AI C++ Game Programmer

  • Intern

Company Description

Epoch Games is a volunteer-based, all-online, global game development team. We have no centrally-located headquarters and are unincorporated at this time. Most of the original founding members were modders developing the total conversion Middle Earth Roleplaying Project (MERP) mod for the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim:
http://www.moddb.com/mods/merp-middle-earth-roleplaying-project

Currently Epoch Games is developing The Lays of Althas: Sundered Order (LoA:SO). LoA:SO is an in-development indie open-world RPG set in an original fantasy world. The game is being developed using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4 (UE4):
https://www.unrealengine.com/

For more information about the game, please check out our IndieDb page:
http://www.indiedb.com/games/the-lays-of-althas-sundered-order

NOTE: The address listed is N/A. We are a fully-online team with no central headquarters at this time. Communication is mostly done via Slack (an instant messaging application) and Trello (an online project collaboration tool).

Job Description

In this volunteer position you will be working closely with other members of the Programming department to develop AI for NPC characters, using the the C++ language, for the Lays of Althas: Sundered Order (LoA:SO). Keep in mind that we are using Epic Game’s Unreal Engine 4 (UE4) to develop the game, and knowledge of how C++ code interacts with UE4 is required. Knowledge of Blueprint scripting in UE4 is recommended, but not required.

Communication is key to a smooth and efficient pipeline, you must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with other team-members and not be afraid to ask should any problems arise. We are an English-speaking team, so English fluency is a must.

If you are comfortable with teaching, you may be called upon to aid the more junior members of the team in any relevant area.

Other duties include: attending Slack meetings (Slack is an instant messaging we communicate with); completing monthly reports; and following team policies.

This is a volunteer position, so no monetary compensation is being offered.

At this time, we are having to rely upon free (or previously licensed) software. Please refer to the applications listed below for guidelines. We do not endorse piracy.

Qualifications

Minimum Skill Requirements:

  • C++ programming experience: in particular, Artificial Intelligence (AI) programming.

  • Unreal Engine 4 experience, and how C++ code interacts with it.

  • Providing clear and legible code.
  • Online communication and Team-collaboration skills.

  • A passion for coding and a dedication to creating AAA quality games.

  • At least 1 Unreal Engine project (using C++), one that shows off your ability to program AI tasks/behaviors, prepared to show prior to the interview.

Optional Skill Requirements:

  • Blueprint scripting experience

Additional Information

Required Software:

  • Unreal Engine 4 (https://www.unrealengine.com/register)

Recommended Software:

  • GitHub (https://www.unrealengine.com/ue4-on-github)
  • GitLab (what we use for version control of our project)
  • Eclipse IDE for C++ (http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/packages/eclipse-ide-cc-developers/lunasr1), Visual Studio Community 2017 (https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/), and/or Notepad++ (http://www.notepad-plus-plus.org/download/v6.6.6.html)

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.