RECRUITER HOT SEAT We quiz Codemaster’s Simon Miles on the studio’s recruitment policy and the dos and don’ts to land a job
What does your company offer that makes you stand out from others? The number one attraction is that Codemasters works on world leading triple-A titles, with cutting edge, in- house built technology. Not many companies are building their own tech anymore, whereas building our own is part of company strategy. Our brands are big enough to deserve a lot of hand crafted, dedicated work. In addition, our art department is immensely respected for its visual direction and presentation style. Our audio department has phenomenal attention to detail; just listen to what’s going on in Dirt 3 or F1 2011.
What are the other perks? Both our UK offices offer something for everyone. Our Southam HQ is very near Leamington Spa with all of its amenities including a plethora of bars, clubs and restaurants, but at the same time has plenty of rural space and stunning parks and gardens. Our Birmingham Studio is in the heart of the city itself with all a major city has to offer. Be warned though, the amount of shopping available can be very damaging on the wallet. I’ve got to also mention our onsite
pub. Yep, a fully licensed public house called the Masters Arms with a lakeside outdoor sitting area.
Who is the best interviewee you’ve ever had and what did they do? I couldn’t give one specific example, but the best you usually know as they step through the door. Immediately bright, personable, a wide range of
GET THAT JOB
We ask recruiters how you can score that promotion or move to a new role
THIS MONTH: PLAYFISH, LEAD DEVELOPER “At Playfish, being able to think outside of your ‘game’ is a great skill. This
involves experience of writing common bits of tech that can benefit other teams as well as your own. “In line with that, the ability to code selflessly, and not reinvent the wheel is a must. This means that you should be able to write maintainable code, and have the skills to make useful existing code generic (especially if written by other devs). “Another hugely important skill is the ability to thoroughly
test your code. This involves using test driven development, and automating the process in CI. “Experience of balancing technical improvement alongside business requirements is important. It’s often hard to do during tight iterations, but worth the investment. If you don’t love your code, you’re not going to enjoy working with it. “Finally, being friendly and a great team player goes a
long way.” Campbell Wilson, Game Server Director, Playfish 64 | DECEMBER 2011 / JANUARY 2012
www.lucidgames.co.uk SIX-SECOND STUDIO SPOTLIGHT
Lucid Games was founded February 2011
It is an independent studio based in Liverpool
Formed by senior management team of Bizarre Creations following its closure
Since February the studio has looked to fill 50 posts and is still recruiting new staff
Specialises in interactive content and launch platform development
The studio states its mission is to create games ‘for fun, quality and simplicity’
BIO
Name: Simon Miles Title: Talent acquisition manager
www.codemasters.co.uk
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