Senior Game Designer

Who We Are: 

Founded by an MMO legend who has led AAA teams for over 20 years, our new studio Fantastic Pixel Castle (FPC) is building an original fantasy IP from scratch. Players will be regularly engaged in our development process from early stages as part of our open and transparent studio culture, and we aim to craft an IP that will be worthy of their passion and dedication for decades to come.
We are committed to being a fully remote and global studio, so that we can hire world-class people and have them live their best lives. We think top-heavy bureaucracy stifles creativity, so we aim to stay small as we focus on delivering a game and a world that you will love. We are fully-funded, and the team will share in all of our studio's successes.

Position Overview: 

We are seeking a Senior Game Designer with Unreal Engine experience to play a crucial role in designing and implementing large-scale systems, mechanics, and content tailored for a persistent online world. You will work closely with our world-building, engineering, and art teams to create an immersive, engaging player experience. Your deep understanding of Unreal Engine and MMO design principles will be key in shaping the core gameplay and mechanics of project Ghost, ensuring they scale effectively and maintain player engagement over time.

Specific roles we are looking to fill immediately include building out objectives for our procedurally generated open world, implementing combat abilities for encounters, or helping to design and implement Ghost's diverse slate of classes.

Depending on candidate's experience and skillset, there is opportunity for the role to be Principal level.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement complex gameplay systems, mechanics, and features tailored for an MMORPG. You may work on combat, class design, creature design, or emergent systems for open world content or other systems as needed.
• Use Unreal Engine's Blueprint system to design and implement in-game features ensuring scalability and performance for a persistent online world.
• Work closely with worldbuilding, narrative, and engineering teammates to create objectives and systems for expansive, engaging environments that encourage multiplayer interaction.
• Ensure the MMORPG experience is balanced and provides a satisfying core progression loop for players.
• Participate in regular playtesting and analysis, using data-driven insights to refine and improve the game's features and mechanics.
• Work with other designers to establish clear design documentation, including systems specifications, priorities and design goals.
• Troubleshoot and resolve design and gameplay issues related to MMO environments and Unreal Engine's capabilities. 

Requirements:

• 7+ years of experience in game design.
• Deep understanding of MMORPG design principles, including player progression, group dynamics, world-building, crafting systems, and PvP systems.
• Strong proficiency in Unreal Engine, particularly with Blueprint scripting, level design tools, and performance optimization for multiplayer environments.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills, with the ability to translate abstract design concepts into specific designs and reason about design tradeoffs.
• Ability to combine quantitative in-game data and qualitative player feedback to form a complete picture of player behavior and motivations.
• Ability to balance and iterate on complex systems, from combat and AI to player progression and in-game economies.
• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills, with the ability to resolve gameplay issues in a large, interconnected environment.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to work effectively in a cross-disciplinary team.
• Passion for MMORPGs and online multiplayer games, with a deep understanding of player motivations and behavior.
• Proficient in spreadsheet tools such as Excel, Sheets, or equivalent tools.

 
Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with server-client architecture for MMORPGs, including multiplayer networking and latency tolerant implementations.
• Experience with AI behavior design, event-driven systems, and dynamic content creation in an MMO context.
• Experience with class design for an MMORPG in a multi-role environment (e.g. Tank, Healer, Melee Damage, Ranged Damage).
• Experience creating emergent systems for open world content in a procedurally generated multiplayer environment.
• Knowledge of data analytics tools to assess and refine MMORPG gameplay systems based on player data.
• Experience in managing or contributing at the pre-production stage.
  

US Salary Band: $110,000 - 160,000 USD

CAN Salary Band: $84,000 - 140,000 CAD

We are an equal opportunity employer that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other protected status as required by law.