140 réponses à ce sujet

[Kaiser Shepard]

So, I was browsing the Bioware job section for a bit and decided to look what they openings they had over at Edmonton... lo and behold, there was one that said Senior Tester - Online Specialist. Amused, but still skeptic, I decided to click forward, where I found this:

BioWare Edmonton is looking for a highly skilled gameplay expert responsible for testing and measuring the player experience (fun) using proven analytical techniques (iterative process consisting of characterizations, hypotheses, predictions, and experimentation). The key activities are design and gameplay analysis, test architecting, and testing (providing both objective and subjective feedback).

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Develop high level testing plans for Online and network features
• Run and oversee regression and support for multiple products
• Work directly with development teams across multiple studios to determine online requirements
• Coordinate and organize test plan creation and execution of test plans
• Supervise and direct testing efforts of a small team of testers (when required)
• Work with multiple gaming platforms used by the project to identify any online functional issues. 
• Use of hardware to isolate and test network and performance issues
• Additional testing support for various back end game systems

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
• Minimum two years experience in Quality Assurance or related discipline
• Experience testing, investigating or configuring networks
• Strong knowledge or understanding of Online communication and related systems
• Quality Assurance related to tools, technical, certification or online gaming.
• Familiarization with defect tracking and test management tools or processes

ADDITIONAL SKILLS, ABILITIES AND KNOWLEDGE
• Strong Time and Task Management Skills
• Strong verbal and in written communication skills
• Good understanding of game development processes
• 

ASSETS
• Knowledge of the Unreal 3 Engine and the Unreal Editor or other toolsets
• Familiarity with Agile development processes
• Avid gamer who regularly engages and in both single player and multiplayer gameplay

Looking at the parts I bolded, it really seems like they need someone for actual online gameplay, not 'just' an online feature like Cerberus Network was. Add to that the fact that knowledge of the Unreal 3 Engine (and Editor) is apparently considered an asset, and simple process of elimination leaves only one BioWare series we know of: Mass Effect.

Of course, it could be related to something else, perhaps even the "Project Zulu" we heard about a while ago, but at this stage ME3 seems more likely to me. Could this be "Secret Feature X" the devs have been teasing?

Thoughts?

Modifié par Kaiser Shepard, 10 septembre 2011 - 10:28 .

[didymos1120]

Well, you'd think if this was for ME3, they'd have hired the necessary staff already by this point in development. It's a bit late in the day to get all the stuff done that the position demands. I'd say it's more likely to be for a potential future title, and possibly even one in the ME setting.

Modifié par didymos1120, 10 septembre 2011 - 09:36 .

[Sir Ulrich Von Lichenstien]

didymos1120 wrote...

Well, you'd think if this was for ME3, they'd have hired the necessary staff already by this point in development. It's a bit late in the day to get all the stuff done that the position demands. I'd say it's more likely to be for a potential future title, and possibly even one in the ME setting.

Agreed, people really need to get it out of their minds that there is going to be Multiplayer for ME3. If there was, they'd have announced it by now, they haven't, end of the line.

[SalsaDMA]

I don't think that ad is indicative of anything. Itt would be a bit late to start hiring staff for a title they theoretically should be about to wrap up...

Unless, ofc, they had an unforeseen vacant spot in their team all of a sudden, but I don't think any news of that kind of thing have escaped the dev-bunkers...

[didymos1120]

SalsaDMA wrote...

Unless, ofc, they had an unforeseen vacant spot in their team all of a sudden, but I don't think any news of that kind of thing have escaped the dev-bunkers...

That ad has been there for at least a couple months, so it wasn't the result of a sudden, recent departure.

[Kaiser Shepard]

Internet Archive shows that it wasn't up there in early July, so it was put up anywhere between then and now.

[didymos1120]

Kaiser Shepard wrote...

Internet Archive shows that it wasn't up there in early July, so it was put up anywhere between then and now.

The Internet Archive only has a couple actual job search results for jobs.ea.com.  Which isn't unusual.  There are lots of gaps in its coverage.

ETA: NVM.  It was being fussy.  Yeah, it does have decent coverage up to July 18th.  Which, actually, is around the time I remember seeing it, as it was during one of the more recent MP hysterias that periodically crop up on the forums.

Modifié par didymos1120, 10 septembre 2011 - 10:55 .

[Omega4RelayResident]

I actually think its for the Warhammer 40K game. Unreal 3 had firearms and melee weapon combat. Besides as of right now Phaedon's main post still says that the Online Multiplayer was just a rummor.

Modifié par Omega4RelayResident, 10 septembre 2011 - 10:54 .

