NaturalMotion says Ubisoft Montreal has licensed its Morpheme animation middleware for an unannounced game in development, part of a long-term deal the two companies forged at the same time.

Ubisoft Montreal lead programmer Charles Jacob says the studio chose Morpheme after an "in-depth evaluation" from both the tools and runtime perspectives. "We were very pleased with the technology as well as with NaturalMotion’s support, and are looking forward to working together," says Jacob.

NaturalMotion says Morpheme is intended to allow developers to author and preview blends, blend trees and transition graphs in real time. It’s available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC and iPhone, and developers like Zen Studios are using it in Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network titles.

The company says it continues to see a "rapid adoption rate" for Morpheme; in July of 2009 it attributed an 80 percent rise in revenues for its first half to rapid adoption of Morpheme among game developers.

"Ubisoft’s animation quality standards are famously high," says NaturalMotion CEO Torsten Reil. "We are extremely proud that the Montreal studio has chosen morpheme as the foundation for further pushing the boundaries of believable characters. We look forward to supporting this and future Ubisoft titles through a long-term partnership."

Since 2003, Electronic Arts Montreal is the studio responsible for Army of Two, Boogie Superstar, SSX Blur, NHL 2007 as well as several other unannounced franchises. With over 250 developers, passionate about games and daily pushing the boundaries of creativity and technology, it is THE place to be for a career in video games.

Responsibilities:
The senior interface designer will work with game designers and producers in order to understand the game design and find the best way to expose it to players. He/she is responsible for producing and maintaining high-quality UI flows and wireframes (screen specifications). He/she must communicate with graphic user interface designers (artists) and programmers alike to ensure screens and menus are developed to specifications.
This includes but is not limited to:
• Collaborate with game designers and producers
• Create UI specifications and flows in Visio.
• Communicate these specifications to the UI team
• Keep the documentation up to date to match design or implementation changes
The GUI designer is responsible for delivering his/her assigned work on time and to specifications.

Requirements:
The successful candidate will be able to:
• Produce high-quality menu wireframes (screen specifications)
• Produce detailed front-end flows
• Layout a complex set of information into an easy to understand menu
• Work within the console manufacturers constraints and regulations (TRC)
• Work in a multi-disciplinary team (artists and programmers).
• Be proficient in Visio or a similar layout tool
The candidate must have:
• Strong communication skills
• 2 years experience in a similar role
• 5 years experience in the games industry
• Knowledge of HD console requirements
A portfolio demonstrating the skills mentioned above is required.
Assets
• A graphics or communication degree
• Working knowledge of Photoshop and Illustrator
• Web development experience.

Send your cover letter and resume to gldion@ea.com.

Please note that we will contact only with shortlisted candidates chosen for an interview.
Thanks for your interest.

(We are also looking for UI/Environment Artists and Game/Level Designers of intermediate/Senior Level.)

(Post expires on Friday April 9th, 2010)

Since 2003, Electronic Arts Montreal is the studio responsible for Army of Two, Boogie Superstar, SSX Blur, NHL 2007 as well as several other unannounced franchises. With over 250 developers, passionate about games and daily pushing the boundaries of creativity and technology, it is THE place to be for a career in video games.
EAM is currently looking for a Lead Level Designer for an exciting new AAA 3rd Person Action IP!

Requirements:
- 7+ years experience in 3D Level Design
- Understand the aesthetics of environment, function vs. form relationships, as well as what makes a game level fun and intriguing
- Superb communicator
- Technically skilled, and proficient in MAX or MAYA, game level editors and scripting languages (e.g. LUA)
- Must work well in a team spanning artists, programmers, and designers
- Creative, able to tell a story through level design and help create a visual language for level design
- Must have shipped at least one AAA title as a Lead Level Designer or Level Design Director in the action adventure or shooter genres
- Able to create and present a level design vision to a team
- Avid consumer of action adventure or shooter games

Duties/Responsibilities:
- Manage a team of level designers and mentor them to produce AAA quality
- Create models of 3D environments
- Closely follow Art and Design concepts
- Help define technical limitations and constraints for level construction
- Test and troubleshoot areas that are not working in the game engine and proactively fix them
- Participate in critiquing your work and the work of others
- Communicate and work with the Designers and Programmers to make all levels playable and enjoyable
- Be enthusiastic and ready to take on challenges
- Maintain pacing in situations of intense schedules
- Performs other duties as required

Send your cover letter and resume to gldion@ea.com.

