Get paid to write java mini-games for web and large portals

Business and Project Management Discussions Jobs and Resumes
#1

Title just about says it all, really. This is probably a one-off opportunity (i.e I think we’ll only ever need one full-time person to do this; by the time we need more people, we’ll be getting a team to do it rather than an individual).

All the games will be set (loosely or literally) in the world of PerplexCity, and have to fit with the general brand, but other than that there is very llitle constraint and you’ll be expected to bring your own flair in inventing games and tweaking other people’s game-designs, as well as a willingness to work on game ideas that you didn’t invent but just have to implement well, and make them look good.

Most games will need to be written VERY fast - we have typical development times of 2 weeks up to 4 weeks from original vague concept through to final delivery, and in that time we need to have put together a spec, you need to have implemented it, gone through a couple of rounds of feedback with internal staff, added new features, etc, AND extensive final testing.

The role will have to be on-site in central London, I’m afraid, and the salary is very low EDIT: salary changed, role has changed a bit too; see latest posts below. If you’re mostly interested in making lots of money, don’t apply (although there is a small possibillity of bonuses and share options if you were to do exceptional work). If you’re mostly interested in making lots of small games, that each have to be fun and mostly mentally challenging (strategy, puzzles, tetris-esque, etc) rather than pure arcade/twitch shooters, then please do apply.

Send me a C.V. and covering email - although I’m not so bothered about the C.V. - and most importantly samples of your work; NOTE: we’re mostly interested in your enthusiasm for making games, and your inventiveness and flair - don’t be put off if you have little or no completed games to demo; any programming you’ve done that’s cool would do.

adam at mindcandydesign.com

#2

So… why’s the salary low? Expecting monkeys?

Cas :slight_smile:

#3

Aimed at pre/post uni people - self-taught coders who have no experience in a pro environment and haven’t learnt good habits yet, but are willing to learn them on-the-fly from our highly skilled and highly qualified existing coders.

Particularly a perfect shor-term job for the kind of over-enthusiastic hobbyist who contributes to flipcode’s pic-of-the-day but isn’t old enough / ready / experienced enough to get a mainstream games-dev job (probably lacks skills + knowledge necessayr, or has to go to uni in a year’s time).

EDIT: I and about 30 people I know would have jumped at the chance for this back when we were pre-uni, or just after graduating. I know a couple who ended up doing just this kind of thing for a while after graduating. One of those is know relatively well-known in the games industry and making a very very large amount of money.

#4

Is it definitely only for 1 year? Sounds like the kind of thing I’d be interested in - and I’m in a good position to relocate right now. Are you considering people who live in the US?

EDIT: Oh - I ask about the one year, cause it’s a plus if it’s longer - didn’t want it to sound like I was just looking for a job for “one year only.”

#5

Portal games? Is this jws or applets (1.1?)? Sounds like great fun… good luck finding a quality person to fill the spot!

#6

Both.

#7

Sorry, no.

#8

Actually, looks like it will be “Forever!” ;). Also, willing to pay higher salary now, probably, depending upon exactly what you can do.

Anyone who is reallly good and also willing to consider relocation to UK should also apply; we may be able to sort something out.

#9

Will graphics be provided, or do you have to be an artist as well? Would you be able to support a small family in London with the salary?

(living in sweden, but my wife is pretty keen on moving to england…)

#10

Heh… seems like something i would’ve been interested in… without the whole moving across the ocean thing… afraid ill have to stick to something a little more localized.

#11

Is there a possibility of remote work ?

If yes, I am interested and can work starting from static graphic models and some explanations, especially for Java 1.1 Applet.

Bruno

#12

How things are now, a small possibility. If you’re really good, and can prove your ability to work well in that way - bear in mind we have a very hectic office, and you’d have to be extremely good at getting work in on tight deadlines and at keeping us well informed of progress.

#13

Graphics will be provided, although it would be a plus if you had some artistic ability.

#14

We had to put this on hold, having not found the right candidate in time before we went into crunch time of our own and had no manpower spare to deal with it.

We’re now past that, and about to start actively recruiting for this role again, for start in mid january to mid february.

I’ll be working out a small test for this role very soon (well before xmas), PLEASE send me an email at the address in the first post with “java mini-games test” in the subject line and I’ll send you details when it’s ready. We will simply be asking you to write some small game in a short period of time to see what you come up with.

(FYI: incidentally, EA’s own programmer test for web games involves a “write an appelt in 1 hour” test)

#15

[quote]How things are now, a small possibility. If you’re really good, and can prove your ability to work well in that way - bear in mind we have a very hectic office, and you’d have to be extremely good at getting work in on tight deadlines and at keeping us well informed of progress.
[/quote]
Then I am interested, the question that I wonder is not if I could carry out your plays but rather if I would find sufficient time to do them because when I spoke about remote work, I thought more of as an independent than as an employee. The advantage is that you pay only if the product is finished and validated.

[quote]Graphics will be provided, although it would be a plus if you had some artistic ability.
[/quote]
Well, I do not have any artistic quality :frowning: and I am more accustomed to work with graphic designers

#16

that is what I meant about proving you can work in that way

That is no advantage to us, I’m afraid - we can’t cancel a 12 month project because one of the key games wasn’t delivered :(.

#17

[quote]Most games will need to be written VERY fast - we have typical development times of 2 weeks up to 4 weeks from original vague concept through to final delivery,
[/quote]
I was thinking about those kinds of developments, maybe I misunderstood ??

[quote]That is no advantage to us, I’m afraid - we can’t cancel a 12 month project because one of the key games wasn’t delivered
[/quote]
Dont be afraid, I will not accept all projects but only those that I will be able to deliver in the specified time.

#18

Sorry, there’s a misunderstanding here - you won’t get to pick and choose, you’ll have to do every game. This is a paid job, doing specific work.