Scripting / Systems Designer

Summary:

Do you love designing and analyzing game mechanics? Are you fascinated with the nuances of weapon design, AI & encounter design, and combat abilities? Do you love creating unique and deep gameplay systems? We’re looking for a passionate designer to join our team and be a primary contributor to the design of our next game, with a focus on combat design.

Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and balance gameplay systems such as player abilities and weapons
• Collaborate across disciplines on AI behaviors, enemy design, and balancing
• Handle combat encounter design & setup
• Prototype your ideas using our in-house scripting language and other tools
• Act as producer for your work, collaborating across disciplines to get work done and clear dependencies, ensuring deadlines are met, and championing aspects of the gameplay
• Work directly with artists, programmers, animators and other game designers to contribute to the vision of the game
• Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed

Requirements & Skills:

• Experience in gameplay system design for PC or console games
• Minimum 3 years of games industry experience
• Scripting or programming experience
• Strong methodology and problem solving ability and with a focus on gameplay systems
• Strong and effective communication skills
• Exceptional team player with the ability to collaborate without losing sight of the gameplay vision
• Willingness to take design direction when offered
• Experience playing third-person console games and multiplayer console games

Bonus Skills:

• 3D layout experience (single player or multiplayer)
• Good working knowledge of Maya, 3DS Max or similar 3D package
• Experience developing third-person action games

As part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates should expect to be given a technical interview and may be asked to complete a design test.