#matmi

There are a number of perks to working at Matmi – and last week Jeff and three of our developers (Rob, Juan and Derek) were lucky enough to be invited to a Developer Day at the Microsoft Offices down in Reading . Our developers were very impressed with Microsoft’s swanky high tech offices featuring glass buildings and lakes with swans! (I’m thinking we should definitely be investing in a lake and swans for the Matmi offices to keep up ;) )The day was based around developing  for  Windows 8 and hopefully the guys picked up a tip or two!

The guys heard a number of interesting talks throughout the day that covered some key issues for developers working with Windows 8.  Some of these included how Unity 3D and Windows 8 share OS  features which are going to be integrated into Windows store apps ( formerly called Metro apps) . This will  mean that programs can register a shared type of data (images, urls, contacts etc) with the operating system. This allows the OS to automatically bring up a list of all the programs available that can make use of that data; allowing the quick and easy transfer of information between applications that have no knowledge of each other.  

  Derek had a chance to learn about the new Windows 8 touch interface and found it to be far better than Windows 7. He had this to say: “ One of the main improvements is the new windows 8 start menu ( the new start menu takes up a full screen ) which gives users much easier access to programmes/apps than in the typical start menu seen in all other versions of Windows thus making it much better for touch screen users - this isn't the only reason it is better than Windows 7 but is one of the main ones”.

Last week Matmi founder Jeff turned the big 4-0. Much discussion was had on how Jeff would choose to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Would he do it in a typical mid – life crisis fashion and buy a ridiculously expensive sports car? 

Would he go on a crazy round the world trip? 

None of the above were in fact true.  He had a massive party at the Snowgoose Live in Macclesfield and celebrated in style. Team Matmi were lucky enough to be invited ( Thanks Jeff ;) ) to join him in having a few celebratory beverages, helping ourselves to some hog roast and generally having a good old boogie. We saw some amazing live performances by  The Bleatles, the Virgin Marys and the Hot Bananas . A massive thank you also to the extremely talented DJ’s Jut Cotterill, Black Farr and Reggae Dave who took to the decks during the evening. Rumour has it that Jeff himself also tried his hand at being a DJ under his new alter ego “ Jazzy Jeff” . Everyone had a fabulous time and rolled home slightly worse for wear after one too many free drinks. 

Before we get to meet Ian, I think a special mention is needed for one of our past employees; Mr Tibbs esq... or just James if you prefer. He started at Matmi 8 years ago, working on award winning campaigns such as Gorillaz, Lily Allen, Let It Flow and Optathlon.

He moved from being a simple coding monkey, to lead programmer and finally to project manager. A big thanks to James for all his hard work over the years and we wish him well on his freelance adventures.

But time stands still for no man. Taking over the hot seat of project manager, please welcome Ian. I managed to find 10 minutes to sit down with him (no rest for the newbie) and pester him for some personal information.

What did you do before coming to Matmi?

I was working on a project sponsored by the BBC and Arts Council England called the Space. We were focussed on the Literature & Spoken Word section.

Ref: http://thespace.org/items/s00001nq 

Prior to that I was working with Katapult in Derby as their Digital Project Manager.

  What has been your impression so far about Matmi [ be nice ;) ]

Everyone has been really welcoming and easy to get on with. I love the enthusiasm and can do attitudes at Matmi and everyone skills are excellent!  [aww, thanks....give it a few weeks]

Do you have any hobbies?

Yup indeed. I love Mountain Biking, Surfing – though it’s been a while, Tai Chi, mediatation (can that be classed as a hobby?), walking and wildlife/conservation.

Oh and a spot of photography when I get the time and have kit.

What’s your favourite thing to do at the weekend?

Mountain Biking or spending time in the countryside somewhere. Also going to twee rural events, festivals etc… and catching up a shed load of sci fi on TV.

  Tell us one unusual/unique/amusing thing about you?

Hmm that’s a hard one…Well I’m Buddhist does that count as unusual [not necessarily]? I once went on a ghost hunt and was nearly possessed… and I don’t even believe in that stuff!

If there is anything else you would like to add, please do

Only to say I am looking forward to working with the Matmi team very much. 

