Gamescom seemed busier than ever this year in both the public halls and the business area. The halls themselves were packed full of gamers, traders and cosplayers milling around to catch a glimpse of the latest titles, and as always the stands were spectacular.
The business area was well organised and well staffed – making the job of getting to meetings on time a lot easier. We had some great meetings with potential new clients and existing contacts – Gamescom is always a good chance to catch up with European customer and colleagues. The message from d3t has been consistent as always – we’re a 100% work-for-hire external development partner offering engineering services to the games industry; We develop YOUR games.
Security was tighter than previous years with bag searches on entry, but again, well handled and low-friction. Angela Merkel’s visit on Tuesday included helicopters, a huge entourage, and security checks in the exhibition halls, but good to see support for the Games Industry at that level. As usual, Koln has treated us to great weather, excellent food and drink, and a successful couple of days’ hard work out of the office.
Our very first intern Marlon Gilliam today completes his d3t Internship Programme to return to the University of Lincoln to study for his MSc in Computer Science.
We’d like to thank Marlon for all his hard work and contribution. It’s been a pleasure and we wish him well for the future!
Marlon joined us on 30th May 2017 and has completed a schedule of activities that included learning new skills on our Programming and QA teams as well as collaborating on live projects with our 2D and 3D Art Services team.
Here’s what Marlon has to say about his time with us:
“I was attracted to d3t for a summer internship as they work on a large variety of projects and I saw this as a good opportunity to widen my skillset. From day one I was given work that was valuable both for the company and for my personal development (no tea duty).
“This did mean that at first, I was quite hesitant with my work as I didn’t want to make any embarrassing mistakes. This was quelled however as the company encourages teamwork so well, and because the team are so good at their work, I was always able to turn to a friendly face when I needed some advice.
“During my time here, I worked on a variety of projects and got the chance to improve many of my technical skills. Some of my work involved direct contact with clients which allowed me to gain useful knowledge of how to converse with clients. “One of the biggest things I gained from my time here is my knowledge of how projects are managed and how development cycles work. I was really impressed by how well d3t manages to keep a relaxed atmosphere whilst still managing to uphold a professional and organised project management structure with all the work that goes on.
“Aside from just work, I was also welcomed into a great social scene at d3t. There are numerous clubs and groups that do a bunch of fun after work activities. These were a great way to bond with the team and they really helped me feel at home when at work.
“The company also manages to host great social events. I was lucky enough to be there for d3t’s 6th birthday which encompassed an awesome lunch, packed full of fun activities and delicious foods.
“d3t hosts quarterly Show and Tells where team members present work from all the different projects that are going on, so that everyone is kept up to date. I was asked to do a presentation for the summer Show and Tell and I was surprised and flattered that I was given the opportunity. It was a good chance for me to practice my public speaking skills, as well as have a good laugh at the same time.
I honestly don’t think that I could have found a better place than d3t for my internship as I can’t imagine any other business giving me such valuable experience over so many areas. I will miss the place and everyone in it when I’m gone and I wish them all the best for the future.”
If you want to know more about opportunities at d3t please check out our Internships and Vacancies pages.
d3t General Manager, Richard Badger has been invited to speak at XDS 2017, the international External Development Summit, which takes place on 7th-9th September in Vancouver, Canada.
With over 20 years in the games industry, Richard has experienced just about every environment from startup and fluid, to established and corporate. And having been both a buyer and a vendor of engineering services in those environments, he is ideally positioned to showcase best practice as well as identify the common pitfalls of external development.
Richard adds,
I’m really excited about this opportunity. XDS has grown year on year to become the external development event. It’s going to be an informative and hugely enjoyable few days.
XDS is the only games industry event to focus on external development for software engineering, art, QA and other disciplines. The XDS emphasis is on collaboration, B2B networking and knowledge sharing, with the opportunity to discuss challenges and solutions with industry peers. It offers a forum in which local studios can meet the internationals to share and learn.
Find out more about Richard and book a meeting during XDS 2017.
Adam Meredith joined the d3t team as a Senior Programmer on 17th July 2017. Adam tells us a bit more about himself…
Where did you work prior to d3t?
I have 8 years’ experience in multi-platform programming C++ in the games industry, including an Xbox One launch title and have worked at SG Gaming, Team17 and Zoe Mode.
I’ve worked on released titles on Steam, Xbox One, PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii platforms.
I have a wide range of experience in different areas of programming including gameplay, AI, physics, UI, online/networking technologies, audio, motion tracking and title certification requirements.
Why d3t?
I wanted more challenging work than I was currently doing, and a greater variety in the projects. I also wanted to work on console games programming again after working in the gambling sector. After my initial interview, d3t seemed like a good cultural fit for me as well.
What was the recruitment process like?
Not long after I had decided it was time to change companies, an interview with d3t was set up to talk about my experience and see if I was a good cultural fit for the company, and then I was sent a technical skills test to complete at home.
Tell us some interesting facts about yourself.
At work, I like adding new features to projects – making stuff happen. I want to create things that I find cool and people enjoy. When I’m not at work, I like walking my good, good dog, playing tabletop games, and nights out in Manchester.
If you want to join our talented team, why not check out our vacancies?
d3t founders Steve Powell and Jamie Campbell opened the doors for business back in 2011 and with the help of the super-talented Andy Booth, d3t was go!
Veterans of the games industry, Steve and Jamie wanted to find a different way of working, one that offered diverse, less cyclical opportunities so they developed the work for hire business model.
