News

• XNA Games Studio 2.0 Launches

  Microsoft has released the final version of XNA Game Studio 2.0 over on the XNA Creators Club website.

  Chief new additions to version 2.0 are support for networked game development over Xbox Live and Games for Windows Live and support for all Visual Studio 2005 versions rather than just the Express variant.

  "When building XNA Game Studio 2.0, we wanted to offer everyone the opportunity to utilise the rich gaming environment of LIVE used by AAA developers for titles such as Halo 3 and Gears of War," said Chris Satchell, general manager of the XNA organization at Microsoft.

  "We accomplished our goal with this new toolset, and, best of all, it remains highly accessible to students, hobbyists and pros alike."

  At the same time, Microsoft has opened the warm-up round of it’s XNA development competition Dream Build Play 2008. Entitled ‘Silicon Minds’, the contest is seeking games that feature impressive articifical intelligence.

   

• Auran Closes Down

  Following an official statement this week regarding staff layoffs at Australian developer and publisher Auran, an insider has now told Gamespot that the whole company is to enter liquidation.

  According to Gamespot’s source, the company will meet with creditors in a month to discuss whether restructuring is possible or if full liquidation is the only option. The source reports that they will receive payment for all work to date, annual leave, redundancy payments and long service leave – although one other developer, citing what he’s been told by friends previously in Auran’s employ, is reporting that such payments are unlikely to be paid until next year.

  The move marks the end of a turbulent week for Auran. First there were rumours of staff cutbacks, which prompted studio head Tony Hilliam to issue an official response admitting to the layoffs but insisting that development of its recently-released MMO Fury would continue.

   

• UK Games Development Salaries

  Review by Intentmedia / Develop magazine.

   

  Middle and senior level artist, designer and producer roles see wage jump; slight rise for programmers

  Salaries at games development firms in the UK are on the rise according to the latest data compiled by Develop and sister magazine MCV from data supplied taken from leading industry sources.
  

  According to our calculations, which canvassed recruitment firms and leading studios in the UK, the average salaries for artists, designers and producers have risen in the past 12 months - with some senior level producer and designer roles now commanding up to £10,000 per annum more than they did a year ago.
  
  Meanwhile wages for programmers have also risen, although not as significantly as the other disciplines.
  
  Plus, good news for new comers or those looking to enter the indusry: the average wage for junior or entry level roles has risen across the board, regardless of discipline to £18,000 PA.
  
  The latest pay figure averages have been printed in the latest issue of MC. We've reproduced the listing below (with comparisons to average salaries the year previously, as printed in the February 2007 issue of Develop, given in brackets).
  
  SALARY SURVEY - AVERAGE WAGE PER ANNUM
  
  Producer
  Junior producer - £18,000 to £27,000 (2007: £17,000 to £25,000)
  Regular producer - £28,000 to £40,000 (2007: £25,000 to £36,000)

  Senior producer - £35,000 to £60,000 (2007: £35,000 to £60,000)
  Executive Producer - £45,000 to £80,000 (2007: NA)
  
  Artist
  Junior artist - £18,000 to £21,000 (2007: £18,000 to £21,000)
  Regular artist - £20,000 to £27,000 (2007: £20,000 to £26,000)
  Senior artist - £27,000 to £35,000 (2007: £27,000 to £35,000)
  Lead artist - £38,000 to £55,000 (2007: £30,000 to £50,000)
  
  Designer
  Junior designer - £18,000 to £21,000 (2007: £15,000 to £21,000)
  Regular designer - £20,000 to £28,000 (2007: £18,000 to £26,000)
  Senior designer - £25,000 to £35,000 (2007: £25,000 to £32,000)
  Lead designer - £38,000 to £55,000 (2007: £30,000 to £40,000)
  
  Programmer
  Junior programmer - £18,000 to £25,000 (2007: £17,000 to £25,000)
  Regular programmer - £20,000 to £35,000 (2007: £21,000 to £35,000)
  Senior programmer - £35,000 to £50,000 (2007: £32,000 to £40,000)
  Lead programmer - £40,000 to £60,000 (2007: £40,000 to £60,000)

   

  Michael French

  January 2008. Intentmedia. Develop magazine.