For those who have not heard of Creative England:

We are a national agency that invests in and supports ideas, talent and businesses in film, TV, games and digital media. They aim to grow the brightest, the best, and those with the most promise so that individuals and businesses can achieve their full creative and commercial potential. We help identify future opportunities to grow the economy and generate jobs. 

With offices in Salford, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham and Elstree, we are a national agency with strong local and regional links.

It is a fantastic idea and Jeff (Matmi MD) is lucky enough and honoured to be part of the Creative England board.

Creative England’s Chief Executive, Caroline Norbury, said: “Jeff joins us at a particularly exciting time. The worlds of film, television and digital media are converging at an ever greater pace, opening up hitherto unforeseen opportunities for innovative digital companies to grow. It is fantastic for us to have someone with Jeff’s experience on the board so that we can shape our support to offer these SMEs the help they need to realise their creative ambitions.”

Matmi have completely revamped our award winning app 'Monster Pinball'. See the fun filled, monster mobbed game in all it's HD glory. 

Monster Pinball HD has had every graphic completely redone and updated from scratch to bring the new high definition artwork to life. 

Here is just some of the key features in this new HD version:

An all new Achievements section with 29 of its own new goals has been added.

An all new single table mode is now set as 6 of the achievements. Achieve the goal on a given table and you can then select to only play on that table.

Integration with Game Centre on iOS

New table goals added with in play achievement activations.

iPhone 4+ retina display compatible.

iPhone 5 compatible with in play features.

Specifically designed for Windows 7+, iPad (both landscape and portrait) and Android devices including tablets. 

Due to be available on iOS, Android and Windows 7+ late 2012.

Digital Project Manager required for award winning Digital Production Team 

Matmi have been delivering fantastic quality digital products for well over a decade, and project management is the key to being able to deliver great work on time and within budget. Due to Matmi’s continued growth we have an incredible opportunity for an experience Digital Project Manager to join and help us continue to produce ground-breaking digital campaigns.

 You’ll be at the very heart of everything we produce; providing structure, control and a cool focus from initial scope to final delivery. This is a significant role in the on-going development and evolution of Matmi and you must be comfortable handling an experienced team of developers and designers across a range of platforms; from web builds to flash games, mobile, tablet and social apps. You’ll also work with the Business Development Manager on proposal and scope development, the Creative Director to establish realistic concepts for the client, and most importantly you’ll be the first point of contact for our clients. 

To succeed in this role we know you’ll need a wide range of skills, experience and the right personality. You must be a seasoned Digital Project Manager, ideally with Prince 2 accreditation or experience, be a focused Scrum Master with the ability to work Agile methodologies and the ability to manage multiple projects at the same time without losing your mind. Ideally you’ll have a background in development to understand the nuances of bleeding edge digital creation. Above all you must have a sense of humour, the ability to get the best out of a team, and absolutely love what you do. 

Requirements:

 Comfortable communicating with and coordinating an experienced team of developers and designers

Ability to manage multiple projects at the same time

Proven track record of effective time management

Previous experience as a Digital Project Manager

Deep understanding of SCRUM/Agile methodologies

Confident and effective client communication skills

Passion for the Digital Industry

 …and a good sense of humour 

As Project Manager, you should also be an excellent communicator and presenter with the ability to work under pressure and with good attention to detail. It would also be beneficial to have a background in software development. Prince 2 accreditation (or similar) would also be preferable.

If you can convince us you can handle all of the above we will reward you with an incredible opportunity to develop some amazing content across a client base that includes Sony PlayStation, Nivea, ITV, Mars, EMI, Comic Relief, Red Bull and Warwick Davis! (to name just a few). You’ll have the chance to shape the direction of this exciting business, as well as receive a decent wage with 25 days holiday, and a cracking working environment. 

Working at Matmi, you get used to seeing new faces now and again as the company continues to grow. The latest addition to our rag-tag gang of Matmi misfits is Tom. He actually joined us on a two week placement last March as a coder. We were so impressed by him, we asked him to stay on for another week.

Those three weeks flew by. Before he knew it, he was blazing a path back to Bournemouth University, pining away for a return to the glitz and glamour of the Matmi lifestyle. However, Matmi knows when they are onto a good thing and invited Tom back to complete his year in industry. 

