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Writer/Narrative Designer

We’re looking for passionate storytellers to join our Narrative Team. If you’ve written for any entertainment medium, we want to hear from you.

We’re ArenaNet—we’ve created a studio that makes online worlds infused with innovation, hand-crafted excellence, and creative passion. We're not the only ones who share this passion; gamers made Guild Wars 2 the fastest selling MMO game in the West with more than 3 million copies sold in its first 9 months, and players and press have consistently called it one of the best MMOs of all time.

Our studio is built on foundations of excellence with a focus on community. We constantly innovate, unlocking the true potential of online role-playing with game-changing titles like Guild Wars 2 and beyond. The status quo is not good enough for our dedicated worldwide community of players, which is why we question the de facto industry conventions and demand more from ourselves as developers.

The role of Narrative as a discipline in the game development process is to provide context and meaning to the gameplay experience, binding all aspects of the game together into a coherent and integrated dramatic journey and cementing the emotional bond between player and game. As our products make clear, ArenaNet is a studio that values and respects that role as essential to the development of a great and successful game project.

Thus, our Writer/Narrative Designers are full creative partners in that process, from the conception and ideation of IP, game projects, worlds, characters, themes, and tone; to the breaking and outlining of story and character arcs over scenes, missions, sequences, episodes, and seasons; to the writing of character bibles, story documents, and both Golden Path and Living World VO and text scripts. We collaborate intensively as parts of multidisciplinary teams to create unique and unforgettable immersive experiences for our players.

This is a mid-level position that reports directly to the Associate Narrative Director on a per-project basis.

PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS

We ask that all applications include the following:

• Resume or CV that lists recent and relevant job history and responsibilities.
• Cover letter that tells us something about you and why you’re applying for this position.
• One or more portfolio samples that showcase strong dramatic writing.
  • Screenplays, teleplays, or comic scripts preferred.
  • Tells a complete story and is at least three pages in length (any genre).

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drive and/or assist in the creation and development of IP, story, and character arcs in collaboration with other disciplines
• Write in-game dialogue, setting or adopting established tone and distinct character voices
• Participate in story breaking sessions with project leadership.
• Workshop your scripts in a writers’ room.
• Write supporting documentation to effectively communicate development of the narrative to team members in all disciplines (episode and act summaries).
• Design and work with various systems for conveying story in an interactive world, including environmental props, character interactions, and systemic dialogue.
• Use proprietary content creation tools to revise golden path story and ambient dialogue scripts.
• Advocate for diverse perspectives, characters, and representation in our games, while bringing your own experiences to the creative process.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Proficient dramatic writing skills, with knowledge of or experience in writing for games and at least one other narrative medium (screenwriting, playwriting, prose fiction, etc.—writing for the spoken word preferred)
• Knowledge of breaking serialized story at the season and episode level

• Demonstrable understanding of or experience in interactive and non-linear storytelling, using non-traditional and non-verbal delivery systems (e.g., environmental storytelling, in-engine storytelling without cutscenes or lore dumps, etc.)
• Excellent communication, decision-making, and organizational skills
• Demonstrable knowledge of character creation, story arc design, and dialogue writing (portfolio sample required)
• Collaborative, productive, and enthusiastic attitude when working with multidisciplinary teams on story creation and implementation
• Ability to learn and use proprietary tools to create content
• Ability to work independently as part of a large, coordinated team to hit deadlines
• Insatiable intellectual curiosity
• Burning urge to create
• Unafraid to make tough calls, embrace the necessity of "killing your darlings", and take direction from creative leads
• Enthusiasm for lifelong learning, leveling up, and refinement of craft

EDUCATION/TRAINING/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent educational, professional, or personal achievement or experience.
• Minimum of two years of professional experience as a Writer (freelance or staff).
• Deep knowledge of games, film, television, literature, comics—especially in fantasy and science-fiction genres.

PLUSES

• Experience in other disciplines of game design and development.
• Familiarity with Final Draft and/or Microsoft Word.
• Familiarity with narrative game systems.
• Experience producing live action content (indie films, web series, television, etc.)
• Light implementation experience.
• Passion for video games and deep knowledge of multiple genres.
• Experience and development knowledge of open-world games and/or MMOs.
• One or more shipped games on which you played an editorial, narrative design, or writing role.

This is a full time, on-site position at our studio in Bellevue, Washington. A positive, supportive, collaborative, decidedly non-toxic work environment, comprehensive benefits package, a competitive salary, and more are all part of what makes ArenaNet a great place to work.

ArenaNet is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

ArenaNet LLC participates in E-Verify.