Systems Designers work closely with all disciplines (especially the art and engineering teams) to design, implement, and balance game mechanics to a high degree of polish. We are interested in all levels of experience, from junior to senior designers.
Responsibilities:
Conceptualize and drive designs from paper to final system architecture
Level scripting and setup using script-based languages like UE4 Blueprint
Collaborate with Gameplay Engineers on developing global gameplay mechanics
Work within the design team to support global and level-specific systems needs
Author system documentation for circulation within the studio and with development partners
Employ rapid prototypes, implement and present regular onscreen deliverables of all systems
Evaluate features needed to improve and streamline implementation of gameplay systems
Gather and act on game balance feedback with the aim of creating the best experience for all players
Experience/Skills:
2+ years of industry experience working in games a plus
Hardcore gamer and daily gaming enthusiast
Combat and character mechanics: knowledge of game animation and game feel a big plus!
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and/or other demonstrable skill at organizing large datasets
Working knowledge of C++ a Big Plus!
Identifies system design issues and creates solutions
Working knowledge of Unreal & Unity a big plus!
Intermediate knowledge of Maya or other major 3D modeling program
Ability to multi-task and adapt easily to change
Ability to shift focus as needed
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to interact effectively
Whether you’re just starting out, looking for something new, or just seeing what’s out there, the Gamasutra Job Board is the place where game developers move ahead in their careers.
Gamasutra’s Job Board is the most diverse, most active, and most established board of its kind in the video game industry, serving companies of all sizes, from indie to triple-A.
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker - Check Out Critics' First Reactions
The latest Star Wars movie--and the final entry in the Skywalker saga--is finally here. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 20, although the first public showings in the US come on the night of Thursday December 19. Episode 9 sees Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, and Oscar Isaac reprising the roles that they previously played in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. The movie has screened for critics, and while full reviews aren't here yet, we do have the first reactions on Twitter.
Other opinions are more positive. There is considerable praise for director JJ Abrams, who also directed The Force Awakens. Slashfilm's Peter Sciretta stated that Abrams brings "a cohesive arc to this trilogy that feels like a fitting end to the saga as a whole," while Filmspeak's Griffin Schiller said that "JJ's energy is all over this thing."
#StarWarsRiseofSkywalker reaction: JJ Abrams nailed it. He was able to bring a cohesive arc to this trilogy that feels like a fitting end to the saga as a whole. I’m so emotionally drained. Star Wars fans will be very happy.
Man does #TheRiseOfSkwalker MOVE. This film hits the ground running & doesn’t let up. JJ’s energy is all over this thing. A Last Crusade style adventure. The bromance between Poe & Finn steals the film. Felt a bit more concerned w/plot than character, tad rushed, good not great. pic.twitter.com/S4tbDhXG35
One thing that the critics are all united on is the huge scale of the movie. Fandango's Erik Davis described it as "a terrific finale that is just stuffed with so much of everything," and The Wrap's Yolanda Machado said it is "everything and nothing that you're expecting," while Variety's stated that "there's so much movie in this movie."
Epic. All of it. #TheRiseofSkywalker is a terrific finale that is just stuffed with so much of everything. Action, adventure — answers!! — humor, heart, love, and grit. I spent the entire second half with tears in my eyes - a wonderful way to end the Skywalker story pic.twitter.com/K2NhHSGWzM
So, I'm not too surprised and at times I felt too much fan service was given, but #TheRiseofSkywalker is everything and nothing that you're expecting. So I guess what my immediate reaction is: God I love this franchise and I'll miss the Skywalker saga.
I’m gonna need a minute to digest #StarWarsTheRiseofSkywalker. There’s so much movie in this movie. But its best moments are the quietest and most human. Giving this more of a think, though.
Some critics addressed the issue of how The Rise of Skywalker compared to Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi, which very much divided audiences with some of its story choices. The consensus seems to be that those who didn't like that previous movie will find more to enjoy. ABC's Clayton Sandell said that the film "gives a whole new appreciation for The Last Jedi," while the New York Times's Kyle Buchanan joked that the movie "could only have been ruder to Rian Johnson if they had motion-smoothed it."
Wow. Wow. Wow. #TheRiseOfSkywalker delivers. So much happens in this film it’s hard to get my head around. But it gets this epic ending right. So right. JJ Abrams and team nails it. And gives a whole new appreciation for The Last Jedi in the process. Please avoid sppolers!
