Lead Game Designer @ Flatter Than Earth
http://www.FlatterThanEarth.com
Fundamental Info
- We agree with 99% of Earth's population that Earth is round.
- Working with team members from around the globe. Ranging from GMT-4 to GMT+3.
- We are a premium AA+ Indie that has all the elements to become a highly recognized IP.
- We are looking for candidates that can start before mid January
- Always Remote, 140-160 hours per month or less, if that is your preference.
- Freelance Contract: duration unlimited, core team member (current + DLC + future games)
- Orientation period: allow yourself 2-4 weeks to become familiar with the product and team.
- Salary: dependent on knowledge, skill, experience level and location.
Your Role
As a Lead Game Designer that is part of our core team, you would immerse yourself into the core elements & feel of our IP. You would be responsible for developing & polishing game mechanics that support our pillars and final vision. With the help of our programmer, your theories will have to communicate their intentions in-engine. A very hand on approach will be needed. Theories are not enough for this role.
We are very much looking forward to tweak current and develop mechanics with you for the current core game, upcoming DLC and future game(s).
At Flatter Than Earth, you’re not "just" a designer. You’ll use your technical know-how, sensitivity, creativity, and strong interpersonal skills, to collaborate in a cross-functional team to create a very playable & memorable theatrical world of puppets.
Skills & Requirements
To thrive as a Lead Game Designer at Flatter Than Earth you would have:
- Strong technical skills, ability to be a hands on in-engine technical designer
- Theoretical only designers please do not apply
- 2+ years of lead designer experience in the video game industry
- 5+ years of video game design experience with particular expertise on systems and mechanics.
- Good technical, in-engine game mechanics abilities (best: Unity 3D)
- Student & personal work is not ideal exp.
- Team work experience is a must. Solo development is not ideal exp.
- 1+ years of development & design experience within the platforming & puzzle genres.
- Strong artistic skills, to create final & polished gameplay assets
- Experience in launching a game. A minimum of 2 shipped titles as a designer.
- Ability to pitch game concepts clearly and effectively.
- Affinity for the puzzle and platforming game audience, and an appreciation of its different player types, motivation and needs.
- Excellent balance, tuning, and polishing skills.
- Very good English communication skills; both written and verbal.
Duties:
- Lead or Co-Lead the design team
- Own the upcoming DLC, sequel and/or future games
- Polish gameplay assets to a final high quality state
- Pursue Unity engine prototypes that demonstrate and test gameplay mechanics and systems.
- Work with our gameplay programmer to create, develop & polish mechanics
- Deconstruct new and existing mechanics and systems in order to be able to iterate and improve gameplay with specific improvements/outcomes in mind.
- Take design ownership over mechanics and systems.
- Drive communication and collaboration between key departments towards the approved designs. Set priorities and objectives together with key stakeholders.
- Evolve designs and prototypes based on playtesting and feedback.
- Assist in advocating best practices.
- Attend and strongly participate in designer meetings.
How to Apply
Visit our website at https://www.flatterthanearth.com/join-us and hit the apply button 🙂
Please introduce yourself and send your resumes, a short cover letter and links to any relevant info and previous games.
At the top of you cover letter provide a quick info area:
- Number of Shipped Titles
- Years of experience
- Current Location/Time zone
Example:
- Shipped 3
- 6 years
- Paris/GMT+1
Also to help us understand your perspective, please mention:
- What speaks to you about our game and/or company?
- When do you prefer to start ?
- How many hours of work per week would you like to do ?
- What are your salary expectations or rate range? *Please be gentile on us.
- Are you currently employed or have any active contracts ?
We will read carefully what you send us and reach out to you if you meet our criteria.
If you are a good fit, then a follow up email will be sent your way.
Add the GDPR consent to your CV: I hereby give my consent for the information provided on this form to be held on computer or other relevant filing systems in accordance with the GDPR 2023
Once Upon a Puppet - a Video Game from Flatter Than Earth
- [WEBSITE] To understand slightly more, please visit us at www.FlatterThanEarth.com
- [PUBLIC] Vertical Slice v0.2 was already impressing our audience, please follow link to view video: Video Link - Once Upon A Puppet
- During a rigorous selection process, PAX judges invited FTE and our Game to be placed in the best spot next to Sega and Twitch booths. It was a great honor and there was a fantastic amount of interest in our game.
- [PRIVATE] Vesical Slice v0.95, has massive improvements on all levels. Successful applicants can see v0.95 during the 2nd interview stage.
- To the delight of Paris Festival & Gamescom attendees, our game was available to play. 8 out of 10 players finished our vertical slice (full 45 min).
We are offering You
- To be a very important part of the development of Once Upon a Puppet a puzzle-platformer game with many elements that make for a memorable experience in this genre.
- Be Indie and away from corporate bureaucracy and a heavy chain of command that slows down decision making & creativity.
- Be part of the core team, you will not be a cog in a machine, your voice will always be heard & important.
- Your creativity will not be limited by corporate processes, only self-limited by "blue-sky" yet realistic ideas that enhance the fun and do not kill scope.
- You will work remotely and manage your own time & location to focus.
- Choose when you want to take a day off or have a longer vacation.
- We at FTE heavily promote a culture free from crunch. Do not do it, it can have terrible effects.
- Salary is equal to skills and other team members will be glad to teach you or learn from you.
- Your input will have a serious effect on the project and its final form.
- If wanted, representing the game, team & company at game dev. events.
- You will feel you are responsible and a true owner of the game you are making.
- You are learning and evolving with us, Flatter Than Earth, a young team & young company aiming for big things.
About the Company
At Flatter Than Earth, our mission is to create whimsical video games that triple A studios do not dare to make.
We're a multidisciplinary, fully remote team that’s passionate about creating video games and help players have fun. We thrive on innovating new solutions to old challenges and we seek to rethink how interesting themes (like theater & puppets or music) can merge into games that speak to the heart, mind & soul.
Our current project, Once Upon a Puppet aims to capture the attention and unleash the imagination of gamers of all ages.
Our core values are:
They are few, but they are strong. From creating processes to decision-making and finding the right team-members, we build & see our 5 core values in every thing we do.
- Independence. Others can trust that you’ll be organized, pro-active and deliver what you agreed to and vice versa.
- Mastery. You love what you do and care deeply about the quality of your work. You’re continuously learning and pushing yourself to expand your abilities further. You're never satisfied with the status-quo.
- Communication. Your communication is spontaneous, clear, concise, and engaging whether you're explaining a complex idea or providing feedback to a teammate.
- Ambition & Balance. You aspire to put a dent into the gaming industry. To do this, you set high standards for yourself and those around you. The time you spend on work isn’t measured by quantity, but by quality.
- Impact. You're able to take a bird's eye view to pinpoint and then solve issues that have a high impact on our players, our team, and our company. You're committed to the health and success of both your teammates and Flatter Than Earth as a company.
We at Flatter Than Earth THANK YOU and are looking forward to hearing from You! :-)
Related Keywords
- game design, systems design, design specs, game mechanics, design theory, competitive analysis, player progression, game rule sets, pitch, game development, game prototyping, rapid iteration, gameplay tuning