are and what we do. We hire people based on their talent and potential to contribute so if you think you have what it takes we want to hear from you! Havok is an equal opportunity employer

Apply Online at http://www.havok.com/software-engineerssenior-software-engineers-dublin/

 


 

SENIOR TOOLS ENGINEER

Location: Dublin

Havok currently provides a full range of Tools for game studios to create content. Now we are searching for Tools programmers with a strong desire to empower users further. We are in the process of building up a new team of highly focused, exceptional Tools engineers to work on a new project from the ground up. This is a great opportunity to come in at the ground level, and help shape tech that will be used by developers worldwide to build the next generation of games.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

– Developing high-quality, cross-platform, multithreaded tools and infrastructure used by leading studios across the games industry
– Developing reusable and flexible tools framework
– Working on all aspects of software development including design, implementation, testing, documentation, and delivery
– Leading and participating in code reviews with other members of the engineering team
– Working directly with product management and customers to understand their requirements and implement software solutions
– Drafting tutorials, white papers and speaking at technical meetings / conferences
– Taking ownership of more general projects/responsibilities within the development team such as recruitment initiatives and technical relationships with partner companies
– Working directly with customers, to ensure they are getting the most from Havok products

REQUIREMENTS:

– Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or equivalent
– 3+ years industry in gaming, visual effects, or content creation
– Exceptional skills in C++ and Object Oriented Programming
– Experience developing interactive tools and maintaining content pipelines
– Passion for designing and implementing user interfaces with a strong emphasis on end-user experience
– Experience with Qt, .NET, or similar GUI frameworks
– Experience writing highly reusable components and libraries
– Strong communication and interpersonal skills
– Proven ability to work in a team environment on a shared code base
– Knowledge of 3d math/linear algebra highly desirable
– Experience working with scripting languages desirable (e.g. Python, Perl, Lua)

At Havok, we offer a unique environment and opportunity to work alongside talented colleagues in a challenging role with real job satisfaction. We have a supportive environment where you will have career, travel and research opportunities. We operate in high spec, relaxed offices in some of the most exciting cities around the world. Our salaries are competitive and we provide excellent benefit and relocation packages. We at Havok are very proud of who we are and what we do. We hire people based on their talent and potential to contribute so if you think you have what it takes we want to hear from you! Havok is an equal opportunity employer.

Apply online at http://www.havok.com/279/

New animation short courses

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Animation Skillnet provides subsidised training solutions to the animation, games and VFX sectors in Ireland. They run high-end, bespoke training courses designed and delivered by industry specialists and they organise and support professional networking events and conferences for these sectors in Ireland and internationally.

 

Check them out here: http://animationskillnet.ie/

 

The following are the forthcoming courses:

 

DUBLIN

 

1) Storyboarding with Storyboard Pro (5 Monday Evenings) – http://animationskillnet.ie/21-09-15-storyboarding-with-storyboard-pro-5-monday-evenings/

 

2) After Effects for the Visual Effects, Animation and Motion Graphics Industries (5 Tuesday Evenings) – http://animationskillnet.ie/22-09-15-after-effects-for-the-visual-effects-animation-and-motion-graphics-industries-5-tuesday-evenings/

 

3) Gesture Drawing for Animation (5 Wednesday Evenings) – http://animationskillnet.ie/16-09-15-gesture-drawing-for-animation-5-wednesday-evenings/

 

4) Toonboom Harmony Training (5 Wednesday Evenings) – http://animationskillnet.ie/23-09-15-toonboom-harmony-training-5-wednesday-evenings/

 

 

GALWAY

 

1) Business & Production Skills for Animation & Digital Media (Galway – 3 Days) – http://animationskillnet.ie/25-05-15-business-production-skills-for-animation-digital-media-galway-3-days/

 

Onikira: Demon Killer out 27th August

Dublin based Digital Furnace Games has announced the release of Onikira: Demon Killer for PC. Onikira will launch across Steam and other digital stores on Thursday 27th August priced $13.99, £10.59 or €13.99.