Please note that we will contact only with shortlisted candidates chosen for an interview.
Thanks for your interest.

(We are also looking for UI/Environment Artists and Game/Level Designers of intermediate/Senior Level.)

(Post expires on Friday April 9th, 2010)

Montréal, QUÉBEC – 4 mars, 2010 – Ubisoft annonce  le développement de  Shaun White Skateboarding, en collaboration directe avec Shaun White, double médaillé d’or olympique.  Développé par Ubisoft Montréal, Shaun White Skateboarding est attendu pour Noël 2010.

Premier jeu de skateboard de la franchise Shaun White, Shaun White Skateboarding  proposera aux joueurs une expérience innovante qui renouvellera le genre.

« J’ai vraiment hâte que ce jeu voie le jour», a déclaré Shaun White. « Cela fait un bon moment que nous travaillons sur ce projet et le jeu va tout déchirer ».

Premier athlète à avoir gagné une médaille d’or en skate et en snowboard aux X Games d’été et d’hiver, Shaun White apporte une vision unique au développement des jeux vidéo portant son nom.

« Nous avons pu voir aux Jeux Olympiques que Shaun est un athlète hors pair dans les sports de glisse, » a déclaré Olivier Ernst, Directeur Général Ubisoft Canada.

« L’enthousiasme de Shaun pour le skate se retrouve dans ce jeu vraiment unique en son genre. »

De plus amples informations sur Shaun White Skateboarding sont disponibles sur le site Internet : www.shaunwhitegame.com

A propos d’Ubisoft®:

Ubisoft figure parmi les leaders en production, édition et distribution de jeux interactifs dans le monde. Le groupe a connu une croissance considérable grâce à un catalogue de produits fort et diversifié ainsi que des partenariats fructueux. Les équipes d’Ubisoft sont réparties dans 28 pays et distribuent des jeux dans plus de 55 pays à travers le monde. Le groupe s’engage à fournir au public des jeux vidéo innovants et d’excellente qualité. Pour l’exercice 2008-09, le CA d’Ubisoft s’est élevé à 1,058 milliards d’euros. Pour plus d’informations, rendez-vous sur: www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2008 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Shaun White is used under license from Shaun White and Shaun White Enterprises, Inc.

Since 2003, Electronic Arts Montreal is the studio responsible for Army of Two, Boogie Superstar, SSX Blur, NHL 2007 as well as several other unannounced franchises. With over 250 developers, passionate about games and daily pushing the boundaries of creativity and technology, it is THE place to be for a career in video games.

EAM is currently looking for Senior Level Designers who will be working under the direction of the Lead Level Designer for an exciting new AAA 3rd Person Action IP!

Duties/Responsibilities:
- Create models of 3D environments .
- Closely follow Art and Design concepts.
- Help define technical limitations and constraints for level construction.
- Test and troubleshoot areas that are not working in the game engine and proactively fix them.
- Participate in critiquing your work and the work of others.
- Communicate and work with the Designers and Programmers to make all levels playable and enjoyable.
- Be enthusiastic and ready to take on challenges.
- Maintain pacing in situations of intense schedules.
- Performs other duties as required.

Requirements:
- 5+ years experience in 3D Level Design.
- Understand the aesthetics of environment, function vs. form relationships, as well as what makes a game level fun and intriguing.
- Technically skilled, and proficient in MAX or MAYA, game level editors, rapid prototyping tools such as Sketchup and scripting languages (e.g. LUA).
- Must work well in a team spanning artists, programmers, and designers.
- Creative, able to tell a story through level design.
- Must have shipped at least one AAA title as a Level Designer in the action adventure or shooter genres.
- Avid consumer of action adventure or shooter games.
- Self motivated, able to work without close supervision.

