And a programmer, someone experienced in C/C++ and iPhone development (which isn't me).

Will be a good opportunity for someone. And a new Auckland studio will be great for the future industry.

Any particular reason this thread should keep sending me update notifications.  I am 'watching' it but nothings changing and I'm still getting messages.

Ben

@ben I think it sends a new notification if someone makes an edit.

@Josh the C/C++ and iPhone development thing looks right up your alley.

@Earok Just because I've had experience with both, doesn't mean I'm fond of either :)

I didn't even know this site existed until I just googled about Gameloft Auckland! I actually just did an art test for them and I'm waiting to hear back. Has anyone else applied? It'd be awesome to work with local game developers. Because, as yet, all the game stuff I've done has been with people on the other side of the world!

It makes no sense to me that Auckland doesn't have a proper game development studio. FINALLY, someone took the plunge :D

 

*ahem* Grinding Gear Games ;)

Welcome to Playmaker Bode.

Hi Bode - welcome! It's always good to hook up with more local developers. You should come along to one of the Meetups.

 

Now, time for a rant! (Not directed at you, Bode)

*ahem * Binary-Star, Metia Interactive, NinjaKiwi, Grinding Gears all count as reasonable game studios of a similar size and scale to Gameloft's Auckland operations.  Plus, heaps of 1-4 person indie teams. Sure, no AAA titles with huge marketing budgets, but established businesses none-the-less.

I constantly get people saying to me "wow! are there game developers in Auckland? Are there game studios here?" Come on - it's not that hard to do a web search. I've posted about the Game Dev Meetups on most gaming sites in NZ.  I think the problem is that most game developers actually aren't natural networkers. And also that these days its just as easy to network with people internationally as locally (but we have pizza).

Having said that, yes, I have some plans to do another round of promotion for Playmaker and the Game Dev Meetups (if the coverdisk of PC World, TVNZ 7, Coverage of the GameJam on NZGamer, Scoop, GameConsole, TheBigIdea this year wasn't enough).

Don't forget Playmaker itself has a comprehensive list of New Zealand game studios, which can be sorted by location (Even Palmerston North is represented!)

You'll have to forgive my ignorance!

@Earok - Sorry to come across like a douche! I actually remember seeing your site a long time ago (before I had the skills to apply) What are you guys working on at the moment?

@ SKnightly - Thanks for the heads up about game devs in NZ. I guess I'm still finding out who's around. I'd definitely be keen to come along to these meet-ups that you talk about :) When's the next one? Also, I write for GameConsole so I could probably help you out with an article there. Maybe I could even shoot for a feature on it!

Haha, no problem man. Thanks for asking, I don't have a team so the site is more or less just me (Though the Kiwi's Tale was a collaboration with Stephen and others). I'm just releasing a backlog of unfinished games at the moment and trying to get to grips with XNA.

I like the look of Kiwi's Tale :) I used to play something like that on my friends old Amiga 500 - but I can't remember what it was called!

Did anyone else apply for a job at Gameloft? I'm sitting here twiddling my thumbs and checking all the hits on my Google Analytics to see how many times Shinjuku, Tokyo pops up on there ;)

Hey Bode,

 

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I am looking at applying for the concept Artist position, is that the job you went for? What did you do for the art test? And do you know when submissions end? I need to update my portfolio.....

I did the art test for the 3D artist position. The brief was to create a night time dock scene using 3500 tris and 512x512 diffuse textures (iPhone specs).

I uploaded a video to Youtube but the quality makes it look horrid :| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-JWammMF6M

Do you have a portfolio I could have a look at? In terms of cut off dates I'm not sure... but I'd say the sooner the better!

cool glad to see ppl discussing this! Ive also applied, and just did that test too. Finger acrossed! and good luck to ppl who also applied.

 

Which job did you apply for? Hopefully not the same as me! Just had a look at your site and your stuff looks awesome! :)

I assume you applied for the concept artist position..

yeah I applied the concept art position. I heard they are only hiring 4-5 concept artists, and plenty 3D modelers, so you might have more chance getting in there. lol

 

so have u heard of anything since the test?

I haven't heard anything yet - I'm not really sure what's happening. I got the feeling from the email that we'd only hear back if we were accepted :|

Do you know of any other people that have applied? I'd really like to know if anyone has been offered a position there yet!

I applied.  No response at all.

B

What role did you apply for?

Game Designer, 3d Artist, Concept Artist.

Not sure exactly how they'd 'test' for game design.  Guess they just look at your portfolio.

B

Yeah - I applied for the Game Designer one but didn't hear anything back in regards to that. It's been a week since I sent them my art test and I've heard nothing about that either.

I met with Sam from Gameloft yesterday and he seemed pretty impressed with the calibre of people despite there not being too many other large established studios locally.  He spoke favourably about the quality of artists locally, although its fair to say there were fewer game designers and programmers with proven industry experience.  In short: well done to everyone who applied, it sounds like you have a good impression.

Whoa! You met with the guy. That's some solid networking right there!

One thing you should've said is "Give that Hamish guy who applied a job, seriously". I'm sitting here waiting nervously, hoping that I don't have to take some other job :|

So it's been two weeks since I gave my art test over and still no response either way - probably not the best sign. Has anyone else had better luck?

I think it took them about a month to get back to me. So it's not necessarily a bad sign, remember they are setting up a whole new studio. 

I went in for an interview just over a week ago, so now I'm playing the waiting game again before I know if I actually have a job or not lol

Ahh, ok. I'll take that as a bad sign. I didn't get the call for an interview :(

Best of luck dude! How did you find the art test? I'd love to see the standard I needed to reach for an interview if you could show me any screens.

Good luck guys.

And if any of you get a job, you have to get us access to the beta tests. :)

On the negative side - Gameloft is a start up company, not paying that well and needing to prove themselves. These things don't inspire talented people to want to work with/for them. With the games industry falling apart in Australia, and never looking too bright in NZ, gaming isn't that great of an option for a new or even mid level programmer/artist, Especially with schools in nz churning out 100 new diplomas each year with nowhere to go. It's an employers market atm offering peanuts for your soul - hunker down peps, all the best! X

Uh.. Gameloft is not exactly a startup - it's been making games for over a decade and has over 4,000 employees.