ICYMI: Ubisoft Graduate Program Q&A

On February 27, three of our graduates took over the UbiBlog for a special Ubisoft Graduate Program Q&A session where they shared some information on what it’s like to get first-hand experience in game development at different Ubisoft studios around the world. Below, you’ll find some of the more popular questions and answers from that session. If Ubisoft Graduate Program sounds like something you’re interested in, you can find more information here. Applications are due February 15.

Being a Graduate at Ubisoft

What would you say is the most unique aspect of working for Ubisoft and why?

Daniel: For me, the unique aspect is getting to work in two separate studios over two years, not many graduate programs offer such an experience. Many companies can offer experienced developers to help you, but you don’t have a structured year abroad where you can fully immerse yourself in a new country and culture. Also, having a dedicated Mentor who follows your progress over the two year span is really invaluable.

Natasha: Dan has said it all. Most importantly, this is a real job, not an internship. The responsibilities I’ve been given since starting in June have been on par with any other Gameplay Programmer. If you like a challenge and are quick to learn and adapt, then the Graduate Program is a really great way to launch you into the industry.

Programming

I have applied for the internship and I want to know: What things should I practice more as game programmer?

Daniel: So you’ll definitely need to be proficient in C++. It’s your bread and butter. You’ll be using it all day, every day. A strong basis in mathematics would be very useful too – vectors, matrices, all the fun stuff!

Natasha: I say make a game! Challenge yourself – something you haven’t made before. If there is an area or feature you would like to become more familiar with, integrate that into your game. On the non-technical side you would do yourself a favor to read up on Software Development – specifically Agile – if you do not already know how it works. This will make it easier for you to get into the same groove as the rest of the team.

I would like to know how online programming works.

Daniel: Well there are loads of different aspects of Online Programming you can get into – like multiplayer, matchmaking, load testing, or games services such as stats tracking, monetization and so on – so there are many areas you can work in. If you want to start learning about online programming, look up some network programming basics, maybe start a simple personal project that sends information over a network. These can all be found online with guided tutorials if you do some digging.

Did you have experience with gameplay programming? What was one of your biggest challenges with being a gameplay programmer?

Natasha: I dabbled in my own time programming games while completing my degree, which is not game-specific. I tried my hand at SDL and Android programming, as well as writing a game in C for a group course project. Where I lacked in experience, I made up for with my passion for games. For years I have followed certain developers on community gaming sites, and this interest bolstered my range of game features and ideas. I also developed strong communication skills since AAA games are developed by large, multi-disciplinary teams and it is important to be able to both communicate with your fellow programmers as well as those responsible for other aspects of the game.

My biggest challenge as a gameplay programmer is working with tightly coupled game systems. The interdependencies can make it difficult to integrate new features that span multiple systems and I need to be conscious of the effect my changes may have on the game. Imagine weaving a basket and needing to weave a piece into the middle so that it fits properly and doesn’t disturb the look of the basket. It’s a big challenge but it’s also really exciting at the same time.

Project Management

Could you please tell us what are the key personality traits or skills to be a successful Project Manager at Ubisoft?

Alex: It is impossible to answer your question without sounding too cliché. In my personal opinion, most importantly you need to be a good communicator, be able to see a big picture, and have good analytical skills to see risks and dependencies on the project, and remove them proactively. Of course, you also need to be ridiculously smart and devilishly handsome, but that is obvious.

I worry that my lack of knowledge about specific technical aspects of videogame development will prevent me from being a good producer. Did you have a really strong technical knowledge before starting at Ubisoft?

Alex: To give you good news, generally no. You don’t need to have in-depth knowledge of all specific technical aspects of the game. That is what technical experts are for. As a producer, your main role is to help your teams to get into comfortable environment, foresee and remove blocking issues, and let them be what they are great at. Having that said, I did not have an in-depth understanding of various technical aspects when I applied to the program, although it clearly improved over the last few years.

How to Get In

My dream is to work for Ubisoft as a Gameplay Programmer. What university course should I take and what are the prerequisites to join the program?

Nick: To join the program as a Gameplay Programmer, the pre-requisites are to have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent, to have some knowledge in programming languages (C++, Java, Python…) and object-oriented development, to have good communication skills and to have less than a year of professional experience (internship excluded). I hope that helps!

I’d love to be able to do some graduate programs with you, but is there one available here in Australia? Will it open to other jobs next year?

Nick: The Graduate Program is open to anyone from around the world! If we don’t have a studio in your home country it is still possible to take part, but it does mean that you need to be prepared to travel! At this stage we only offer the Online Programming, Gameplay Programming and Project Management tracks, but we may look to add more in the future. Thanks.

Final Advice

What is one thing you wish you knew about the program before you started it?

Daniel: I think details described for the program are fairly comprehensive already, but I think it should really highlight that this is on-the-job training. While you still have the support structure of the Mentor to guide you, the vast majority of your training is day-to-day work. Your personal objectives are formed based on the needs of the project you’re working on, but your Mentor also tries to steer your tasks so you get a solid foundation in many areas, which is pretty cool!

The deadline for applying to the 2016 Ubisoft Graduate Program is February 15. Apply now, by clicking here!