GRAND NCE in cooperation with Funcom, an international massively multiplayer online game developer and publisher, invites post-secondary students and recent graduates to apply to the 2012 GRAND/Funcom Games Initiative, a hands-on, 10-week industry-focused project in Montreal. Students will produce a working prototype of a game concept and design.
A team of up to ten incredibly talented students will be tasked with applying their technical skills and creativity to an original Funcom concept and producing a high-quality prototype inspired by the original design.
The 10-week project will present an interesting challenge that will test students’ organization, co-operation, prioritization and technical skills. Working on-site at Funcom's Montreal studio, and assisted and mentored by senior designers from Funcom, the team will learn the processes, team dynamics, and workflows that go into adapting a creative concept to a working prototype in a professional setting.
A non-commercial project, the 2012 GRAND/Funcom Games Initiative is an educational experience. This is an unpaid postion where students will work with professional game developers. It’s a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in game development first hand and add industry-experience to your resume.
Who's eligible?
This program is open to students (diploma, undergraduate, master’s or PhD) registered at or recently graduated* from a Canadian university, college or other post-secondary institution. Students affiliated with the GRAND network are especially encouraged to apply but this is not a requirement. *Completed degree requirements after September 2011.
Team Size + Composition: We are assembling a dynamic 8-10 person team. An accommodation allowance will be available for those students who do not reside in the Greater Montreal area. The ideal team composition is as follows:
1 – Project Lead or Planner **
1 – Designer **
3 – Programmers (experience with C++, Visual Studio, Lua, Python and Java is beneficial)
1 – Traditional 2D Artist / Concept
2 – 3D Artists
1 – UI Designer and/or Artist ***
1 – Animator
** The Project Lead / Planner and Designer roles could technically be someone with another skill-set or discipline but for whom game-play design is their focus on this project.
*** There may be cross over between the UI Designer and Artist positions. A single person on the team who specializes in both is preferred.
Skillset: As part of the application process,
applicants must list their technical proficiencies. For example, coders should
list the languages and platforms that they have experience with and artists their
tools. It is important for 3D artists to have a working knowledge of 3DS
Max, the software that will be used for this project.
Duration: The project will run for 10 weeks from Monday, June 11 to Friday, August 17, 2012. On selected Fridays, the project team will participate in GRAND activities and field trips.
Application Process: Interested and eligible students are invited to complete a 2012 GRAND/FunCom Games Initiative application form. Please email brie_chauncey@grand-nce.ca for a copy of the application. The application form is a fillable PDF form. It requests contact details and a one-page statement of interest (300 words). In addition, applicants are asked to submit a resume (in PDF format) that includes special skills, training, certificates and/or experience as well as a copy of post-secondary transcripts (also in PDF format).
Completed applications and supporting materials should be emailed to Brie Chauncey brie_chauncey@grand-nce.ca with the subject heading, “2012 GRAND/Funcom Games Initiative”.
Deadline: The application deadline is April 20, 2012. Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered only on a space available basis.
Selection Process: A selection committee comprised of representatives from GRAND and Funcom will review the applications. Successful applicants will be notified the week of April 30.
NDA / IP: Accepted students will be required to sign a standard NDA (non-disclosure agreement) to cover use of technology and Funcom propriety platforms. However, an exception will be made in the NDA to allow for academic publications or papers the students may complete as part of the process, subject only to Funcom’s final review of the text.
The ownership of any artifacts or assets will remain with Funcom under its rights as the IP holder for the work. The project is intended to be non-commercial in nature. However, the IP itself may be used by Funcom for future commercial products. Funcom reserves the right to a public, non-profit release of the product.
Timeline:
April 2-20 Call for participation. Apply by filling out a PDF form received by emailing brie_chauncey@grand-nce.ca
April 21-26 Selection committee reviews applications
April 27 Selected applicants notified
June 11 Start date at Funcom (Montreal studio)
