Twin brothers Charles and Kevin Normann of Austin based Midnight Studios

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Thousands of people from the gaming industry have gathered at the Austin Convention Center for the 2011 Game Developers Conference Online (GDC).

Last year, social gaming took center stage. But this year, social gaming has taken a back seat to the trend towards online gaming and online gaming powered by cloud-based servers.

Cloud-based online gaming holds the promise of offering gamers a console level experience, which is something that most social gaming applications can’t provide.

Conference attendees include the big players like Electronic Arts (EA) and Activision, as well as smaller players and start-ups like Austin-based Midnight Studios.

“Online is where the growth is. It’s where the gamers are moving. Digital distribution and cloud-based gaming is the future,” said Midnight Studios CEO Charles Normann.

“What that means is, all the intelligence for the product exists online. You don’t have to have a smart device. It’s not about the speed of the device you experience the game through.”

Midnight Studios was founded by twin brothers Charles and Kevin Normann. Both are industry veterans who made names for themselves at gaming giant EA, developing titles such as The Sims series. Now their focus is on online, cloud-based gaming.

The brothers are working on an online gaming project they are launching in 2012. However, they are tight lipped when it comes to discussing the details of the project. With no product to promote yet, they are at GDC Online to find new talent for their company.

“We’re traditionally console developers. We’re looking for experienced engineers from the online world that have online and server skills. Here we can meet candidates face to face and get to them know them a little,” said Midnight Studios Chief Technical Officer Kevin Normann.

“Austin has an amazing talent pool for the kind of people we are looking for that are as good as anywhere in the world. And it’s a great place to live, so we can attract people from all over the world to come to Austin.”

The Austin convention has a tradition of leading the industry. In the past Austin has embraced and led the way in multiplayer online games and social gaming before they were embraced by the mainstream gaming industry.

Austin may be leading the way again in the online, cloud-based gaming trend.

And in a what can be considered a sign of the times, GDC Online organizers are also lending a helping hand to industry professionals by giving unemployed developers free passes.

The convention runs from October 10-13.

Midnight Studios produces games that keep you up past bedtime. Read the original story here Austin’s Game Developers Conference Online focuses on gaming’s future.

Midnight Studios founders Kevin Normann (left) and Charles Normann (center) in a company planning meeting.

The Austin Business Journal reports on Midnight Studios and the company’s funding ahead of its September 1, 2011 product launch.

From the Austin Business Journal:

The Round Rock-based company collected the capital from seven investors, according to a July 8 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

In February, Midnight Studios received an initial investment in its original direct-to-consumer casual product from the Wilco Angel Network, which is based in Williamson County. The company, founded in 2007, was selected from more than 24 candidates, according to its website. READ MORE 

Midnight Studios produces games that keep you up past bedtime. Read the original story here Midnight Studios featured in Austin Business Journal.

Midnight Studios founders Kevin Normann (left) and Charles Normann (right)

Midnight Studios’ first social gaming application is expected to launch in September,  but don’t ask the owners Kevin and Charles Normann what kind of game it is or any other details. For now,  they are keeping it under wraps.

The Austin,  Texas based game developer is quietly preparing for a fall launch of what it calls a groundbreaking social gaming application. The game is based on revolutionary proprietary intellectual property (IP) and leverages the power of social media to allow greater interaction between family and friends. “It is a unique casual,  online social experience,”  said Kevin Normann, Midnight Studios’  CTO. “We are going right where the public is heading.”

Growth opportunities in social gaming could be huge. According to a report 2010 report released by Dallas-based research group Parks Associates,  revenue from social gaming is estimated to grow from $1 billion in 2010 to $5 billion in 2015. Leading game retailer GameStop and other game companies are quickly positioning themselves in the social gaming market. GameStop has launched a new Facebook page and is jockeying for future revenue opportunities.

Midnight Studios was founded by identical twin brothers Kevin and Charles Normann. The twins are veteran developers who helped gaming giants Acclaim and Electronic Arts develop highly successful products before breaking out on their own.  “This is a natural direction for us, we are leveraging our success in console gaming with social media to design a revolutionary online experience,”  said Charles,  Midnight Studios’  Executive Producer.  “It really is something that has not been done before,”  added Kevin.

Developing video games has been a lifelong mission for the 40 year-old brothers. In 1977, at the age of six, they got their hands on the now legendary Atari 2600 game console. The two immediately began plotting and planning their career paths. They started funding their future careers by raising and selling cows at state fairs through their 4-H club. They also cleaned stalls and found various other odd jobs to raise enough capital for their first investment;  a Texas Instruments TI-99/4A computer.

Throughout their careers Kevin and Charles have managed to work at the same companies. Before striking out on their own,  both worked at Electronic Arts (EA) developing some of the industry’s most popular titles like The Sims series,  which has sold over 100 million copies since its introduction in 2001.

In 2009 the Normann’s  decided it was time to realize their childhood dream of developing their own games. “This is the time for us to take our big shot,”  said Charles.

Midnight Studios produces games that keep you up past bedtime. Read the original story here Austin video game vets pursue childhood dream.

