Come to SUMO and help us to improve the game!

[S0L]

Right then, so we're going to be trying something a little different for this game - and we need some help

We're looking for some people to come in and help us tune the game, give us feedback and try and make it as good as we can. This is voluntary mind, though we'll cover reasonable travel expenses and of course make sure you're fed and watered. Official info looks like this...

We have an opportunity for people interested in voluntary work experience at Sumo Digital.

During July & August 2012, we will be running an open game balancing team at the studio.

This involves people joining us for up to 3 weeks at a time, sitting and playing the game through like a normal user would, and we gather data as you go, retune areas, provide a new build, play through again, play multiplayer, play different game modes etc. There would be the opportunity to provide feedback and help to shape the game experience. You would also meet with people from various disciplines, learn how a game is made from the inside and generally expand your knowledge hugely.

The majority of the time would be spent on the balancing team, but we’d try and mix it up, and you’d definitely learn a lot about how things are done here on a day-to-day basis and have the opportunity to ask lots of questions!

We believe this is a great opportunity for people interested in joining the games industry to see how things are done on the inside, to help shape and improve a game, and to build their skillset to improve their chances of future employment within the games industry.

The opportunity is only available to people who live within the North of England and can travel to Sheffield each day, or have accommodation available in the area. We will be able to reimburse travel expenses that we consider reasonable, i.e. that private jet each day from Sweden is probably pushing it bit too far.

We will run an initial trial period of one week where we assess your suitability, and where you get to decide whether you’re enjoying it!

At the end of that week, assuming everything is going well, we will confirm extension for next two weeks.

For any interested applicants:

1. Are you available around these times?

• Slot 1: 2^nd July > 20^th July
  
• Slot 2: 23^rd July > 10^th August
  

2. The times required each day are 11am > 6pm, with an hour for lunch between 1 & 2pm.

If you have any questions, or are only available for part of the periods mentioned, or would like to be considered for future balancing team opportunities please feel free to contact us.

Applications should be sent to balancing@sumo-digital.com

Hopefully I'm not breaching any forum rules here, but I figured I might see some takers on here...!

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S0L

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[Jeffhog]

On your part, I doubt this would be considered a breach of rules!

HEY GUYS! OPPORTUNITY OF THE CENTURY (year) HERE!

[#EndyGate]

I'm half tempted to move to England now

[Lady Soniko]

i'm interested but there are a few complications

1. i work saturdays and sundays

2. i live in County Durham, i've looked at the map it doesn't seem that far away

3. what about during SoS weekend? i don't want to miss that!

i could do it, but i'd have to figure out travel

[Autosaver]

I was so excited until I saw England and then I cried deeply inside.

Curse you users that live in the UK. :L

[---]

*Extra Mega hype*

*reads part about having to be in the North of England*

*Walks away sadly*

[Blue Blood]

Wowzer. I'd love to take part in this. I'm not in Sheffield mind, or up north even (East Anglia) but I could make the arrangements. Are you looking for people with any prior experience in the industry or not?

[Balding Spider]

North England huh? Guess I'm SOL.

[S0L]

Just to cover a few of those initial questions...

We're not expecting anyone to work weekends (though we probably will be!). So if you're already booked in for SoS, you're free to spend the day down there with me. Hell I might even go for a pint after the show...!

Sheffield to County Durham might be a bit of a commute - but if you're still up for it, drop a mail to the address

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S0L

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[Sega DogTagz]

Guh, UK specific. Oh well.

That rules those of us in the States out. Sounds like a good opportunity though. I hope a few of you guys on here take this by the horns and get something good out of it.

[Marcello]

Damn, I wish I lived in England xO

[S0L]

Wowzer. I'd love to take part in this. I'm not in Sheffield mind, or up north even (East Anglia) but I could make the arrangements. Are you looking for people with any prior experience in the industry or not?

