Sr Combat Designer (Contract)

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Join the award-winning team that created God of War

Santa Monica Studio is seeking a Sr Combat Designer to design and implement Enemy and Boss characters!

You will assist, collaborate with, and take direction from Lead Combat Designers and Directors as needed to take various characters from concept to implementation completion.

You will also work with multiple disciplines including Animation, Level Design, Character Art, Vis Dev, Encounters, etc. in ensuring that characters are cohesively executed in game.

Senior level applicants are expected to be able to drive features forward by representing them with confidence and knowledge, keep all feature stakeholders well informed, and bolster the team via process improvement, mentorship, and leading by example.

Responsibilities

Create high level character design intent & combat flow plans

Character animation and behavior implementation via state machines, behavior trees, visual effects, sound effects and various other scripting systems

Iteratively work within the set standard for all character asset design, creation, and in-game implementation within the production path as it relates to design, art and otherwise

Attend and participate in combat-specific discussions concerning combat design and combat design issues

Attend and participate in production-related discussions concerning relevant feature pipelines and roadmaps

Represent complex design and character features to multiple departments as “the point person”

Value the relationship between gameplay elements in a level (and in the overall game) and the ways the player can respond to each gameplay element

Respond to and act on playtest and lead feedback to create the best experience for all player skill levels

Drive and create opportunities for value addition within the team and studio

Requirements

Significant experience using text-based and visual scripting languages to set-up character logic, debug complex problems, and test work thoroughly

Basic knowledge of vector math, scripting languages, and code (e.g., XML, C++, Lua) is required

Must be able to grasp and work with code-based proprietary tools to implement and troubleshoot assigned characters

Ability to think logically with a strong level of attention to detail - should be able to break down design concepts and analyze them with regards to purpose and intent

Self-sufficient in getting to the root of a problem or issue and taking the necessary steps to find solutions

Must have knowledge of competitive products and various gameplay genres, as well as a personal understanding of video game fun with regards to combat and enemy design

Must possess quality written communication skills and the ability to convey abstract concepts

Must be able to professionally communicate and work with other members of the game production team

Must be able to speak to and discuss, in depth, combat systems, mechanics, and enemies in one or more 3rd person melee action RPGs

4+ years in game development, with at least two in a Character design capacity (creative and technical)

Preferred Experience

Candidates who are fluent with the combat design choices, systems, mechanics, and enemies in God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök (2022)

Experience with the full development cycle of two or more published triple-A titles

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At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.

Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.

In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click

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The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.$59.52—$89.23 USD

Equal Opportunity Statement :

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.

PlayStation is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.