Environment Artist - AAA Next-gen Gaming Co.

[Ascendi]

ENVIRONMENT ARTIST
Are you ready to set the bar for engrossing nextgen environments? Take your career to the next level and set the standard for visionary interior and exterior environments. Work in small teams in a highly productive atmosphere with professional game developers at one of the most successful AAA next-gen developers of today! Watch your creative vision come to life through our client’s upcoming unannounced multiplayer action title for the Xbox 360 and PS3!

What You’ll Bring:
- The ability to model, texture, and light 3D environments for a state of the art game engine
- The ability to create top-notch texture maps (from scratch if necessary), as well as apply imaginative/atmospheric lighting to environments created
- Model and create rich landscapes and interior/exterior environments
- Apply imaginative and atmospheric lighting to environments
- Create any aspect of a 3D game environment including modeling, texturing and lighting of cityscapes, architecture and world objects
- Thorough knowledge of UV-mapping, texture-paging, tiling
- Fluent knowledge of 3D Max and Photoshop
- Completion of a full-game production cycle with 4+ years of experience
- Our client is made of some real characters…fun games should be fun to make, so bring your personality with you!

Location/Relocation:
This is onsite, fulltime position located in Santa Monica, CA. Relocation assistance WILL BE provided for candidates located within the United States.

Salary:
$80-100K Base + Bonus + Full Benefits

So, to express your interest:
- Please send your resume to nextgen@ascendientertainment.com
- Please place the text “AI-ENV-LUX” on the subject line of your email

[Ascendi]

ENVIRONMENT ARTIST
Do you thrive in small environments where creativity and imagination pave the way to create unique AAA titles? Work with some of the most experienced veterans in the field creating highly imaginative titles! Model and texture creative and fun environments for their next major release and bring your artistic visions to life!

What You Will Be Bringing:
• Mastery of Maya
• Expertise in Photoshop and familiar with other common 2D and 3D tools
• Expertise in modeling environments and texture creation within tightly-defined technical guidelines
• Proficiency in lighting environments for dramatic effect
• Proficiently in creating Normal/Specular maps
• Experience importing and checking assets into the engine
• Creative persona with a positive attitude
• Able to focus and to manage one’s own time in order to meet milestones
• Self-driven, good communicator and team player
• Must have a passion for games and game development

What They Will Like:
• 2+ years experience or at least one credited title modeling/texturing environments for console games
• Skills in concept art and storyboarding a plus
• Ability to quickly learn new skills and pass those skills onto others
• Works quickly and efficiently within short development cycles and strict deadlines

Location/Relocation:
This is onsite, fulltime position located in Los Angeles, CA. Relocation assistance WILL BE provided for candidates located within the United States.

Salary:
$70-90K Base + Bonus + Full Benefits

So, to express your interest:
- Please send your resume to nextgen@ascendientertainment.com
- Please place the text “CS-F-EnvAr” on the subject line of your email

[Ascendi]

ENVIRONMENT ARTIST
Originality runs in your system. As a senior digital artist, you have the experience and the imagination to model some of the most visually appealing and innovative gaming environments today. Working with our client in the Bay Area, you will be the head of some of the most innovative and talented environment artists in digital media. You will be applying materials, including texture and normal maps, to the models and integrating the models into the game using proprietary editing tools. In addition, establish good development practices by assisting the lead in evolving the editing tools. With the involvement of new intellectual property, you will understand how to uphold the game’s design vision through the modeling of the game’s world space. Thrust your creative muscles onto the PS3 and Xbox 360, and find new ways to evolve and improve the environmental art creation pipeline! If a highly creative, small and intimate development environment fits your style, then join one of the most innovative and imaginative teams today!

What You Will Be Doing:
- Using Maya and our proprietary editing tools, creating and integrating gorgeous, innovative, epic and cohesive gameplay-rich environmental spaces in support of the art direction of the game.
- Modeling architectural geometry and props for game environments and place models in game levels.
- Creating clean and organized UV layouts for the terrain and props.
- Working closely with Material Artists to create and apply advanced shaders to the environments.
- Assisting the Lead Environment Artist to achieve a consistent feel across all environments by participating in visual comparisons and critiques, working within hardware limitations, and meeting deadlines without compromising quality.
- Generating clean and organized models and UV work.
- Working closely with design to maintain all technical aspects of the levels, such as collision, path finding, and various other volumes.
- Optimizing rendering and memory footprints for levels as required.
- Collaborating with game designers and art director to create visually stunning levels that play well.
- Contributing to the further development of our editing tools.
- Contributing innovative and original ideas on all aspects of game production and development.
- Promoting best practices among the World Building team.

What You Will Be Bringing:
- BA in Art or equivalent field or BS/BA in Computer Graphics or Film, or equivalent educational experience. Sculpture or architecture experience is a plus.
- At least 5 years experience creating environmental content such as architectural buildings, terrain, ecosystems and props in Maya with at least 2 years in a senior position on highly regarded, published console titles
- Significant experience developing and working with proprietary processes and tools for creating environments.
- Fluency in 2D/3D software packages, especially Maya, Zbrush and Photoshop, with strong modeling skills for organic and architectural shapes. Familiarity with Mel scripting and knowledge of rendering packages such as Mental Ray is a plus.
- Demonstrable experience designing, modeling, mapping and lighting environments. Experience with open world art challenges is a plus.
- Ability to quickly learn and work with proprietary tools to leverage advanced modeling, material, and lighting effects.
- Understanding of real-time modeling and texturing constraints and the ability to work within them.
- Ability to translate concept and reference artwork into 3D game assets, efficiently and within game engine specifications.
- Impressive portfolio demonstrating strong traditional art skills, design sensibilities, and attention to detail.
- Demonstrated initiative and problem-solving skills.
- A keen eye for silhouette, form, color and light.
- Self-driven individual with strong written and verbal communication skills, and excellent interpersonal, organizational and mentorship skills, including the ability to provide relevant art critiques.
- Willingness to provide and accept direction, and the ability to embrace change. Ability to collaborate productively with others and to work to meet deadlines as necessary.
- A serious passion for gaming.
- The ability to work full time in San Francisco, California.

Location/Relocation:
This is onsite, fulltime position located in San Francisco, CA. Relocation assistance WILL BE provided for candidates located within the United States.

Salary:
$70-90K Base + Bonus + Full Benefits

So, to express your interest:
- Please send your resume to nextgen@ascendientertainment.com
- Please place the text “DF-F-EnvAr” on the subject line of your email