Experience is nice, but not required. What we're looking for is a good mix of ages and abilities, we need bad players and good. You know which category you fall into

The North of England comment is purely as whilst we have some budget put aside for this, we can't afford to ship people up and down the country travel or put them in hotels purely on the expense side of things. We'll not stop anyone who wants to pay their own way for taking part, but we stress this is voluntary. We are also talking to local universities with games courses, but I figured opening this up to a wider audience wouldn't hurt!

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S0L

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[Lady Soniko]

Just to cover a few of those initial questions...

We're not expecting anyone to work weekends (though we probably will be!). So if you're already booked in for SoS, you're free to spend the day down there with me. Hell I might even go for a pint after the show...!

Sheffield to County Durham might be a bit of a commute - but if you're still up for it, drop a mail to the address

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S0L

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i very much am commuted but like i said i'd have to single out the weekends due to me working, but i could be back down for Monday again

i'm sure i can work something out, wouldn't want to miss an opportunity like this!

[Sean]

Hopefully I'm not breaching any forum rules here ...

Nah.

It's stuff like this that makes me look more forward to ASRT than any other Sonic game within the last five years.

[S0L]

Guh, UK specific. Oh well.

That rules those of us in the States out. Sounds like a good opportunity though. I hope a few of you guys on here take this by the horns and get something good out of it.

Oddly enough SEGA are running a similar thing in the States this weekend, though they won't get to come and watch the game actually take shape

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S0L

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[Badnik Mechanic]

I WANNA GO!

OMG! I would so love to go down and help you guys out! I'm even in a reasonable travel location to get to and from there, in fact the train I get on to work is indeed the Sheffield train! Sigh... I just don't know if I could get the time off work since I only just started and already need the day before SOS off...

I so wanna do this because it's something I've always wanted to do but just never had the foggiest idea as to how to do it and now it's for a game/company that I really like too!

We're not expecting anyone to work weekends (though we probably will be!). So if you're already booked in for SoS, you're free to spend the day down there with me. Hell I might even go for a pint after the show...!

Please can there actually be some weekend opportunities? =)

[Salamander]

Edit: Nah, I don't think I'm what you're looking for at all.

Edited June 16, 2012 by FFWF

[S0L]

I WANNA GO!

OMG! I would so love to go down and help you guys out! I'm even in a reasonable travel location to get to and from there, in fact the train I get on to work is indeed the Sheffield train! Sigh... I just don't know if I could get the time off work since I only just started and already need the day before SOS off...

I so wanna do this because it's something I've always wanted to do but just never had the foggiest idea as to how to do it and now it's for a game/company that I really like too!

Please can there actually be some weekend opportunities? =)

I'm not promising any weekend opportunities as looking after the folks needs people to be here - and when it comes to the weekends we try only to get folk who in are definitely required. That's why it's in the week when we've got a full crew on hand...!

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S0L

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[Lady Soniko]

well.. i've dropped a mail, its a long shot but boy is it worth it, thanks S0L! if i don't make it down, will be sure to catch up at SoS or after if you're down for it! = D

[Stritix]

I only live a couple of hours away from sheffield, and I'm free up until I start college in September.

I'm definitely going to give this a shot.

[Rabid-Noodles]

I'd love to do this... and I'm in the North.. I don't have any plans for those weeks either, plus I love S&SASR. Hmm.

Only problem would be the cost of commuting for me after a week or two. xD

Edit: I'll drop an email in regardless.

Edited June 15, 2012 by Rabid-Noodles

[#AR]

>Me reading this: 0:00-0:02

>Sees "England": rest of the video.

[pooshoes]

This is relevant to my interests. What sort of information should I include in my application?

[Nix]

Oh hell yeah, sign me up!

>England

Well, fuck.

[S0L]

I only live a couple of hours away from sheffield, and I'm free up until I start college in September.

I'm definitely going to give this a shot.

You absolutely should

This is relevant to my interests. What sort of information should I include in my application?

Pretty easy, which start date interests you, how old you are, where you are coming from. It's nice to know your favourite games, but not essential. What we're looking for is lots of mixes of ages and ability, it helps us hone track design, difficulty, weapons balance etc etc etc!

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S0L

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