Game Writer/Designer

We are looking for a game designer/writer to join the team creating interactive content in our award-winning game-based system that teaches foreign languages and cultures. There are several languages being developed. Specific knowledge of these is less important than your passion for applying your creativity as a game designer to develop engaging content that makes learning languages fun. In addition to designing game play, you will be writing scene scripts and accompanying dialogs, working closely with our production team of artists and animators to carry out your vision. You will be responsible for coordinating on at least one, and possibly two projects, working closely with our various teams and, of course, our customers.

As a game designer, you will be designing and developing highly engaging games to enable our learners to apply their new-found linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to carry out mission-specific tasks. You will be working closely with other content developers to ensure that the games are integrated into our pedagogical approach. Our serious games are first-person simulations of real-life encounters with other characters. They may be single- or multi-player. You will be also be designing casual games that have as their objective teaching simple communicative tasks within a cultural context. You will be collaborating closely with the production department (e.g., 3D artists and animators) to produce the games.

You will be a person who:

• Possesses a solid knowledge of game design with at least 4 years of experience in the field.
• Has experience developing and using serious games that involve simulations of human communication.
• Has technical ability to design games in a variety of platforms, including major games engines as well as Flash.
• Has experience with role-playing games as a player and/or designer.
• Has keen awareness and attention to the user experience, understands principles of user interfaces and user interface design.
• Has experience interacting with foreign cultures.
• Is not only capable of learning languages but has a passion for language and language learning.
• Has outstanding writing and story-telling skills.
• Is creative.
• Is organized and detail-oriented.
• Is aware of time and deadlines and knows intuitively when “enough is enough”.
• Works fast and enjoys getting things done.
• Is an excellent communicator.
• Can work with customers, including the most demanding, to make sure their needs are being met.
• Works independently.
• Can manage the overall goals and prioritize learning objectives for a project, and possibly two.
• Has the ability to manage entry level personnel and SMEs in order to meet deadlines.
• Easily cooperates with other departments (e.g., production, technology).
• Is a team player and a problem solver.
• Can take the “big picture” view of projects.

• Bachelor's Degree in game design or fine arts with a specialization in game design, or similar.

• Master’s Degree in game design or MFA with a specialization/coursework in game design.
• Coursework or dual degree in instructional design.
• Artistic sense and ability to collaboratively produce compelling visual designs.
• Experience in building cultural and linguistic content in computer-mediated environments.
• Experience designing serious games.
• Ability to program game prototypes and light-weight scripting in languages such as Python.
• Flash programming skills, particularly in ActionScript 3.
• Credit on at least one previous shipped game title.
• Experience dealing with military organizations.

(gamewrides0808)
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We prefer candidates already residing in metropolitan Los Angeles, but will consider relocation for uniquely qualified individuals. Likewise, we prefer either U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents (unless noted).

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