Launched in association with Headup Games and Merge Games (Germany and UK respectively), Onikira: Demon Killer is a 2D side-scrolling, beat’em-up set in a fantasy feudal Japan. Players assume the role of Yamazaki Jiro, a lone samurai battling to prevent the forces of the Japanese underworld, Yomi, from taking over the world of the living.

Onikira: Demon Killer blends together complex deep fighting mechanics of traditional 3D beat-em’ups and merges them with classic 2D platformer mechanics. Some will prefer to go toe-to toe with heavy weapons and mash some buttons while other players will prefer a ranged game, avoiding heavy melee encounters and the game’s expressive fighting system enables each player to engage in the way that suits them best.

Onikira: Demon Killer will boast seven challenging areas and players will be able to express themselves with over 40 uber-cool moves and using four devastating weapons. Each level is littered with foul demons that players must dispatch back to the underworld. Players must also face two mini-bosses and two epic mega bosses.

 

Cover Art


 

 

Key Features:

Unique high-level combat – Onikira mixes 2D platform game elements into the combat system to make something special. Moving platforms, wall jumping, wall running and grappling all serve to make for dynamic and emergent combat encounters.

Seven Areas – the narrative unfolds over highly polished and gorgeous hand-painted levels featuring rain drenched villages, destroyed opulent cities, mountaintop locations and an erupting volcano.

Master unique weapons – Each weapon – sword, tetsubo, naginata or arm blades – has multiple unlockable moves which can result in massive combo chains when moves are strung together. Combo chains turn directly into score multipliers.

Responsive and Expressive Combat System – players are rewarded for strategic and skill-based fighting. Play flows naturally from move to move, allowing the player to create new combos that haven’t been designed explicitly by the developers.

Soul Shop – souls are the currency of Onikira. Use them to revive your health and trade them. At certain points inside each level, the player will find rifts into Yomi where benevolent spirits will trade moves for collected souls.

Challenge Arenas – players complete combat related challenges and improve their score and skill to gain achievements. The arenas are fully integrated into Steam’s online leaderboards.

Specific enemy types – with their own unique vulnerabilities, every enemy emphasises a particular fighting style, like a floating, possessed Mempo mask that encourages the use of air game or a monstrously twisted high-ranking samurai, where hit and run tactics are the best way to stay alive.

 

About Merge Games

Merge Games is an independent video game publisher and distributor based in Manchester, UK. The company publishes and distributes interactive software worldwide for personal computers, video games consoles and mobile devices. Merge Games also specializes in publishing collectable games for retail and worldwide digital distribution for independent developers. More information about Merge Games products can be found at www.mergegames.com.

About Headup Games

We are an independent games publisher located near Cologne in Germany and have recently been awarded Best German Publisher in 2012 and 2013 by the German Developers Association. Together with our partners, we focus on the contentment of our customers and the best gameplay experience delivered at the fairest price-quality ratio. Since our foundation, we have published over 70 SKU’s, including many projects from highly talented developers that are known for their potential and creativity. Our portfolio features high-quality games such as Super Meat Boy, The Inner World, The Binding of Isaac, Terraria, Limbo, The Basement Collection, Grotesque Tactics, Q.U.B.E., Frozen Synapse and many more as well as the million sellers #1 iOS Hits The Inner World, Bridge Constructor and Bridge Constructor Playground. Furthermore, we offer internationally growing companies the possibility to enter the German or European market with an honest and experienced partner on location. Fair and transparent relationships with our business partners are the basis of our company’s mission statement. More information can be found here

About Digital Furnace Games

Digital Furnace Games is an independant game developer based in Dublin, Ireland. We specialise in independent games that use the latest hardware and state of the art software to create visually stunning experiences. For more information, click here.  They are active on the local Dublin indie scene and involved in Gamecraft.

onikara

 

 

Onikira - Demon Killer
Onikira - Demon Killer
Developer: Digital Furnace Games
Price: 13,99 €

Pitch for investment at Game Connection

Early stage games companies have until 4th September to submit their application and get a chance to pitch in front of 10-12 high level international equity investors with a track record of investing in the video games industry or who have a financial interest in the sector (business angels, family offices, venture capital funds).