However, not everyone was filled with praise for the movie. Some critics criticised the amount of fan-service and admitted that not everything works. Critic Scott Menzel described it as a "collective hodgepodge of all Star Wars films combined," and Uproxx's Mike Ryan stated that "the first half gets so bogged down with exposition and new plot... it feels like it should have been three movies on its own." In addition, Cinemablend's Eric Eisenberg said there "are a number of choices that just don't track, fan service that doesn't work, and ignored details that are missed."
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the ultimate Star Wars Movie for Star Wars fans who want more of the same. Its 100% fan service & a collective hodgepodge of all Star Wars films combined. It didn’t work for me but fans of Force Awakens are going to love it. #RiseofSkywalkerpic.twitter.com/RkVEb0a07X
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER is certainly the most convoluted Star Wars. There is a lot I liked, but the first half gets so bogged down with exposition and new plot and doodads and beacons and transmitters, it feels like it should have been three movies on its own.
There is good in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. But there is more that is disappointing. There are a number of choices that just don't track, fan service that doesn't work, and ignored details that are missed. I'm bummed. #StarWarsRiseofSkywalkerpic.twitter.com/Ztk0VzGc6H
Autodesk have just released their annual update to Maya, Maya 2020. Detailed release notes are currently unavailable so all we have to go off right now is the press release features:
Maya 2020 highlights include:
— Over 60 animation features and updates to the graph editor and time slider.
— Cached Playback: Experience faster animation playback and more predictable results with new preview modes, layered dynamics caching, and more efficient caching of image planes.
— Animation bookmarks: Mark, organize, and navigate through specific events in time and frame playback ranges.
— Arnold GPU: Access Arnold 6 for production rendering on the CPU and GPU.
— Bifrost for Maya: Significant performance improvements, Cached Playback support, and new MPM cloth constraints bring even more power to the visual programming environment.
— Viewport improvements: Interact with and select dense geometry or a large number of smaller meshes faster in the viewport and UV editors.
— Modeling enhancements: Spend more time modeling and less time cleaning up your models, with new Remesh and Retopologize features.
— Rigging improvements: Simplify rig and character TD workwith matrix-driven workflows, nodes for precisely tracking positions on deforming geometry, and a new GPU-accelerated wrap deformer.
While not currently updated, you will eventually be able to download a 30 day trial of Maya 2020 here. Additionally Autodesk have released a short 4min feature video for Maya 2020 available here. You can learn more about this release in the video below.
Never Again Kicks Off Switch’s New Year With Some Spooky First-Person Horror
Launching on Nintendo Switch early next year is Never Again, a first-person horror that first appeared on Steam back in May.
The game combines its spooky horror with puzzle-solving and exploration; you’ll be uncovering the story of a little girl suffering from asthma, which isn’t helped by the fact that things appear to go terribly wrong in a suffocating nightmare. The Switch’s eShop listing for the game tells us more:
The main character – Sasha Anders, a thirteen year old girl who awakens from a nightmare. The world seems to be upside down for her. Everything becomes so strange. The house is imbued with loneliness and longing and it seems strange to our character considering it was always dominated by love and harmony. Everywhere except for the heroine’s room, suspiciously darkens, without even a single sound. Her parents and younger brother have gone missing. The girl is smart and sensible beyond her years, but each person has their own fears, and sometimes they cannot cope. This is especially troubling Sasha, due to the slightest fear, she feels suffocated.
The listing ends with, “The saddest part of this mystical tale, is that it is not a tale at all”. Chilling.
It’ll arrive on Switch on 30th January for $13.99 if you’re interested. At the time of writing, user reviews on Steam are ‘very positive’.
What do you think? Share your thoughts with us below.
Birdo Joins Mario Kart Tour’s Holiday Event As A Playable Character
Yet another new tour is on the way to Mario Kart Tour this week, and it looks set to add three new characters for players to pick up.
Serving as the last tour of the year, the ‘Holiday Tour’ is due to kick off from 10pm PT on 17th December (so that’s 6am GMT the following morning). As you can see in the promotional image posted above, we can expect to see Yoshi (Reindeer) and Pauline (New Year’s) taking to the track, and you might just be able to make out Birdo on the left-hand side. Nothing gets past us.
Over the next few days, we will reveal what we believe are the 10 best games of 2019, organized by release date. Then, on December 17, we will reveal which of the nominees gets to take home the coveted title of GameSpot's Best Game of 2019. So be sure to come back then for the big announcement, and in the meantime, follow along with all of our other end-of-the-year coverage collected in our Best Games of 2019 hub.
Parvati. Ellie. Nyoka. Vicar Max. Some of the most memorable moments I had with video games this year were simply spending time with the incredible, fleshed-out companions in The Outer Worlds. Getting to know them, helping them through their highs and lows, and testing their patience. The Outer Worlds is full of great moments with these folks, but they're only some of the highlights in the game's landscape of wonderfully written characters and rich setting.
