Encounter Designer (Contract)

Why PlayStation?Learn more about the general tasks related to this opportunity below, as well as required skills.PlayStation isn't just the Best Place to Play "” it's also the Best Place to Work. Today, we're recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation5, PlayStation4, PlayStationVR, PlayStationPlus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation.Join the award-winning team that created God of WarSanta Monica Studio is seeking a talented Encounter Designer to help us build a new unannounced title!In this role, you will assist, collaborate with, and take direction from the Sr Encounter Designer, Combat, and Level Design teams, and Design and Game Directors to place, tune and maintain combat scenarios and encounters throughout the game.The ideal candidate has proven design sense, attention to detail and an established technical expertise, along with a strong understanding of the elements that combine to create fun and engaging encounters. You are someone who takes initiative, isn't afraid to ask questions, and gets ideas into the game early to fail fast, learn, and iterate. You take direction well while also offering feedback in a structured and considerate manner, are eager to learn, and passionately motivated to push the boundaries of encounters.ResponsibilitiesWork with existing AI cast, level mechanics, and environmental components to create scenarios that map to the desired pacing and difficulty for each combat encounter in the gameUse the game engine tools to implement encounters including, but not limited to, character placement, wave triggering, managing groups of enemies, etcCollaborate with level and environment teams to address performance issues, bugs, and adhere to metrics and best practicesLiaise closely with the combat team responsible for design, creation, and maintenance of AI cast membersLearn and become effective with both the combat design and level design tools and workflowSupport and champion the gameplay vision and align encounter experiences with game and player needsBe aware of varying play styles and build encounters that provide accurate level of challenge for different audiencesWork closely with production partners to establish and maintain the timely completion of encountersGather, respond to, and implement feedback from playtests and peer and director reviewsPlay and replay encounters and tune for qualityRequirementsTwo or more years in game development, with at least one year in a Combat or Encounter Design role on a first- or third-person action gameExperience using a text-based and/or visual scripting languageBasic knowledge of scripting languages and code (e.g., XML, C++, PERL) is preferred but not requiredExperience building 3D layouts in support of combat encountersMust be able to grasp and work with code-based proprietary tools to implement and troubleshoot issuesAbility to think logically with a strong level of attention to detailMust be able to professionally communicate and work with other members of the game production teamMust have knowledge of competitive products and various gameplay genres, as well as a personal understanding of fun in video gamesPreferred ExperiencePrior experience building and tuning combat encounters in a 3rd person action gameExperience with Maya#J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2024-11-08