Send your cover letter and resume to gldion@ea.com.

Please note that we will contact only with shortlisted candidates chosen for an interview.
Thanks for your interest.

(Post expires on Saturday April 3rd, 2010)

As part of a three-way deal with THQ Wireless and Team17 Software, EA Mobile has confirmed that it has picked up the Worms license, giving the publisher rights to all past and future releases in the series on mobile.

The move has long been common knowledge, talk that EA was interested in a deal having emerged back in April last year.

Team17 previously had a similar agreement with THQ Wireless, but the publisher has reportedly handed control over to EA as part of a wider restructuring that will see it focusing on ‘high-end’ portable devices.

EA Mobile has already released its first title following the link-up. Worms 2010 launched earlier this month, but the company will now also publish and promote previous releases in the series, such as Worms 2008, Worms 2007, Worms Forts 3D, Worms Crazy Golf and Worms 2.

"At EA Mobile we are great fans of the Worms series and are pleased to be able to expand the hugely successful franchise with new exciting content as seen in the all new Worms, and make it available to a larger fan base around the world through more channels and in more countries than ever before," says EA Mobile’s VP of publishing, Luca Pagano.

The deal only grants EA access to standard mobile releases, Team17 holding on to Worms games on iPhone and iPod touch – as was the case with THQ. However, the developer believes EA’s brand power and reach could push the series forward overall. […]

Lieu de rencontre par excellence pour les employeurs et les chercheurs d’emploi, le Salon Emploi Formation tiendra sa prochaine édition les 3 et 4 mars au Palais des congrès de Montréal. Les organisateurs de l’événement entendent de nouveau aider les uns à trouver des candidats intéressants (voire la perle rare!) et les autres à dénicher le poste sur mesure.

Cette édition réunira près de 150 entreprises. « Nombreuses d’entre elles sont fidèles au rendez-vous depuis plusieurs années, souligne Maud Allard, présidente d’Expoz/Salon Emploi Formation.  Elles reconnaissent l’efficacité de l’événement dans leur stratégie de recrutement. Mais chaque édition présente aussi de nouveaux exposants. »

Campagne de charme

Parmi les nouveautés, Mme Allard signale la présence de la Chambre de commerce de Québec dans la section Boulot d’ailleurs : « La grande région de Québec a été très peu touchée par la récession; cela se voit à son bas taux de chômage. Ainsi, en partenariat avec Emploi-Québec, des entreprises seront sur place pour promouvoir des emplois offerts dans la Capitale-Nationale. » […]

Plus de details sur Workopolis…

IGDA Montreal: February 24th: Jonathan Knight discussing adaption of Dante’s Inferno

"Burn Babe, Burn: Adapting Dante’s Inferno"

Is Dante Alighieri laughing, or rolling, in his grave?  Can the world’s most exciting and dynamic entertainment medium tackle the challenge of making games out of dusty old literature?  Take a visual and literary tour through the creative process and challenges of EA’s controversial adaptation of part one of The Divine Comedy.

When: Wednesday, February 24th @ 7:00pm
What: IGDA-Montreal Presentation Night
Where: The SAT, 1195 St.Laurent
Why: Jonathan Knight discussing adaption of Dante’s Inferno
Who: All game developers, and those related to the game industry
Entry: free for IGDA members; $5 for non-members

MTL Girl Geek Dinner: Interactive Storytelling via Videogames with Marie-Jo Leroux

I’m thrilled 1-up to announce that our February event will feature a talk on Interactive Storytelling via Videogames with Marie-Jo Leroux.

Details on this talk:
As an increasingly diverse audience discovers gaming, and as this audience matures, developers face the challenge of providing increasingly diverse content and deeper emotions to players.
Videogames now include most of the elements found in film – soundtrack, script, cinematography, etc. They thus offer a unique opportunity to deliver complex, engaging stories in addition to gripping interactive experiences.
The presentation will expose the various challenges posed by the medium of videogames in telling compelling stories and eliciting emotion, and the creative ways in which developers are currently rising to this exciting occasion.

À demain peut être!