Founded by veteran developers from Volition, Shapeshifter Games was created to partner with world class developers and publishers on the creation of AAA games. Shapeshifter draws upon deep experience in open-world and character action games earned while working on some of the industry’s most beloved franchises.

Shapeshifter Games

Combat Designer - Encounters (Project Hire)

Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to design and implement exhilarating combat experiences in a first-person game. Responsibilities include placing and scripting gameplay objects (AI, cover, traps), ensuring clear and readable combat spaces, collaborating with Level Design and World Art, driving features to resolution, and designing accessible experiences.  The project involves working with industry-leading game makers and storytellers.  Requires 4 years in game development with at least 2 years as an encounter designer on a shipped first-person game.  Experience with Unreal Engine (Blueprints, behavior trees, animation graphs) is essential.

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 COMBAT DESIGNER - ENCOUNTERS (Project Hire)We are searching for an experienced Combat Encounter Designer to work on an exciting partner project. You will collaborate with and take direction from the Lead Combat Designer and Encounter Feature Lead as you work with a multi-disciplinary team, designing and implementing exhilarating combat experiences. Our partners on this project are some of the industry's most well-known game-makers and storytellers and this is a rare opportunity to work alongside them. Responsibilities • Collaborate with the Combat, Level and Quest Design teams to create, implement, script and hone a cohesive vision and flow for combat spaces • Place and script gameplay objects such as AI, cover, traps and more to create exhilarating combat experiences that delight the player • Feature own, tune and maintain a list of encounters at a shippable quality bar • Collaborate with Level Design and World Art to ensure Combat experiences are clear and readable • Drive features and development challenges to resolution, seeking clarity and answers early and often • Selflessly design experiences with accessibility in mind • Be an advocate for the player Required Skills • 4 years in game development, with at least 2 years of experience as an encounter designer on a shipped first person game • Designed, prototyped, and implemented combat encounters from paper design to ship • Can break down and explain game mechanics in terms of experiences • Understand the moment-to-moment gameplay loops of first-person shooters and RPGs and what makes those genres fun • Experience as a gameplay/combat designer working on player-centric action systems • Knowledge of Unreal Blueprint and/or similar scripting environments • Knowledge of Unreal behavior trees and/or similar experience • Knowledge of Unreal animation graphs and/or similar experience • Excellent verbal and written communication skills • Motivated self-starter who asks for help when needed </div>