The contest is open to console, mobile, social, casual, and online game companies with no restriction on genre, platform, or distribution method. Middle-ware, publishing and distribution companies are also eligible.

Application requirements:
– You must be a European games company with an innovative and scalable business model
– You are looking to raise early stage equity investment to support your company’s growth (up to €2M)

Successful candidates will be offered:
• Free ticket to the Investment Session taking place on the 29th October during Game Connection Europe 2015 as well as one-to-one meetings with invited international investors on the 30th October.
• Privileged access to Game Connection Europe and use of the meeting application system which enables you to organise meetings with potential partners well in advance of the event (and so optimise your time there). You will also get access to a meeting stand to be shared with all 15 selected companies so that you have an area where you can bring potential partners to meet in comfort.

All submissions will be assessed by the Judging Committee of international industry experts.

Stipends (covering hotel nights in Paris) will be awarded to 2 applicants from MEDIA countries with low-production capacities: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, IRELAND, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland.

The event is organised as part of the European Games Boost Programme supported by the Creative Europe Programme. It is organised by French games cluster Capital Games with the support of peacefulfish and Connection Events.

See https://www.f6s.com/investmentpitchgameco2015/about 

Speakers announced for German Trade Mission

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The German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce is hosting a trade mission from Germany at the beginning of September aimed at establishing and maintaining German-Irish business partnerships in the Software Development and Online-gaming sector.

On the 8th of September there will be a “German-Irish Digital Innovation Summit”. Speakers include:

1 – Paul Sweetman, Director of the Irish Software Association, will give an insight into the Irish software industry.
2 – Thierry Baujard, founder and CEO of Media Deals, which focuses on cross-border investments in the media tech sector, is giving a presentation on the funding opportunities in the software & online-gaming sector.
3- [update] Thorsten Unger, CEO of Wegesrand & GAME – German Association for Computer Gaming will provide an outlook on the German Gaming Market.
4 – The ten visiting German companies, from the areas of educational and online gaming and software development, are in Ireland for the whole week on a trade mission and in addition to presenting at the Summit, they are also available for private meetings with Irish companies to discuss business opportunities.

Date: Tuesday 8th September 2015
Time: 09.00 – 17.00 h
Venue: Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC), Taylor’s Lane, Dublin 8

See the preliminary program

Attendance is free but registration is necessary.

The event will bring together German and Irish expertise in the area of software development, online-gaming and educational gaming through a discussion panel following each experts talk.

Please feel free to provide the organisers with any “hot topics” related to software development, online/ educational gaming in an international context that you would like to see featured.

In addition, they still have free places to participate on a discussion panel if you are interested.


 

Explore business opportunities: Individual Business Meetings

As part of this event, Irish companies have the opportunity to meet the visiting German companies and gain insight into their product portfolios to explore new business opportunities. The individual business meetings will take place in the three days following the conference (9th – 11th September). Their profiles are available on our website.

Information about the summit and trade mission will be available on the German-Irish Chamber website and updated on a regular basis.

This trade mission is funded by the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy.

Zombie Ablockalypse entry for IGMC 2015

 

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Zombie Ablockalypse, by Gazzapper Games, is a fast arcade action game with colourful cartoon graphics. The premise of the game is that your civilians are under threat from a Zombie Virus that is spreading fast throughout the towns. The game is an entry for the 2015 IGMC (Indie Game Maker Contest) in the action category and runs on a Windows PC.

This is the second year of the IGMC, brought to you by Game Dev Fort in cooperation with Humble Bundle, where indie’s are challenged to make the best game they can in just one month, July 7th-Aug 7th, throw that game in the ring with its peers and see whose game shall emerge victorious.

Zombie Ablockalypse, by Gazzapper Games, and Irish based indie is an addictive game and suitable for younger family members too as there are no deaths in the game! That’s right you heard right, no one dies, the Hero’s only task is to cure all the infected using state-of-the-art pellet guns before he himself catches the Zombie virus.

The gameplay is contagious and lots of fun as Private Joe Blockhead (our Hero) of the Block Marine Corp has to collect many different types of equipment to help him succeed.

