Radical Entertainment, an operation of Activision Blizzard, Inc. is a leading developer of interactive entertainment. We are proud to have released hit titles such as Scarface: The World is Yours, Hulk Ultimate Destruction and Crash of the Titans. We are continuing to work on licensed properties and are set to deliver an original title, Prototype, in 2009. Our 50,000+ square foot studio situated on the cusp of downtown Vancouver, overlooks the coastal mountains and offers a fully stocked kitchen, in-house gym, log cabin, ski lift tickets, art gallery passes and a wide variety of training, mentorship and career development initiatives. At Radical we’re here to create great games and learn and have fun doing it. Our motto is simple: Play Work Live Breathe Games!
Job Title: Technical Artist Reports To: Technical Art Director
Division/Department: Production
Basic Function:
Contributes to art production through development of technical art processes.
Duties and Responsibilities: - Proactively learns art vision and uses this understanding to guide decisions - Ability to Skin characters using Maya, rig characters using Motion builder and - Assist Animation team in skeleton and art pipeline issues - Ability to write scripts and build tools in Python - Supports Art Production Manager in scoping and estimation of technical-art requirements with the animation team - Understands schedule and works to meet deadlines - Helps ensure that art and animation quality is not compromised by limitations of technical processes - Contributes to development of several areas of the art pipeline (batch files, file conversion, directory structures, etc.) - Understands the technical art goals and guidelines and uses these goals as guidance for decision making - Ensures consistency in art style and quality of own work - Understands memory and frame-rate budgets and works within those constraints - Uses in-house tools as appropriate; provides feedback to improve the tools - Follow schedules and meets deadlines - Proactively recognizes potential problems and works with Senior Artist to limit risk - Troubleshoots and seeks solutions; may assist less experienced artists with troubleshooting - Participates in scrum meetings and presents own work as appropriate - Ensures that art and animation quality is not compromised by limitations in technical processes - Tunes and polishes to achieve final look and feel
Principal Working Relationships:
Provides technical art support to Artists, Animators, Pipeline Programmers, and Game Designers.
Position Qualifications:
Educational Requirements: - Formal art education such as BFA from accredited art or design school or equivalent level of experience required
Special Knowledge, Skills: - Maya, Photoshop, Motionbuilder, - Intermediate level proficiency with scripting languages (Python/MEL) - 2D illustration, environment design, graphic design, and/or art history knowledge
Prior Experience/Previous Positions related to current position: - Two to five years of professional experience required - Has shipped at least one AAA title or possesses equivalent experience from a related industry
Other Qualifications and/or Requirements: - Ability to build collaborative relationships and resolve conflicts in a constructive manner - Provides others the information that they require to make decisions - Communicates in a clear and succinct manner, considering the audience - Ability to plan own work and understand contingencies - Properly estimates time to complete work and manages competing priorities - Takes risks, makes mistakes and takes steps to prevent repeat mistakes