Instead of developing our own IP, we deliver multiple projects on an outsource basis. This has given us the opportunity to demonstrate expertise across the board. We work with fantastic clients, and although we can’t talk about lots of our projects, some we can. We are purely revenue grown and our headcount now stands at 45 – and counting.
We work hard to recruit the brightest minds in the industry and mentor up and coming stars. Our team is our strength, so we also work hard to make d3t a great place to work.
Our diverse range of projects ensure that d3t is at the forefront of development. To retain that leading edge, we think it’s important to attend events at home and abroad to find out about the latest innovations and share that knowledge within our team.
Unite Europe took place on 27-29 June 2017. Unite is the event to discover the full potential of the Unity engine, find out what Unity has to offer for the future and meet with Unity experts. So d3t’s Chris Budden and Ben Brummitt went along to get the latest on all things Unity.
Hosted in Amsterdam, the event took place in multiple, awesome venues across the city and the schedule was packed with talks and demonstrations showcasing Unity’s capabilities. For Chris and Ben, highlights included talks on performance/optimisation, VR/AR and the new core engine technology.
Ben and Chris also met with members of the Unity team for one to one discussions, quizzing them on the latest developments and how best to utilise them. The event also offered the opportunity to meet with other developers, find out more about their projects and create contacts for future collaborations. Ben added, “And there was a constant supply of free food so I was kept happy…”
Ben and Chris returned excited to put everything they’ve learned into practice and both felt they’d learned far more than they expected to. It was our first year at Unite but it will become a regular feature on our calendar.
d3t attended E3 2017 held at L.A.’s Convention Centre in southern California, 13th – 15th June.
E3 is a red-letter day in the games and game technology calendar and a great annual event that highlights the very best that the games industry has to offer. The event is a platform for world-leading game announcements as well as the unveiling of new hardware such as the Microsoft Xbox One X. It also offers one of the best opportunities in the events calendar for networking.
This year d3t’s Noel Austin, Richard Badger, Steve Powell and Jamie Campbell made their way to L.A. with business development as their focus.
We work with some of the biggest names in the games industry and we’re constantly adding to our list of clients. So, away from the glitz and the glamour of the show floor there was a lot of work going on. We held meetings with some exciting new clients and we have some fantastic new leads to follow up now we’re back at HQ.
And as anticipated, the E3 show floor was absolutely packed with fantastic titles that we can look forward to over the next year. Highlights of the event for the d3t delegates included Lawbreakers, Yakuza 6, Forza Motorsport 7, Super Mario Odyssey, Sonic Mania, Spiderman, Assassin’s Creed Origins and Xbox One X.
It’s really rewarding when you see d3t’s work on display on some of the busiest stands of the show – it’s a shame we can’t talk about these projects…yet!
Neil Osbaldeston joined the d3t team on 19th June 2017 as an Intern Junior Programmer. Neil tells us a bit more about himself.
What sort of experience and background do you have?
I spent 2 years at UCLan studying Computer Games Development. I then entered Search for A Star, becoming the Sumo Digital ‘Rising Star’ competition finalist. Prior to that I had completed 5 years in the Royal Navy as an aircraft engineering technician.
Why d3t?
d3t has a wealth of knowledge amongst their employees who work on a multitude of different projects. Everyone’s willing to try new things and are multi-skilled as a result. I really feel this is a place I can learn and grow as a programmer, quite quickly. Everyone’s friendly and willing to help which is an ideal environment for an intern.
What was the recruitment process like?
I met Andy Booth, d3t’s Technical Director, at the finals day of Search for a Star, and while a short conversation, I felt I gave a good impression as we discussed what d3t was about and what I wanted.
Within a few days I was contacted and the process began with a 24-hour off-site test to modify a game.
I really enjoyed this format as it gave me a better opportunity to show my skills rather than having to answer technical questions on the spot which could easily be researched. After passing the test I was offered an interview which I felt went very smoothly, largely due to the relaxed atmosphere and friendly approach of my interviewers.
Tell us some facts about yourself.
I enjoy extreme sports, I ride a motorcycle, tried bungee jumping and sky diving. I’m a Tough Mudder veteran.
Always enjoyed tinkering with computers and since discovering programming I’ve never looked back. With a keen interest in games I can think of nothing more rewarding than knowing I helped build one.
If you want to join our talented team, why not check out our vacancies?
Marlon Gilliam joined d3t as a Junior Programming Intern on 30th May 2017 and Marlon tells us a bit more about himself and why he chose d3t for his internship.
Tell us about your experience and background.
I have just completed a BSc in Games Computing at the University of Lincoln and will be returning there to continue my studies when I start a Master’s in Computer Science in October. I wanted to put my time between courses to good use and preferably get some industry experience, so decided a short- term internship would be ideal.
Why d3t?
I love game development and problem solving but my time at university didn’t really afford me a wide variety of projects to work on. The diversity of different project opportunities really attracted me to d3t, as I want to broaden my horizons and learn new skills.
What was the recruitment process like?
I emailed d3t on the off chance that they might be willing to take an intern on over the summer. From there the process was smooth and fast. It started with me completing a game programming challenge that was really enjoyable. Following that it was a series of information swapping and an interview. Throughout the process everyone was really professional and warm and I was never left hanging for any long periods of time.
Anything else we should know?
Ever since playing Ratchet and Clank on my old PS2 I’ve wanted to make games. The idea sort of got lost through my school years and when applying to universities I was looking at studying Maths. I was at an open day waiting for a maths lecture when I realised, a little too late, that it was for Computer Science… After the lecture, I was hooked and when I realised that my strengths actually lent towards useful skills in game development, I was delighted!
