Creative Director - Darkpaw Games
Daybreak Game Company LLC · San Diego, CA
- On site
- Full-time
- $160,000 / year
- San Diego, CA
Job highlights
- Lead creative vision for unannounced game title.
- Define core gameplay loops and supplementary systems.
- Shape game aesthetics, mechanics, design, and story.
- Attract, retain, and mentor top creative talent.
- Ensure quality, budget, and timeline adherence.
About the role
Creative Director
Studio/Department: Darkpaw Games/Live Development
Employee Type: Full Time, Regular
Location: San Diego, CA / Remote (Daybreak Approved Remote Locations (CA, WA, TX, NY))
Salary Range: $125,000 - $160,000, pay may vary on location.
Description
The Creative Director will provide creative leadership for game aesthetics, mechanics, design, and story for Darkpaw Games, located in San Diego, CA. In partnership with the Darkpaw Games Creative and Leadership teams, this person will also help attract and retain the best creative gaming talent around. This position will:
- Provide visionary oversight and creative direction for an unannounced title within Darkpaw Games.
- Establish and refine the high-level core gameplay loops.
- Advise on and develop supplementary systems that reinforce gameplay loops that focus on core pillars of the game:
- Maintain knowledge of the global game market and use to influence and add value to our product offerings.
- Assist with the recruitment of key talent and grow and mentor the Design team.
- Lead creative teams to establish and meet key milestones with expected quality, budget, and time standards.
Key Pillars of the Game:
- Community and Teamwork: Working together and building social bonds to achieve things that you can't do (or is very hard to do) on your own.
- Fairness: You perform certain gameplay actions, put the time in, "work" hard and you get rewarded, your accomplishments and achievements are never taken away.
- Escape and Exploration: We build alternative worlds where players can take a break from real life or want to get a feeling of exploring something new with a sense of danger (high fantasy exploration).
Required Experience & Skills
- 10+ years of direct game development experience.
- Proven success from previously released titles.
- Relevant experience in achieving results via strong leadership.
- Ability to motivate teams and build consensus.
- Ability to design and elaborate on core gameplay loops and design systems that reinforce the loop from end-to-end.
- Effective and positive interpersonal skills.
- Proven problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
- Experience developing MMO games.
- Strong portfolio of work in current game engines UE4/5.
- Ability to assist with systems, level, and narrative design when the situation arises.
- Experience working on PC and console games.
- Experience developing procedurally generated content.
Preferred Skills
- Experience developing games on pre-existing IP.
- Previous experience with building a game from concept to release.
Feel like you are a match for this role, but don't meet all the requirements and pluses? We encourage fresh viewpoints, so as long as you can show us how your attitude and other skills make up for any gaps, we still want to see your application!
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 Games, 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.
Be Aware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities
Daybreak Game Company will never ask applicants for social security numbers, date of birth, bank account information or other sensitive information in job applications. Additionally, our recruiters do not communicate with applicants through free e-mail accounts (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or through online messaging apps (WhatsApp, Hangouts). We will never ask applicants to provide payment during the hiring process or extend an offer without conducting a phone, live video or in-person interview.
Daybreak Game Company, LLC. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to Diversity in the workplace.
Key skills/competency
- Creative Direction
- Game Design
- MMO Development
- UE4/UE5
- Leadership
- Talent Acquisition
- Gameplay Loops
- Narrative Design
- PC and Console Games
- Procedural Content Generation
Skills & topics
- Creative Director
- Game Development
- MMO
- UE4
- UE5
- Leadership
- Game Design
- Narrative Design
- PC Games
- Console Games
- San Diego
- Remote
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight 10+ years of game development experience and success in released titles, especially MMOs.
- Showcase your portfolio: Include strong work samples using UE4/UE5 and experience with PC/console games.
- Emphasize leadership: Detail your experience motivating teams, building consensus, and mentoring design talent.
- Demonstrate game design acumen: Clearly articulate your ability to design and refine core gameplay loops and supporting systems.
- Research Daybreak: Understand their commitment to community, fairness, and exploration in games like EverQuest and DC Universe Online.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What are the core pillars for the unannounced Darkpaw Games title?
- The core pillars for the unannounced Darkpaw Games title are Community and Teamwork, Fairness, and Escape and Exploration. These guide the development of supplementary systems that reinforce the core gameplay loops.
- What game engines are primarily used at Darkpaw Games for this Creative Director role?
- The Creative Director role requires a strong portfolio of work in current game engines, specifically mentioning UE4/5. Experience with these engines is crucial for success in this position.
- Does Daybreak Game Company hire internationally for this Creative Director position?
- While the role is based in San Diego, CA, there are approved remote locations within the US (CA, WA, TX, NY). International remote work is not explicitly mentioned as an option for this Creative Director role.
- What type of games has Daybreak Game Company developed that I should be familiar with?
- Daybreak Game Company is known for massively multiplayer online games, including blockbuster hits and franchises such as DC Universe™ Online, PlanetSide®, EverQuest®, and Dungeons and Dragons Online®. Familiarity with these titles, especially MMOs, is beneficial.
- How important is experience with procedural content generation for the Creative Director role?
- Experience developing procedurally generated content is listed as a required skill for the Creative Director position, indicating its importance in shaping the game's world and content.
- What is the expected career level for a Creative Director at Darkpaw Games?
- With the requirement of 10+ years of direct game development experience and proven success, this Creative Director role is aimed at senior-level professionals with substantial leadership experience.
- Can I apply for the Creative Director role if I don't meet every single requirement?
- Yes, Daybreak Game Company encourages fresh viewpoints. If you feel you are a match but don't meet all requirements, demonstrate how your attitude and other skills compensate for any gaps.
- What is the salary range for the Creative Director position at Darkpaw Games?
- The salary range for the Creative Director position is $125,000 - $160,000 annually. The exact pay may vary based on the candidate's location.