The Outer Worlds doesn't challenge conventions as much as some of our other nominees this year, but that doesn't stop it from being one of 2019's most exceptionally-made games in its own right. The form is recognisable, but the execution is masterful. The game feels focussed--not a single line of dialogue is wasted, despite there being a lot of it; the world feels large and full of things to discover, despite being relatively modest; the combat mechanics are clever, impactful, and allow for creativity, despite seeming straightforward. Your journey through The Outer Worlds will be full of highlights and surprises.
But the quality of the writing and quest design is The Outer Worlds' crown on its head. This is a game by Obsidian Entertainment, this is what they do best, and their strengths are definitely on show here. The Outer Worlds is not an open-world game, but the web of possibilities feels complex, and the sense of freedom you have in how you approach your situations is liberating.
The form is recognisable, but the execution is masterful.
It's a high-profile role-playing game wonderfully free of silos and full of greys--the distinctions between good and evil, right and wrong, and what kind of person you are aren't strictly defined. This is your own adventure, and The Outer Worlds allows you to approach it in so many different ways. Bring a knife to a gunfight, smooth-talk your way into finding an amicable solution, hack a robot boss character and shut it down, sneak around and steal from the wealthy, kill everyone, be a dumb-dumb, or punch the quest-giver with the dumb bowler hat multiple times, just because you can.
While the web of opportunities will eventually siphon off to just a few possible outcomes, there's no denying how rich the journey there is. There are plenty of familiarities, but they're of the high-end, top-shelf variety. The Outer Worlds is an intricately-crafted game that's a joy to play, and the new gold standard for blockbuster RPGs.
Unreal Engine 4.24 was just released by Epic Games, although the biggest new feature is actually outside of the engine. Last month Epic Games announced they acquired Quixel and in this release you can now use your Epic credentials to download over 11K high quality textures completely free, as long as you use them in Unreal Engine. You can either access the textures in Unreal Marketplace as packs, or using Quixel Bridge. Another major feature of this release is that Unreal Studio has been folded into Unreal Engine, with that functionality, including Datasmith, available for free.
There’s a host of new features and improvements across the board, with something for everyone. You can now create even more convincing interior and exterior scenes for games and visualization with new tools for nondestructively creating and editing open-world landscapes that adapt to other scene elements; gorgeous atmospheric skies; and Screen Space Global Illumination that scales across console and desktop platforms.
For those looking to create more believable characters, creatures, and virtual beings, we’re proud to offer a first look at our new strand-based hair and fur system that enables you to simulate and render hundreds of thousands of photoreal hairs at up to real time speeds. Formerly part of Unreal Studio, Datasmith—the toolkit for converting entire scenes at high fidelity from 3ds Max, SketchUp Pro, Cinema 4D, and a host of CAD and BIM formats—is now available for free as part of 4.24 and all future versions of Unreal Engine going forward. Add to that new Visual Dataprep for streamlined, easy-to-use, automated data preparation, and getting data from any source real-time ready is faster and easier.
That’s not to mention the first-class USD support that enables modelers and layout artists to work in parallel; enhancements to multi-display rendering that make it much easier to use out of the box, even on existing projects; and a new task-based wizard to give you a better starting point when creating new projects.
You can learn a great deal more about this release in the complete release notes or keep watching the video below.
Black Desert Mobile is an iOS and Android adaptation of the popular MMORPG Black Desert Online. The game will task players with uncovering the hidden secrets of the Ancients by following the Black Spirit. Some questions about controller support, family names, and best classes have arisen among players, so we are here to offer some advice and practical tips to help you get started.
Black Desert Mobile Guide
Does Black Desert Mobile Offer Controller Support?
The answer here is both yes and no. Yes, Black Desert Mobile does offer bluetooth controller support, but it’s functionality is limited at best. This means that you can pair a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One bluetooth controller to your iPhone or Android device, but you’ll only get limited functionality out of it.
What does that mean exactly? You’ll be able to use the controller to do things like move the camera, your character, and utilize basic attack moves. However, as far as using the controller to select buttons on the screen and navigate through the menu goes, you’ll have to use your fingers.
Some players have suggested that they were able to avoid this by using a controller with mapping features, but the majority of folks likely won’t have that on hand. It’s unclear if Pearl Abyss plans to build out the Black Desert Mobile controller support any further, or leave it as is.
What is a Family Name in Black Desert Online?
