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INDUSTRY: Video Games / Entertainment Software
OCCUPATION: Art / Animation / Graphic Design
(INACTIVE - 3/25/2010 )

Technical Artist

Bellevue, Washington - United States

Job Duties(s): R & D / New Technology, Technology Recommedations
Software Utilized: XSI, MAYA, C++
Platform(s): PC
Genre(s): MMO, SHOOTER
Required Spoken Language(s): English
Required Work Auth.: United States
Start Date: Immediately
 
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JOB DESCRIPTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Sony Online Entertainment

Job Title: Technical Artist
Location: Seattle, WA

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with millions of gamers around the globe having enjoyed the company's products over the years. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. SOE has published a number of ground-breaking and genre-defining games, including Free Realms, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Star Wars Galaxies, PlanetSide, The Matrix Online, EverQuest Online Adventures, Champions of Norrath, Untold Legends, Field Commander, Vanguard, and the upcoming highly anticipated DC Universe Online and The Agency. SOE is part of an elite group of companies defining the role of ecommerce and virtual goods in the videogame industry.

The Agency is currently looking for an experienced Technical Artist to the join our Seattle team. The Agency is a fast paced first-person shooter with cooperative and competitive MMO elements for the PC and PlayStation 3. Players take on the roles of elite super spies and rugged mercenaries, following a rich story through deadly assignments that span the globe. Delivering a new breed of MMO action inside the popular spy thriller genre, The Agency blends RPG, MMO and FPS elements to be a game like no other.

Requirements:
The Technical Artist will help establish and maintain aspects of the art pipeline. He or she will work cooperatively with artists and programmers to create rigs and tools that provide the artists with all they need to integrate art assets into the game engine in a highly productive manner. Day to day duties include environment, effects, character rigging and animation pipeline support, as well as the design, creation and debugging of scripts, tools and processes for the broader art pipeline.

Essential Responsibilities:
Character rigging and art team support
Tool creation and script writing
Definition and maintenance of pipelines and technical standards
Liaison between the disciplines of art and programming
R&D of tools and processes used in production
Training of artists on tools and processes
REQUIREMENTS:
Qualifications:
2+ years experience as a TD or Technical Artist in the game or film industry
Must have shipped at least two game titles or have equivalent film experience
Ability to design tools and processes that have both the artist’s workflow and the game’s technical requirements in mind
Advanced working knowledge of rigging and character animation tools in Maya including skeletons, skinning/deformers, constraints and FK/IK
Basic understanding of anatomy
Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively to deliver work on schedule
Ability to take direction and collaborate with artists and programmers
Creative and efficient problem solver
1 title shipped using the Unreal 3 engine
Working knowledge of Maya, XSI, and Motion Builder
Proficient in MEL and Python scripting
Awareness of trends in 3d and gaming technology

Pluses:
Knowledge of C++ and the Maya API
Motivated to develop and maintain a strong knowledge in his or her expertise
Animation and/or modeling experience
Passion for video games