Job Posting: Mobile/Web Developer for Community PlanIt Game Platform

[SS]

Hello everyone,

I wanted to pass along this request for qualifications from the
Engagement Game Lab at Emerson College. Over the next year, we are
developing a game platform called Community PlanIt to work within any
participatory planning processes. The development is funded through
the Knight Foundation's new Technology for Engagement Initiative.

We are interested in hiring both a development company or an
individual to work on this project. (Individual has the option of
working as a private contractor, or a full-time employee with
benefits.)

If you have any questions about the process, or the RFQ document
below, please do not hesitate to contact me with questions.

Steven




REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
Mobile/Web Application Developer for Community PlanIt


ISSUED BY

Engagement Game Lab
Emerson College
120 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116


KEY DATES

RFQ Released to Public Friday, August 27, 2010
Submittal Deadline Monday, September 20, 2010
Finalists Interviewed Tuesday, September 21–Friday
September 24, 2010
Work to Begin Wednesday, September 29, 2010



DESCRIPTION

The Engagement Game Lab at Emerson College has been awarded a grant
through the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Technology for
Engagement Initiative to create a mobile/web community engagement
gaming platform called Community PlanIt. The platform will serve as an
adaptive process to foster stakeholder collaboration in a variety of
urban planning and community engagement contexts. The goal of the game
is to revitalize the community planning process, to encourage the
inclusion of underrepresented groups in those processes, and to allow
decision-makers and community leaders to use stakeholders’ knowledge
to shape the future of the community.


OVERVIEW OF THE REQUEST PROCESS

The Engagement Game Lab will accept, until 12 p.m. EST on Monday,
September 20, 2010, qualifications from interested companies and
individuals providing application development services for the
Community PlanIt game platform.

Responses by mail should be submitted to Steven Schirra, Emerson
College VMA Department, 120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02134 and
clearly marked “Mobile/Web Developer.” Responses by e-mail should be
sent to Steven_Schirra [at] emerson.edu with the subject line “Mobile/
Web Developer” with .doc or PDF attachments only.

We will review qualifications and references on an ongoing basis.
Finalists must be available for an interview Tuesday, September 21–
Friday September 24, 2010.


BACKGROUND

The Engagement Game Lab is a research lab at Emerson College focused
on the development and study of games to enhance urban civic life. The
faculty, students, and affiliates of the lab are actively engaged in
building digital games that pursue this goal, as well as researching
their efficacy and effectiveness. Recent projects include
Participatory Chinatown, a 3D immersive planning game for Boston's
Chinatown, and Hub2, which brought virtual tools and role-play into
community deliberation. Our work has received warm reviews in
publications such as The Boston Globe, Harvard Business Review, and
Fast Company, among others. The Community PlanIt project will be
nationally publicized through Emerson College and Knight Foundation
outreach efforts.


SCOPE OF WORK

The Engagement Game Lab seeks qualifications from companies or
individuals to develop a mobile gaming platform. The components of the
platform are as follows:


1. A central server to store and process game data, such as player
information, scores and results

2. A front-end Web user interface to collect community input and
facilitate social networking for players

3. A user-friendly back-end Web content management system to design
and execute all elements of the game experience

4. A light iPhone client to facilitate the collection of, and
interaction with, geo-located information (text, photos, videos)

5. An iPad client to facilitate mobile walking tours and collaborative
map annotation


Together, these platform components will help community organizations
facilitate a cohesive, interactive game experience consisting of: 1)
eight weeks of geo-located “missions” that are completed at home on a
Web interface or out in the community via iPhone interface or SMS; 2)
an in-person gaming event for the community engage in mobile walking
tours and collaborative map annotation; and 3) continued interaction
with the game through social networking and additional missions
through the Web and iPhone interfaces.


DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal recipient of this position should possess the following
qualifications:

3+ years of experience as a programmer in a Macintosh development
environment

3+ years of Linux server experience

Expertise in Objective C development, ideally with the iPhone SDK

A good sense/understanding of interface and interaction design, both
on mobile and web applications

Expertise in building and deploying open-source based Web applications
and content management systems

A strong interest in serious games and games for community engagement

Ability to work as a member of a development team and offer
constructive feedback on development process

Ability to provide creative solutions to development challenges as
they arise

Desire to work with non-profit or mission-oriented institutions

Experience developing location-based games or working with geo-located
game data is a plus

Basic knowledge of community planning, development, or organizing
advantageous

Metro Boston or immediate vicinity advantageous


TERMS

The Engagement Game Lab is accepting qualifications from companies and
individuals who wish to act as private contractors. We are willing to
consider qualifications from individuals seeking temporary, full-time,
benefits-eligible employment on a case-by-case basis.


PROJECT TIMING

The successful candidate or company will agree to commence work from
the Engagement Game Lab’s notice to proceed, which is anticipated to
be on or before Wednesday, September 29, 2010. The project must be
completed by May 1, 2011.


FORMAT AND SUBMISSION OF QUALIFICATIONS

1) The Engagement Game Lab must be in receipt of all qualifications by
mail or e-mail by 12 p.m. EST, Monday, September 20, 2010 by mail to
the following address:

Steven Schirra
Emerson College VMA Department
120 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02134

or, as a .doc or PDF attachment via e-mail to Steven_Schirra [at]
emerson.edu with the subject line “Mobile/Web Developer Position.”

2) A cover letter explaining the candidate’s interest in the project
and relevant experience and skills.

3) A CV or résumé outlining all the candidate’s relevant experience
and training.

4) A portfolio or link to a portfolio of past relevant projects—Web,
graphic design, UI/UX design, programs or applications, etc.

5) A list of 3–5 relevant references including contact name, telephone
number, address, and e-mail.


REVIEW AND EVALUATION

The Engagement Game Lab will review and evaluate submitted
qualifications based on past experience with similar projects, history
of successful application deployment, aesthetics and quality of
previous work, feedback from provided references, and alignment of
qualifications with the technological skills necessary to complete the
project.


GENERAL NOTES

1) Any questions concerning this RFQL should be made in writing to
Steven_Schirra [at] emerson.edu by 5 p.m. EST, Friday, September 17,
2010.

2) All questions and corresponding answers in reference to this RFQL
will be available on a link off our main website, http://communityplanit.org.
All questions received will be answered and posted by 5 p.m. EST,
Friday, September 17, 2010.