The Initiative is a Santa Monica-based game development studio creating Perfect Dark. We are in a unique position to operate as an independent studio under the banner and backing of Xbox Game Studios and Microsoft. Our ambition is to build groundbreaking, high-quality games that leave an impact.
We are looking for collaborative team members who are passionate about their craft and creating a thoughtful, inclusive culture. Our team welcomes diverse backgrounds and perspectives as we work to reimagine the Perfect Dark franchise and build an immersive game that connects with audiences. This is a once-in-a-career opportunity to be part of defining our culture as we grow and create something amazing in the process.
As a Narrative Designer, you are part of the team responsible for the execution of the game story. In this role, you will work with key stakeholders and writers to craft the Perfect Dark story and define how the narrative will be delivered through different game systems. The Narrative Designer collaborates closely with designers, writers, developers, and artists across the studio to ensure seamless integration of story and gameplay.
Responsibilities
As an experienced Narrative Designer, you will work with onsite and offsite Designers and Writers, plus key stakeholders across disciplines, to deliver the following:
- Act as a champion of story, characters, and storytelling engagement across the game.
- Collaborate to define an experience that takes the player on a compelling journey, with an eye to seamless marriage of gameplay and story.
- Research to support character and plot development
- Work with writers to write, edit and approve game dialogue.
- Design and document interactive narrative systems to facilitate story and emotional delivery to player.
- Maintain a story bible that includes game dialogue documentation, character information, world backstory, storyboards, and cinematic development plans.
- Collaborate with game designers to execute on narrative goals through gameplay systems and mission design.
Qualifications
- 3-5 years experience in a design or narrative design role, focused on integration of storytelling in an interactive title.
- Understands the differences between writing for games and writing for other mediums.
- In-depth knowledge of industry trends in interactive storytelling, with a genuine interest in creatively advancing the storytelling medium.
- Experience with Rapidly Prototyping game features, levels, setups, and sequences.
- Knowledgeable in a variety of fiction genres and up-to-date with pop culture.
- Ability to develop narrative designs into production-ready concepts for implementation.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Preferred:
- Demonstrated experience with 3D level editors or modelling packages (Unreal, Unity, Maya, etc.).
- Visual scripting proficiency (Unreal Blueprint, Frostbite, etc.).
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.
Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.
