Level Designer

ABOUT GHOST STORY GAMES

Ghost Story Games is a self-publishing game studio owned by Take-Two Interactive. Our mission is simple: to create immersive, story-driven videogames for people who love games that ask something of them.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

The ideal candidate has multiple years of experience designing levels for first-person shooters. In this role, you will be crafting dynamic gameplay experiences within a rich environment. Responsibilities include developing level-design layouts, scripting events, tuning AI encounters and creating design documentation, and all things gameplay-related.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with lead designer and lead environment artist on level-design layouts, gameplay setup, encounter scripting, design documentation and all things gameplay-related.
• Work alongside other designers, artists, animators and engineers to create gameplay spaces that engage with our narrative storytelling while being fun and running within optimization goals.
• Work within established level-design metrics and game systems to create challenging encounters, interesting scenarios and unique moments.
• Pitch ideas, strategic initiatives and game concepts to all levels of management and leadership.
• Champion your vision throughout each stage of development, across multiple departments.
• Implement level-design changes based on in-house feedback and outside playtesting data.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• 3+ years’ experience as a level designer, with at least 1 shipped FPS title.
• Previous experience working on scripting and design for levels, combat encounters and missions/quests in FPS titles.
• Deep understanding of good level flow and tactical spaces.
• Experience with supporting environmental storytelling through design.
• Strong spatial and layout design skills.
• Experienced in supporting gameplay mechanics in the game world.
• Experience with scripting events and debugging game logic.
• Intuitive understanding of how FPS games work and why people play them.
• Strong content-design skills, including experience with RPG systems.
• Self-motivated toward solving creative problems.
• Ability to respond elegantly to difficult creative changes, often late in the process.
• Ability to prioritize feature requests to developers and engineers based on design goals.
• Unreal Engine 4 experience.
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Great working knowledge of game-design theory and game-development methodologies, including level-design theory and practice.
• Can easily break down core level-design elements and use them when creating combat and traversal sections of a level.
• Self-motivated and able to work well independently.
• Ability to work well under pressure and with deadlines.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Understanding of source control via Perforce or equivalent.

WHAT WE OFFER

• The opportunity to work on a creatively ambitious project in the immersive sim genre.
• A world-class team. We are proud to be home to some of the most talented, smartest, nicest and hardest-working colleagues. We make mistakes sometimes, but we help each other by finding mistakes early and depending on each other to fix them quickly.
• We are a core development team of just under 40 people and work closely with specialist outsource groups and contractors when necessary.
• Open Communication: Our team members are welcome to join any meeting, and we have a flat structure. Team-based decision making is important to us, regardless of your position – every opinion counts and is considered.
• Flexible Hours: We understand that sometimes people need to juggle work and family life, so we have flexible work.

WHEN APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

• Please have played or at least be familiar with our legacy games System Shock 2 , BioShock and BioShock Infinite .
• Please watch the following GDC talk given by Ken Levine.
• Submit a strong portfolio showcasing your most recent work to accompany your resume.