Filament Games seeks a talented and bright Game Designer to join our core development team. The Game Designer takes the helm on specific learning game projects, serving as both Lead Designer and Client Advocate.
A Game Designer must be able to:
- Draft and present game design documentation
- Write and edit narrative content
- Work with developers on data integration
- During game production, Game Designers test new features, provide feedback, and work with clients to clarify their goals and expectations.
Responsibilities
- Act as Lead Designer and Client Advocate on assigned projects
- Test new features, provide feedback, and work with clients to clarify their goals and vexpectations
- Represent client goals and advocate for client perspective during internal meetings
- Provide estimates to the production team
- Create and build gameplay systems and scenarios for projects
- Lead and participate in playtests and design reviews
- Draft and present game design documentation, wireframes, storyboards and prototypes
- Write and edit narrative content
- Work with Developers on design problems, content creation, and data integration
- Perform research and draft summary reports on research
- Travel occasionally to observe in-classroom playtests
- Respond to QA and design issues in development and real-time environments
- Other design work as needed
Experience
- Bachelors or beyond in relevant field, or equivalent experience
- A strong portfolio of design documentation that clearly explains mechanics for a game or games, ideally with a serious or educational purpose
- A strong portfolio of game titles (not necessarily digital) with collaborative or sole responsibility for design and design documentation
- Experience and passion for creating design-centric games, ideally serious or learning games
- Knowledge of game balancing and pacing
- Experience and skill in communication and collaborative problem solving
Required Skills
- Ability to effectively communicate design ideas through sketches
- Effective written and verbal communication
- Firm grasp of what makes games compelling, interesting and engaging
- Ability to create detailed design documents and work closely with programmers and artists to implement game features
- Ability to effectively analyze and give direction for improving submitted gameplay assets
- Ability to diplomatically present client feedback to development team to ensure client satisfaction
- Ability to work within a highly dynamic environment where team members often have multiple responsibilities
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Ability to revise design according to critique
- Advanced design ideas and detailed understanding of game mechanics across a wide set of genres
Personal Characteristics
- Able to shift between detail-oriented and big picture thinking depending on the problem at hand
- Collaborative thinker, helping support team ideas rather than “win” with their own ideas
- Self-motivated
- Positive attitude
- Innovative
- Comfortable in a fast-paced, collaborative, entrepreneurial environment
- Ability to meet strict deadlines
- Ability to revise design according to critique
Cool Extra Skills
- Indie and/or serious game design experience
- Knowledge of and affection for strange or esoteric games
- Passion for learning and for designing learning experiences
- Scripting experience for simple digital prototypes
- Illustration skills for enhanced storyboard development
- Something you bring to the table that is unique that we haven't thought of!
about filament games
Our team is a creative, interdisciplinary group of people who are making a difference. Through innovative educational games we’re working to modernize education and revolutionize learning!
We believe that the best work – and the best life – comes from a healthy balance between work and play, discipline, and fun. Our office culture reflects this.
Our office is located in downtown Madison, a lively city with a world-class university, burgeoning tech industry and beautiful state capitol. Downtown Madison is a vibrant, active urban center with fun weekly events like Concert on the Square and the Farmer’s Market, and offers access to a variety of eclectic restaurants, music venues, and the best of Madison’s nightlife.
Filament offers a competitive benefits package, including health/dental/vision care, short & long term disability, a Flexible Spending Account, 401k retirement plan, subsidized bus fare, discounted gym membership, profit sharing, and unlimited paid time off.
Applicants will be considered for positions on the basis of qualifications and ability to perform the job for which they are applying without regard to race, religion, creed, sex, age, residency, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical appearance. Minorities are encouraged to apply.
