Associate Designer

Position Title: Associate Designer 

Studio/Department: Standing Stones Games

Employee Type: Full Time, Regular

Location:  Needham, MA, Remote (Daybreak Approved Remote Locations (CA, WA, TX, NY, MA, NH)

Salary Range: $19.00/hr-24.00/hr pay may vary on location. 

ABOUT OUR STUDIO 

Standing Stone Games Standing Stone Games is a gaming studio based in Needham, Massachusetts (right outside of Boston!), staffed by people who have been passionately working on MMOs for decades. We're proud to develop and operate our two free-to-play MMOs: Dungeons & Dragons Online and Lord of the Rings Online! We enjoy sharing heroic stories with our players that create a lifetime of memories. We invite you to explore our games, which hold the promise of depth, scope, and unlimited imagination!

Find out more about our studio at https://www.standingstonegames.com/. 

Description

An Associate Game Systems Designer collaborates with senior team members to help sustain and expand the ever-growing world of the Lord of the Rings Online. Reporting to the Lead Designer/Creative Director, this position will be responsible for creating and maintaining game system databases, owning smaller game systems and reward systems such as Hobbies, Crafting, and Baubles, and assists in bug fixing, itemization updating of past releases. The Associate Game Systems Designer will also collaborate and be a valued colleague in helping to set the direction and goals for future development.

Responsibilities

Priorities often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the design team to integrate game systems focused on advancement, classes, rewards, itemization and rewards, hobbies, crafting, and more.


• Partners with design colleagues, QA, artists, engineers, and producers, plan, document, implement, test, and deliver regular updates on progress to the larger team.


• Work independently on shared game systems, and own smaller game systems, indicative of experience.


• Implement flexible systems in an approach to allow for iteration and response to player behaviors and feedback.


• Gain an understanding of system constraints and game engine architecture to be able to work within them to deliver assets.

Minimum Requirements

• High School diploma or GED


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills


• Strong math and logic skills


• Familiarity with the MMO Genre and related game systems


• Interest in game progression and economies, and an understanding of what makes them work


• Ability to react quickly to changing project needs, be a contributor to a shared vision


• Be player-focused, passionate, solution-focused, and innovative

Expertise

• Tools/Technology /
  
  
  
  • Required:
    
    
    
    • Strong general computer skills (very comfortable in Microsoft Excel, Word, etc.)
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Desired:
    
    
    
    • Scripting/coding experience, such as Python, Perl, C# or similar languages
    
    
    • Experience with version control software, such as Perforce
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Knowledge
    
    
    
    • Required:
      
      
      
      • Familiarity with modern game design philosophy and direction
      
      
      
      
    
    
    • Desired:
      
      
      
      • Experience with The Lord of the Rings Online
      
      
      • A mature, professional attitude and work ethic; you need to be able to champion your ideas, yet accept and value the ideas of others
      
      
      • Experience with game development tools, modern and classic
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Bonus Criteria

• BA, BS, or associate's degree


• Experience as a developer of multiplayer systems in an MMO or RPG Environment


• Deep knowledge of the literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien


• An avid gamer, with experience in live service games


• Strong organizational skills: ability to keep track of minute details as well as the big picture while multitasking


• Self-motivated with the ability to creatively solve problems

We invite you to get in the game with us and help us make exciting experiences!

ABOUT OUR COMPANY

Daybreak Game Company LLC is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games. Best known for blockbuster hits and franchises such as DC Universe™ Online, PlanetSide®, EverQuest®, and Dungeons and Dragons Online®, Daybreak creates, develops, and provides compelling online entertainment for millions of gamers worldwide. We are the game publisher for Darkpaw Studios, Rogue Planet Gaming Studio, Dimensional Ink Games, and Standing Stone Games. To top it off, we are making games in three of the coolest cities in the United States: San Diego, Austin, and Boston. We make games that bring people together and build lasting communities and are totally devoted to delivering the ultimate gaming experience! Find out more about our company at www.daybreakgames.com.             

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**Daybreak Game Company, LLC. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to Diversity in the workplace.**