If you’re a Black Desert veteran, you’ll likely be familiar with Family Names, but if you’re new to the game or have been away for a while, a short explanation will go a long way. In Black Desert Mobile, your family name is essentially your surname, a name that is unique to you and all of your characters in the server.
You can change your family name by purchasing a name change coupon in the store, but it won’t be free. It’ll cost you 400 Pearls, which comes out to $10/£7. Once you’ve purchased the coupon, you’ll be able to change your family name. This Black Desert Mobile tip should help you as you start.
Black Desert Mobile – Family Name vs. Character Name
As the name implies, your character name is simply your first name, while your family name is your last name. So if your character was named, John Doe (I know, creative, huh?) then your character name would be John and your family name would be Doe. Every new character will adapt a new character name but will keep the same family name. Hopefully this Black Desert Mobile tip will go a long ways towards explaining the difference.
Black Desert Mobile Class – Which Should You Pick?
Perhaps the biggest question players are asking is which Black Desert Mobile class should you pick? While there is no right answer, the class you choose will affect your character’s appearance and fighting style.
There are currently five Black Desert Mobile classes available in the game, with more coming in the future. Below is a list of all five classes:
Giant
Ranger
Valkyrie
Warrior
Witch
While there is no right answer on which class is the best to choose, each class will likely be better for different players based on their playstyle.
The Giant class is best for those who love to melee and cause chaos. With a high DPS (damage per second), you’ll be able to deal loads of damage to enemies rather quickly. On the other hand, the Ranger class offers a mix of melee and ranged fighting. While it still offers a high DPS, you’ll also be able to deal a fair amount of damage from distance as well.
The Valkyrie class in Black Desert Mobile is best for those who want to play a support role. As a Valkyrie, you’ll be able to cast recovery spells and defensive aid to keep your team alive.
The Warrior is perhaps one of the best all-round Black Desert Mobile classes. With a nice balance, players will be able to try their hand at playing an attacking role as well as a defensive role. The Witch is similar to the Ranger in that it can deal lots of damage to enemies really quick, however, you’ll need to be careful because this class can’t take a whole lot of damage.
Black Desert Mobile Auto Attack/Combat
Black Desert Mobile offers players the opportunity to use an auto attack/combat feature which will make fighting a whole lot easier. However, it isn’t available right away, so figuring out how to unlock and use auto attack/combat can be a little bit confusing.
To unlock auto attack/combat, you’ll need to finish the Ancient Stone Chamber story quest, which will come around level 13. Once you’ve completed that mission, you’ll be able to use the auto attack feature.
Once you’ve unlocked it, you should see a button on your screen when you’re in combat that will allow you to enable the auto attack feature. Simply press the button every time you’re in a fight and would like to use it and you’ll instantly attack all the nearby enemies.
Is Black Desert Mobile Pay to Win?
As with any mobile game, a lot of questions are being asked about Black Desert Mobile microtransactions and if it is a pay to win style game. The game offers a premium currency called Black Pearls, which players can use in the shop to buy more item storage, pets, cosmetics, and more.
Players can also earn Black Pearls by playing through the game as rewards, but as you might expect, it’ll take longer. While players who buy Black Pearls may have a slight advantage, overall, Black Desert Online is not a pay to win game and the microtransactions are handled well in our opinion.
What is the Black Desert Mobile Max Level?
Players will be able to ‘Awaken’ their character at level 65, which will essentially change their playstyle. Once your character class has been awoken, you’ll get new abilities, weapons, and more.
Each of the Black Desert Mobile classes offer different types of awakenings. You can see each class’s awakening below:
Giant – Destroyer
Ranger – Windwalker
Valkyrie – Lancer
Warrior – Berkserker
Witch – Archmage
Hopefully this list of Black Desert Mobile tips and advice will help your first few hours go by smoothly. If you have any questions, drop a comment below and we will do our best to get back to you.
Andrew Smith is a freelance contributor at Pocket Tactics. You can find more of his work on his site, Guide Fall.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 12-17-2019, 07:41 AM - Forum: Windows
- No Replies
Windows search bar: The one stop for answers, now with Bing Visual Search
Every day, we have questions. Search engines, apps, digital voice assistants, or phones are usually our go-to places to find answers.
You may already know that you can use the search bar in Windows – found on your PC taskbar – to find things like an app, setting, or a file you’ve been working on.
But did you know it can also find answers to questions like…
What’s the weather like in Paris? What’s the score of the Leicester City match? How do you unzip a file?
Windows brings all these searches together in one place. It’s easy to find and easy to use.
You don’t have to scroll through a long list of results, you don’t have to open a browser, and you don’t have to leave whatever application you’re in. With a couple of keystrokes, you can find your answers.
