Game Designer

A Bit About Us

Gamemode One was founded 6 years ago to build innovative games and bring major IPs to the Minecraft Marketplace. We are scaling to develop a bold new independent game while continuing to prioritize staff well-being and an excellent working environment. We care deeply about our vibrant company culture, which enables us all to do our best work.

We are an established, fully self-funded studio with roots in Minecraft and ambitions to deliver experimental games for PC and console platforms. We are building a small, talent-dense team to develop an innovative survival-crafting title.

The Opportunity

On our new project, you’ll be working closely with the Game Director to lead the charge on design and support a fledgling team. You’ll maintain living game documentation that captures the evolving vision, mechanics, and key features. You’ll work on experimental prototypes and push the vision of the game forward. 

You’ll bring your knowledge of game design and continue broadening your knowledge on the topics and themes being explored in our game. You will be involved with shaping the future of the game from pre- to post-production. You will not just be working on a great product, but actively pushing the envelope of great design at Gamemode One.

Within 1 month, you’ll…

• Gain a deep understanding of the game concept and immerse yourself in the team's vision
• Actively participate in brainstorming sessions, sharing your insights on game mechanics, narrative elements, and the overall player experience
• Build relationships with the team, grounding your communication in ideas sharing and clear two-way feedback
• Demonstrate cultural understanding and values alignment by leveraging curiosity and courage while learning about the company
• Understand the positioning of Gamemode One in the market, including our company structure, the vision for our game, and the company's present projects and future goals

Within 3 months, you’ll…

• Participate in the creation of initial game prototypes, experimenting with different gameplay mechanics and iterating based on feedback
• Craft and maintain a living game design document (GDD), capturing the evolving vision, mechanics, and key features
• Foster collaboration with artists, programmers, and other team members, ensuring alignment with the overall design direction
• Work with programmers to expose code for faster iteration of design and balancing

Within 6 months, you’ll…

• Refine and iterate game mechanics based on playtesting, feedback, and creative discussions within the team
• Completely own the game design document, ensuring it reflects the latest changes, decisions, and rationale behind design choices
• Resolve outstanding design problems by continuously evolving prototypes, ensuring they align with the refined vision
• Contribute to the transition into full production, ensuring that the team is equipped with a deep understanding of the game’s design

Within 12 months, you’ll…

• Oversee the implementation of the game vision into a comprehensive and engaging gaming experience
• Begin mentoring junior team members, fostering a collaborative and innovative game design culture
• Continuously push the creative boundaries of the game, exploring innovative ideas that enhance player engagement and overall experience

Benefits

• Unlimited paid time off
• Flexible hybrid schedule
• Health Spending Account of $3000/year
• Charitable matching of $2000/year
• Investment in professional development
• Access to benefits without a probationary period

Halifax

• Why Halifax? 
  • A small but vibrant city, right on the ocean 
  • Easy access to nature - beaches, woods, lakes!
  • Supportive game development community, with a mix of established organizations, indie developers, and talented post-secondary students 
  • Government incentives that support long-term studio sustainability
• Our Office, and Hybrid Work
  • We love getting to collaborate in person! For the development of our first independent title, we’re building a local-first team. We have a vibrant and comfortable office in the heart of Halifax that is close to all major bus routes, with parking on-site. This space enables us to work at our best, in brainstorming, collaboration, culture-sharing, and socializing
  • We work hard to make our office a space that works for you, that you want to come into, and do great work! 
  • With that in mind, we do support hybrid working as a flexible option, but you should expect to work in person the majority of the time
• Relocation
  • If you're not here yet, after your first 3 months of employment we'll support your relocation! This includes covering your relocation expenses, and if applicable, that of your family. 
  • If applicable, this includes supporting you in acquiring the necessary work permit and fast-tracking you to permanent residency
    • In the best interests of effective collaboration before relocation takes place, our preference is that candidates are currently located within North, Central, or South America