Finally, a six months since his placement, the time came for young Tom to make that journey north again. Ready to tackle anything we could throw at him (editor: I hope he isn't allergic to Nerf gun pellets). Now he is here I thought I'd collar him for a quick interview to learn more about Matmi's new coding monkey.

So what do you think of the marvellous Macclesfield?

Well, I've only spent 3 weeks in total here but so far I like what I've seen. I especially like the look of the countryside surrounding Macclesfield. Looks like good cycling terrain, maybe even some skiing weather permitting.

What drew you back to Matmi after your initial 3 week placement?

The first thing that comes to mind is the people. Everyone seems so cheerful and friendly. I love the philosophy of the company, always trying to inject an element of fun into everything you do. I also learnt alot in my first weeks here so deciding whether to come back was a no brainer. The experience I will get here is sure to help me in the future

What are your hobbies?

Gaming is an obvious one. As is going out with friends and having the odd alcoholic beverage in a mature fashion, like most students. I also enjoy playing the guitar and I love skiing. 

What's your favourite thing to do on the weekend?

Again, I'm going to have to say going out with friends, finding a suitable and up-standing establishment with a license to sell alcohol.  

What lead you to become a developer?

I only really got into games seriously while at university. My course at university was not the typical coding degree, it was infact titled 'Interactive Media'. It touched on elements of gaming and other forms of digital media.

As I played more games, late into the night sometimes, I found myself wanting to be able to make my own. I saw it as a great way to express my creativity, to produce something others can interact with and enjoy. So I decided to teach myself the more advanced coding skills which allowed me to begin on my journey to become a games developer. 

So you said that you are a more recent convert to gaming. What is your favourite device/devices to play on?

I love my iPad. The choice of cheap, quality games makes it a fantastically enticing platform for gamers. I also really enjoy playing on my PS3.

Is there a game that has sucked up more of your free time than any other?

For iOS, I've found myself spending alot of time with the game 'Sword and Sworcery'.

I'm a big fan of 'ThatGameCompany'. They have published probably 3 of my favourite console games; Flow, Flower and Journey. They are amazing at building a game mechanic around narrative and emotions. It means the gamer is truly immersed in the gaming experience, actually feeling the emotions of the characters and caring about the outcome. The game mechanic almost becomes a secondary concern.

I love the fact they try innovative ideas and don't stick to a boilerplate type game design. They show a glimpse at what games can really do when it comes to developing narratives and as an art form. More and more indie/small companies are publishing some really interesting games with a focus on original game-play.

It's a really exciting time to be in this industry. As a gamer and as a developer.

I thought I'd finish on a age old tried and tested question - Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Ideally, I hope to be running my own games company. Developing innovative and creative gaming solutions (editor: hmm, scoping out the competition early hey). 

OH, and to have the company offices based on the top of a mountain so I can ski home from work. Of-course having a gorgeous Brazilian wife goes without saying.

That's it for today. A big thank you to Tom for giving up some of his precious time. We shall say good-bye to him for now as we crack the whip and get him back to tap-tap-tapping on the keyboard. Fear not though, I'm sure we will be hearing more from him in the future. Infact, expect to see a feature where we showcase one of his side projects soon.

For more information on what Matmi can do for your digital design needs:

PHONE: 01625 560771

EMAIL: [email protected]

Web: http://ww.matmi.com 

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Matmi

Here at Matmi we have a group of wonderfully talented designers and developers working away on all the upcoming projects. Each month we will be featuring a member of staff and focusing on how they develop their skills outside Matmi - this month its the turn of designer Mat Lucas.

Mat runs his own website http://www.mathewlucas.co.uk/ which focuses on his passion for typography and information design, and showcases his great portfolio.

A few words from the designer himself " I enjoyed some exposure in London with this work. It was in a small competiton for he Worshipful Company of Clockmakers for which I got second place and my work in Sotheby's and Saatchi gallery."

For more information on what Matmi can do for your digital design needs:

PHONE: 01625 560771

EMAIL: [email protected]

Web: http://ww.matmi.com 

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Matmi