Getting a job in the games industry is probably harder than you thought.

Learning to program your Yaroze was a definite step in the right direction. Unfortunately, many companies are not prepared to put the same amount of faith in you as you did in yourself.

Most require industry experience... this involves teamwork, discipline and commitment to the highest standards i.e. more than coding ability alone.

This summer, for the first time ever, a group of Net Yaroze members will come together to formulate and develop an ambitious game design. We expect this to be the most exciting, challenging Yaroze project attempted in the West.

Mini-FAQ

Q: So what does this have to do with me?
If you want to be part of this team, and you meet the requirements below, then we want to hear from you - simple as that!

Q: What experience do I need?
Well, we are really looking for people with a solid grounding in C; experience using 2D functions on the Yaroze is absolutely essential. Ideally, you should have (or be working towards) a good understanding of 3D programming for the PlayStation platform. The ability to write comprehensible, clean, well-commented code is also a necessary requirement. You should have written a small game or substantial demo which demonstrates your ability. Artistic and musical skills will be a big bonus.

Q: Any other requirements?
Most importantly, you must be free to work on the project from mid-July to late August (dates to be finalised). We fully intend that this will be treated by team members as a full-time job - total commitment to the project is expected. The team will be based in Edinburgh, so you will need to arrange your own transport.

Finally, you will need to be a SCEE Yaroze member, resident in the UK.

Q: Why does everybody need to travel to Edinburgh, can't we do this over the Internet?
A major part of our plan is to give people a unique experience akin to working for a professional development team. The idea of getting people together to work over the net is fine in practice, but it wouldn't be enough when you consider the quantity of work we plan on getting done over a limited period of time.

Having everybody under one roof allows us to come up with ideas, solve problems and experiment much more efficiently than we could over a distance. We think getting people together will be a lot more fun, especially when you consider that Edinburgh - a fantastic city in its own right - plays host to a number of international festivals during August.

Q: This sounds like it will need a lot of organisation...
We'll deal with most of the coordination, including arranging accommodation and (if necessary) equipment for the project. A lot of details will depend on the specific situations of the team members.

Q: What role would I play in the team?
What you end up doing on the project will depend mostly on your particular strengths. Everyone will have a say in the game design and choosing which aspects of the programming they are responsible for. We intend to start with a blank slate, and develop the final design as a group.

Obviously, working as a team involves an element of give-and-take but rest assured that we have no intention of trying to tell everyone what to do. It's likely that none of us will have worked on a collaborative effort before, but learning these team skills will be of enormous value in the eyes of industry professionals.

Q: Is this going to cost me money?
It could do. Food, travel, equipment hire and accommodation are all expenses that will need to be met. We are currently investigating sponsorship from a number of sources to cover costs. Even if it does entail spending some money, we hope you'll recognise the long-term value of being part of a project like this.

Q: What will I have to show at the end of it?
You will have worked on a polished and unique game, which you'll be able to show to prospective employers. They will be impressed not only by the quality of the final product, but also by your role as a vital member of a committed development team.

We plan to create a web site which will chronicle the development of the project. Each team member will receive explicit credit for their work, and this will be made public on the WWW. We also expect to receive coverage in local (and possibly even national) print publications, as well as online magazines.

Source code will be made available to all Net Yaroze members at the end of the project, and we hope that the final product will be eligible for the Games Developer UK '99 competition, as well as inclusion on the ECTS Net Yaroze demo disk. It is also highly likely the game will be submitted for the OPSM 'Fame Game' competition.

Q: How can you be sure this is really going to work?
We don't underestimate the challenge of getting this project to work, but we have faith in our own abilities and those of many others in the Net Yaroze community. Sony has brought so many of us into contact with each other, we feel this is the next logical step...

The success of this endeavour will ultimately depend on the enthusiasm and commitment of those involved. Individually, Yaroze members consistently show these qualities: pooling our talents should allow the creation of something really special.

Q: OK, I'm interested!
Great! If you have any questions, or if you think you might want to be part of the team, e-mail [hexheroes@writeme.com] ASAP and we'll get in touch with you soon.