Responsibilities:

• Excellent Math Skills
• 5+ years of professional games experience
• DirectX 9/10/11 and/or OpenGL expertise using modern rendering techniques and a familiarity with Play Station 3, Xbox360 and other graphics hardware
• Ability to design, author, and maintain complex tools used in different parts of the production pipeline
• Ability to implement and optimise advanced rendering systems on a variety of gaming hardware including but not limited too PC, Xbox360, PS3, Wii, DS, PSP, iPhone/iPad, Droid, etc.

Requirements:

• Experience using DCC applications (3DStudio/Maya/Photoshop/XSI/…)
• Knowledge of scripting languages a plus
• GUI art/design skills

Please submit cover letter, resume (online preferred) with samples of your professional work along with a breakdown of your specific contributions to jobs@midnight-studios.net.

Midnight Studios produces games that keep you up past bedtime. Read the original story here Sr. Graphics Programmer.

Responsibilities:

• Ability to develop specialized shaders for wide ranging and ever changing needs cross platform.
• Ability to communicate clearly with artists, technical artists, and engineers to acquire requirements and produce a working solution.

Requirements:

• Excellent Math Skills
• 3+ years of professional games experience a plus
• Working knowledge of all shader languages (shader work for Unity3D a bonus)
• C++ and/or C# experience assumed

Please submit cover letter, resume and reels (online preferred) with samples of your professional work along with a breakdown of your specific contributions to jobs@midnight-studios.net.

Midnight Studios produces games that keep you up past bedtime. Read the original story here Shader Programmer.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the planning, layout, setup, and tuning of game levels
• Responsible for designing and producing engaging and fun third-person action game-play and levels/battlegrounds.
• Act as producer for levels you design, as well as other parts of the game, collaborating across disciplines to get work done and clear dependencies, ensuring deadlines are met, and championing aspects of the game-play.
• Work directly with artists, programmers, animators and other game designers to contribute to the vision of the game.
• Responsible for level layout by creating simplified level geometry and performing extensive play-testing and iteration.
• Work with programmers to develop tools on an ongoing basis.

Requirements:

• Experience designing levels for console games
• Minimum 3 to 5 years of games industry experience
• Strong methodology and problem solving ability and with a focus on creative, fun and innovative solutions
• Strong and effective communication skills
• Exceptional team player with the ability to collaborate without losing sight of the game-play vision
• Willingness to take design direction when offered
• Very good working knowledge of Maya, 3DS Max or similar 3D package

Pluses:

• Experience of developing third-person action games a bonus
• Experience of scripting set-up for action games a bonus

Please submit cover letter, resume and reels (online preferred) with samples of your professional work along with a breakdown of your specific contributions to jobs@midnight-studios.net.

Midnight Studios produces games that keep you up past bedtime. Read the original story here Game Designer.

Summary

The Technical Art Director / Lead Tech Artist defines the production techniques used by artists, and ensures that the art team has all of the relevant tools and workflows they need to operate at peak efficiency. They also develop the Art Direction into an optimal CG look, and ensure that all art content in the game is being built to withstand performance and memory requirements.
Requirements and Skills:

• Designs and supervises the creation of game pipelines and workflows, working in conjunction with engineers and art director.
• Works with the Game Director and Art Director to ensure that visual quality is not being compromised by technical constraints.
• Regularly audits and streamlines all art production methods (Including Level Art, Modeling, Character Animation, Visual Effects and Lighting)
• Acts as a bridge between art and engineering disciplines
• Solves technical production issues as needed
• Provides mentorship, coaching and management of other technical artists and is a resource for the team.

Resume and portfolio must demonstrate proficiencies in the following areas:

• Character rigging
• Procedural animation
• In-game particle effects
• NextGen shader creation

Preferred Requirements:

• Bachelors/Masters/PhD in Computer Science, Digital Media Design, Fine Arts, Graphic Arts, Entertainment Technology or related experience.
• 8 years experience in Computer Graphics
• 2 years experience on AAA console game development
• Computer Programming/Scripting experience (e.g. C++, MEL, Python)
• A strong knowledge of game development software and techniques (e.g. Maya, Max, Softimage, Zbrush, Houdini, Photoshop)
• An appreciation and balance of both art and engineering concepts.
• Excellent orExcellent organizational, leadership, verbal and written communication skills.

Please submit cover letter, resume and reels (online preferred) with samples of your professional work along with a breakdown of your specific contributions to jobs@midnight-studios.net.

Midnight Studios produces games that keep you up past bedtime. Read the original story here Technical Art Director.

Midnight Studios, Inc. has been selected as a Rise Funding Forum 2011 Finalist.  We will be at the event on March 11^th to show why we are the best funding opportunity in Austin today.

Midnight Studios produces games that keep you up past bedtime. Read the original story here Midnight Studios Named Rise Funding Finalist.

Midnight receives initial investment in its original direct-to-consumer casual product from the Wilco Angel Network after being selected from more than 24 candidates.  Investors interested in learning more are encouraged to email Kevin directly.

Midnight Studios produces games that keep you up past bedtime. Read the original story here Wilco Angel Network Selects Midnight Studios.

Midnight is seeking investment in its next original product.  This product highlights a new push for Midnight into the lucrative casual market.  Investors interested in learning more are encouraged to email Kevin directly.

Midnight Studios produces games that keep you up past bedtime. Read the original story here Midnight Focuses on Casual Gaming Investors.