The CHEKOFV project (Crowd-sourced Help with Emergent Knowledge for Optimized Formal Verification) is a DARPA funded research effort to transform the problem of proving software correct into a crowd-sourced game. The overall system will input unverified code from vendors, distribute that code to several crowd-sourced games, then collect and employ the results of game play to improve the performance of a formal verification engine. UCSC is one of several performers contributing games to address sub-tasks in software verification that appear easier for people but difficult for machines. The goal of the UCSC game is to define loop invariants; algebraic/logical conditions that remain true across the execution of a loop. A prototype is available on the web at http://www.lucidbard.com/cyphrseekr/. Our approach invites players to experiment with the data generated by the loop, without ever viewing the source code itself.

The UCSC team will include ~10 people (students, faculty, and staff), and will coordinate with other teams providing application expertise, a front-end portal with a game/level server, plus the back-end software verification engine. The project as a whole includes two 18-month development cycles, spanning two design, development and deployment cycles for crowd-sourced verification games.

UCSC seeks a Lead Game Designer to drive the design of a novel game for crowd-sourcing software verification. The Lead Game Designer will have primary responsibility for developing game concept, defining desired user experience, and setting artistic direction for the game. The Lead Game Designer will participate in scrum development of the game, in collaboration with a small team composed of ~4 graduate students and a Lead Game Programmer. The Lead Game Designer will receive direction from faculty. Work will begin with an existing game prototype, and follow it through development, testing, deployment, maintenance, data collection and analysis. The Lead Game Designer may also participate in academic publications based on the game.

Apply to Job # 1203940 at https://jobs.ucsc.edu

This job listing originated on Gamasutra.com, the game industry's leader.

5+ years game design experience

One or more shipped game titles

Proficiency in user experience and art design

Demonstrated competency designing puzzle-oriented, logic-based, or educational games and mobile games

At least one project developed via an agile software methodology

Demonstrated understanding of core programming concepts

Demonstrated ability to:
a)work well within small development teams (5-10 people)
b)work effectively and diplomatically with a wide range of people
c)work in a self-motivated manner with a minimal amount of supervision

Ability to work in a fast-paced team environment composed of students and faculty

Ability to work with partially defined statements of tasks and objectives common to research settings

Ability to understand concepts of game design, game mechanics, and balancing, as well as the use of game metrics and play test data to inform iterations of design

Strong verbal and written communication skills

Ability to learn and integrate complex technical information associated with the domain of application for this game.

Preferred qualifications:
Master of Fine Arts degree or equivalent experience
Demonstrated proficiency in design of crowd sourced, social network, crazy machine or tower defense games
Demonstrated multiple shipped titles
2+ years graphic design experience
Demonstrated ability to manage play testing, or evaluate user experiences
Knowledge of developing novel games, especially games with a puzzle-like flavor
Experience with information/data visualization
Demonstrated understanding of the following; C, C++, and Java, Data structures, Discrete mathematics, Formal logic, Logical induction