How to get a job at Realtime Worlds

Luke Halliwell

Who wants a job at RTW?

But seriously …

… you can do better

Either you’re …

• Misunderstanding what we do

• Not good enough

• Not presenting yourself well

Today:

1. Trends in the games industry

2. What we look for

3. CVs

<1>Trends in the games industry

Scale

[Engineering]

Change

</1>

• Trends:– Scale– [Engineering]– Change

<2>What we look for

Fundamentals

• Programmers:– Raw problem solving ability– Core computer science– Crafting great code

Fundamentals

• Artists:– Arty stuff?

Fundamentals

• Artists:– Perspective, colour, light– Anatomy, architecture– Imagination

Core computer science

What’s your degree missing?

http://ocw.mit.edu

Problem solving

• Projects are not intensive enough

• For intensive practice:– IOI: http://ioinformatics.org– Project Euler: http://projecteuler.net/– Google for “Online Judge”– TopCoder: http://www.topcoder.com

Programming is hard

• Takes 10 years:– http://norvig.com/21-days.html

• Go beyond the uni syllabus– http://www.realtimeworlds.com/index.php?id

=393&pid=5

• Write code, think and talk about code

• Learn multiple programming languages

• Use open source

People skills

• Make the most of group projects– Discuss technical stuff, not just design– Explaining technical ideas to artists– Or, explaining aesthetic ideas to coders

• Dare to be Digital

• Make most of work experience

</2>

• What we look for:– Fundamentals– People skills– Passion

<3>CVs

How CVs look to me

Phew!

Who would you interview?

• Dave Jones• Peter Molyneux• Tim Sweeney• Sid Meier• Michael Abrash

• Warren Spector• Richard Garriot• John Carmack• David Braben• Alexey Pajitnov

“I’ve completed CGT and have a degree”

CV Rule #1:

Use clear visuals

CV Rule #2:

Explain why you’re good

Not this …

“Intelligent, quick to learn, meticulous and reliable. Has experience working with complex and challenging problems. Able to work on own initiative or as part of a team. Strong leadership qualities.”

Or this …

• Advanced Computing Skills – With the help of my university course, I have developed my

computing skills to an advanced level. – I have a good grasp of Microsoft Office (from 97 through to

the latest 2007 edition), have experience working on multiple platforms, such as Microsoft Windows XP and Vista, and various versions of Linux Operating Systems.

– I have experience in troubleshooting many different aspects of P.C. Technical faults from application errors to web and network related faults.

– I also have a good typing speed of 75-80 wpm.

CV Rule #3:

Don’t f*** up

Spelling mistakes

• A physics student keen to secure a position in the softwar development industry. Intelligent, quick to learn, meticulous and reliable. Has experience working with complex and challenging problems. Able to work on own initiative or as part of a team. Strong leadership qualites.

Wrong job …

• I am a recent graduate of Applied Computing at Dundee University looking for an entry level position in web programming or IT support.

Don’t beg

• “I am artistic – can draw humans, cartoons” (from a programmer!)

• “will work for free”

The finer points …

Passion for games

• I love games. Since first playing Horace Goes Skiing at the age of 5, games have been a large part of my life and when I played Banjo-Kazooie, I decided that making games is what I want to do

Lists of technologies

• C• C++• GLSL• Java• x86 Assembly (At&T and Intel)• Javascript• PHP• ASP• JSP• HTML• SQL• bash scripting

I know CGT

• BSc(HONS) Computer Games Technology– Modules Studied Include C++; Networking;

Windows Programming; DirectX; OpenGL; Mathematics; Dynamics.

Demos

• Make sure it’s interesting/different

• I’m unlikely to run it– I may look at source code– Good screenshots can get my attention

• Other companies might

</3>

• CV checklist:– Visually clear– Demonstrate why I should hire you– Avoid stupid mistakes

Wrapping up

• We are desperate for good people

• Learn the fundamentals thoroughly

• Be passionate about what you do

• “Just” having the degree isn’t enough

• Get your CV right

• Look at your application from our point of view