“The goal was to enable search in Windows to bring the web to where you are,” says Alexander Campbell, a senior program manager working on search. “People spend a lot of time on the web and in browsers. We saw an opportunity to help people save time in Windows by bringing convenient, fast web results directly to the search bar in Windows. Stay on task and in your flow, just by hitting the Windows key or clicking on the search box.”
It’s also a convenient place to start a search that leads to a website. From the search bar in Windows, you can quickly type and navigate to a URL, without having to open a browser first.
“We have a search experience that gives you quick answers, web results and helps you start your web task. It’s amazing what you can do with it,” he adds.
Every day it gets more useful: a full web search experience powered by the intelligence of Bing. You can search for quick calculations, music videos, movie trailers, sports scores, stock prices, movie times, weather forecasts and much more. Results turn up right in the taskbar. If you want to see more, you can open the results in your browser.
“The search bar in Windows gives you the quick info you need with none of the distraction,” Campbell says. “In the middle of an essay? It’s easy to jump in, check a fact and then get back to your work.”
The Windows and Bing teams worked together to bring a true web search experience into Windows, just like what you’d expect in a browser, into the search bar. And the teams continue to improve the search capability thanks to your feedback and Bing innovation.
The search bar is also the best place to go when you need to get things done on your Windows 10 device. Let’s say you need to download an app, Search can find it for you fast. For example, type “download microsoft to-do” or “download solitaire” and get an install link in the results preview. It’s also an easy way to get Tech Help answers to common questions, like “how do I connect a printer” or “how do I unzip files.”
And now, in addition to entering a text search, you can search with an image by taking a screenshot. This feature is rolling out to users in the U.S. first with international markets to follow shortly after. (You need the Windows 10 May 2019 Update or newer to see this.)
Simply click the Bing Visual Search button in the bottom right corner and snip any part of your screen to search the web using the image.
“Visual search is a new way of searching,” says Ravi Yada, product lead for Bing Visual Search. “There are a lot of things you can’t describe in words to get good enough results. By using an image as input for search, Bing can help you search what you see.”
Bing added camera-based searches in 2017, and made visual search features available in the Windows Photos App, Microsoft Edge, the Bing App and on Android phones through Microsoft Launcher. With the latest releases of Windows, you can use Windows Search to snip any part of your screen and search.
“We found people also wanted to search with screenshots, so we brought searching with screen snips to the Windows search bar,” says Nektarios Ioannides, Bing Image Search lead.
For instance, if you’re planning your wardrobe for winter and you want inspiration from what your favorite celebs are wearing? You’ll find similar results. Or you might be shopping for furniture and see a sofa you like. Snip it and use it to comparison shop with Visual Search results [1].
Aside from finding similar products, Visual Search can recognize landmarks, flowers, celebrities, animals. It also recognizes text in images, so you can copy or search it [2].
“Search is evolving. We’re still expanding the breadth of capabilities,” Ioannides says. “It’s cool to see the growth and excitement it generates, especially as we move into a world where using our eyes to search becomes more common.”
For developers, there’s an API to incorporate Visual Search within products and apps they create.
“Search in Windows is now more intelligent than ever at getting you where you want to go, saving steps and time,” Campbell says. “We can’t wait to see how you use it.”
Let us know your feedback and what you want to see next by clicking the “Feedback” button in the top right corner of the search experience.
Eager to try this yourself? If you’re reading this on a device running Windows 10 May 2019 Update or newer, click on the following examples:
[1] Shopping results are only available to users in the United States and United Kingdom.
Guide: Last Minute Handmade Nintendo Christmas Gifts, To Show You Really Care
Left your seasonal shopping until the last minute this year? Worry not because you’ve still got time and there are plenty of Nintendo-related gifts for your loved ones this year that are only a click away. From Nintendo-branded ugly Christmas sweaters to all the games and accessories they can handle, what if you want to show you really care this Christmas?
Well, why not get them a bespoke, handcrafted Nintendo gift? There are plenty of official options of course, but there are some incredible offerings available from individual sellers that give a very personal touch to some quality gaming gifts. What better gift could there be than something handmade that the recipient is unlikely to find on the High Street? They don’t need to know it was last minute.
Below we’ve collected some of the best handmade and specialised Nintendo-related items we’ve found on our internet travels. From retro neon lamps to Xmas tree decorations, handmade maps to mugs for your Christmas coffee or ‘nog – if you’re stuck for gift ideas, check out these assorted goodies and put something special under the tree for your Nintendo fans this Christmas.
Please note that some links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale which helps support the site. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