Along with the shooter action strategy there are other game dynamics at play here, the hero can recruit other civilians to fight along-side him or to protect a specific area of the playing field. The new recruits will continue to cure Zombies until they too are infected with the virus.

A small building blocks feature is also present in the game, this allows you to drop mini blocks from the materials you collect. The blocks can act as a cordon to segregate the Zombies from healthy civilians thus helping to contain the infection.

The features combined allow varied tactics to be employed and mean there is more than one way to play the game. Shooter fans can just go all Gung-Ho, while the more tactical players can choose smarter management of the infection using the resources to seal off areas of infection.

The game has a Global High Score table for players to compete against one another to reach the top and also has two game modes comprising of Level clearance mode and Survival mode.

Level clearance mode is the mode that you are expected to implement clever tactics, strategy or brute force to win.

Survival mode is faster and more difficult, as the Zombies are more aggressive and the game only ends when your character has been infected! Plus is survival mode is also scored on time as the longer you survive the higher your chances of getting onto the Survival mode high score table.

A future update for the game will also include Co-op and Versus play with a second player. The game can be played using the keyboard or a dual stick gamepad controller similar to Xbox 360 pad or Logitech F310 (preferred).

All assets are original and were created solely for this project. All sound effects were made using only human vocals and a high quality cardiod microphone.

 

To play the IGMC version of the game visit this link below and if you enjoy it share with others – http://contest.gamedevfort.com/submission/213

Gazzapper Games are an Irish indie game studio that focuses on retro-styled games. Setup around late 2013, they have a number of titles available on Google Play. Downloads for their games to date are nearing the 1 million mark.

 

Contemporary art and mathematical data in Cork

Recently Lord David Puttnam opened the exhibition BOOLEAN EXPRESSIONS which is currently at the Glucksman Gallery in University College Cork. 

This exhibition explores the ways in which artists use mathematical concepts and systems in their work. Inviting audiences to investigate ideas of Boolean algebra, the impact of ‘big data’ on contemporary life, and how systems and codes support creative production, the exhibition captures the ways in which artists have used logic and technology in their artistic practices.

BOOLEAN EXPRESSIONS also commemorates the legacy of George Boole, the first Professor of Mathematics at Queen’s College Cork and a pivotal figure who can be described as the ‘father of the information age’. His invention of Boolean algebra and symbolic logic pioneered a new mathematics, and his legacy surrounds us everywhere, in the computers, information storage and retrieval, electronic circuits and controls that support life, learning and
communications in the 21st century.

Throughout BOOLEAN EXPRESSIONS, the processes of calculation and computation utilised by mathematicians – and by conceptual artists – are realized through physical and performative gestures. In Boolean algebra, values are designated either 1 or 0, true or false, and this binary logic structures all computer programming. John Gerrard’s three-screen work Exercise (Dunhuang) portrays a simulated maze-like desert landscape populated with the avatars of Chinese factory workers, setting off in different directions according to the algorithms used in GPS systems. Occasionally, two of these characters meet, and the participant closest to his/her goal continues as the other retires from the exercise. John Gerrard, Exercise (Dunhuang), 2014, Simulation, 3 screen installation view
There will be work on show by artists including John Gerrard, Darren Almond, Aram Bartholl, Mel Bochner, Hanne Darboven, Sol LeWitt, Tatsuo Miyajima, Aisling O’Beirn, Matthew Ritchie, and Lynne Woods Turner.

Fiona Kearney, Director of the Lewis Glucksman Gallery, curated the exhibition in collaboration with the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science at UCC and you may be interested in interviews with Fiona/ John Gerrard/ Aisling O’Beirn, as this synergy between art and science could make a good fit for one of your articles.

Contemporary art and mathematical data
25 July – 8 November 2015
Lewis Glucksman Gallery
University College Cork
www.glucksman.org
www.georgeboole.com

BOOLEAN EXPRESSIONS: Contemporary art and mathematical data is supported by University College Cork, The Arts Council Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and private philanthropy through Cork University Foundation.