[Warlocomotf]

Sorry but that's a very weak indicator for multiplayer. The only multiplayer related 'requirement' is that it's a plus if you play multiplayer games. Big woop, it's not even a requirement.

Also, since at the very lest the opening is not a few years old, but relatively recent- it's not going to be for ME3, maybe DA3 or maybe a mobile variation of one of the Bioware games- maybe a new game.

Either way the implication that it'd be multiplayer is extremely weak at best, and the connection to ME3 similar due to it being simply too late for something so fundamental.

[Omega4RelayResident]

Just because its recent posting it doesnt mean anything like that at all... someone in that departament could have been fired or something along those lines.

[Captain Crash]

Warlocomotf wrote...

Sorry but that's a very weak indicator for multiplayer.

This.   

oh and this.

didymos1120 wrote...

Well, you'd think if this was for ME3, they'd have hired the necessary staff already by this point in development. It's a bit late in the day to get all the stuff done that the position demands.

People have brought up these job titles before and it seems to me Bioware are planning ahead.  Additionally just because it mentions "online" and fan of "single and multiplayer games" it still is clutching at straws a bit.

[sponge56]

I mean they basicaly said they are looking to do multiplayer IN THE FUTURE and you are suprised that they are therefore offering a job? If this was me3 they would have some one who was working on it already, not hiring someone in the middle of a project

[didymos1120]

It's not even the middle of a project. It's more like at the end of a project. They're in the home stretch at this point, as various posts on twitter recently have made clear.

[Sanunes]

I could see that ad being for Mass Effect 4 if they are going to be making one for its just too late in the development cycle, for if I remember my rumors correctly they only have two or three months before they start giving the game to Sony and Microsoft for their testing and it would take much longer to try and add something like that to a game (my guess of course).

That and in all honesty if they were working on multiplayer I think it would have been announced at E3, its a huge item to add to a game and they would try to hype the heck out of it.

[Selene Moonsong]

Way to late in the development cycle for ME 3.

Multiplayer functionality needs to be considered, developed, and designed along with the rest of game from the beginning, not later in the development cycle.

[Hillbillyshep]

Selene Moonsong wrote...

Way to late in the development cycle for ME 3.

Multiplayer functionality needs to be considered, developed, and designed along with the rest of game from the beginning, not later in the development cycle.

This.

[crimzontearz]

may multiplayer never touch Mass Effect

Amen

[SkittlesKat96]

It most likely is for something multiplayer but its also most likely not for ME 3 and for a future ME 3 game (just in case anyone here thought it was for ME 3.)

Personally I would like a Left 4 Dead/Zombie Panic Source hybrid Rpg game.

There would be dozens of objective based maps, and lots of customization, and you and a squad of players fight heaps of Npcs. The maps would have stories to them and there would be a lot of strategy and strategic choice making/planning involved.

[Kaiser Shepard]

Your lack of faith disappoints me, people. ;(

At any rate, we are all in agreement that it seems to forecast a BioWare game with online multiplayer features running on Unreal 3 coming up, whether that be a Mass Effect title or not?

Modifié par Kaiser Shepard, 11 septembre 2011 - 02:35 .

[Izhalezan]

Sir Ulrich Von Lichenstien wrote...

didymos1120 wrote...

Well, you'd think if this was for ME3, they'd have hired the necessary staff already by this point in development. It's a bit late in the day to get all the stuff done that the position demands. I'd say it's more likely to be for a potential future title, and possibly even one in the ME setting.

Agreed, people really need to get it out of their minds that there is going to be Multiplayer for ME3. If there was, they'd have announced it by now, they haven't, end of the line.

Army of Two; Mass Effect style, let's do it!

[didymos1120]

Kaiser Shepard wrote...

Your lack of faith disappoints me, people. ;(

At any rate, we are all in agreement that it seems to forecast a BioWare game with online multiplayer features running on Unreal 3 coming up, whether that be a Mass Effect title or not?

Well, I'd agree with "seems", yes.  But there's no guarantee that what they're doing is part of an actual, fully-greenlit project.  They could just be exploring potential new systems that might be used in a game. Or it could go nowhere.

Modifié par didymos1120, 11 septembre 2011 - 02:43 .

[quaigee]

 I'm soooo tempted to apply for this position. I won't because:

• I'm finishing up a masters thesis in Computer Science and I can't move now.
• I'd much prefer to be on the development side. (Though I'd gladly do testing to get my foot in the door at BioWare)

 

[Zakatak757]

Dear God I hope not.

Story first, story last! No multiplayer until we get a Mass Effect MMO!