Est Order Studio invites a Middle / Senior Level Designer to the DEVIL GATE development team, a dark Action/RPG in the Diablo-like genre.
We are creating a full-scale commercial project with a dark dark fantasy world, dynamic combat system, location exploration, and a large number of diverse gameplay situations.
We are currently restructuring the Level Design department and forming it anew, which is why we are looking for specialists who want to join the team at the stage of active project development and participate in shaping the further production pipeline.
Separately, we are looking for a department lead who can oversee the work of Level Designers, control the quality of locations and gameplay situations, and help shape a unified production workflow.
Responsibilities
- Create game locations and environments for DEVIL GATE.
- Develop the layout and structure of locations considering an isometric camera.
- Create blockouts and develop them to a full gameplay state.
- Design player routes, points of interest, branching paths, arenas, and combat spaces.
- Plan the placement of enemies, obstacles, interactive objects, and other elements.
- Create engaging combat situations considering enemy archetypes and combat system features.
- Work with pacing, exploration, navigation, and player flow.
- Design the placement of quest and narrative elements in collaboration with Narrative Design.
- Set up in-game events and interactions within locations.
- Independently handle Level Art: assemble environments from pre-made assets, work with modular kits, props, and decorations.
- Visually polish locations to the required quality and maintain a consistent visual style.
- Work with lighting, scene illumination, and Post Process to achieve the desired visual result.
- Utilize RVT (Runtime Virtual Textures) when working with environments and materials.
- Work with Nanite and understand its usage specifics when creating game locations.
- Consider performance and basic principles of game level optimization.
- Work with Level Blueprint to set up game events, triggers, and interactions.
- Work with Sequencer to create or configure in-game cinematics and scene sequences.
- Configure cameras, triggers, and game events related to cinematics.
- Test your own levels, identify issues, and independently bring them to the required state.
- Iteratively improve locations based on gameplay experience and feedback.
- Work in Unreal Engine.
- Collaborate with Game Designers, Narrative Designers, Environment Artists, Technical Artists, AI Designers, and programmers.
- Participate in shaping and improving the Level Design workflow, documentation, and internal department standards.
Requirements
- Practical commercial or team experience in game level development.
- Solid understanding of Level Design and spatial design principles.
- Ability to independently create blockouts and develop them to a working gameplay state.
- Understanding of player flow, pacing, navigation, and game space composition.
- Understanding of combat arena construction principles and encounter design.
- Ability to work with Level Art and independently visually assemble game environments from pre-made assets.
- Understanding of working with lighting and Post Process in Unreal Engine.
- Understanding of basic principles of game level optimization.
- Practical understanding of working with Nanite and RVT.
- Proficient in Unreal Engine at a level sufficient for independently assembling and configuring game levels.
- Basic understanding and ability to work with Level Blueprint.
- Ability to work with Sequencer and create or configure game cinematics.
- Understanding of principles for working with game cameras, triggers, and scripted events.
- Basic proficiency in 3D software: Blender, 3ds Max, Maya, or similar tools.
- Ability to work with pre-made 3D assets, adjusting their scale, transformations, placement, and basic parameters as needed.
- Ability to independently bring a task to completion without constant supervision from a manager.
- Ability to analyze your own work, identify problems, and propose solutions.
- Ability to receive and apply professional feedback.
- Understanding of the relationship between Level Design and Combat, AI, Narrative, Environment Art, and Technical Art.
- Portfolio, examples of levels, or playable projects.
Bonus Points
- Experience working on Action RPG, Hack & Slash, or Diablo-like games.
- Experience creating isometric levels.
- Experience working with Unreal Engine 5.
- Good knowledge of World Partition and Data Layers.
- Experience with encounter design and AI.
- Experience creating dungeon, outdoor, and mixed-type locations.
- Understanding of environmental storytelling.
- Experience working with quest systems and narrative gameplay.
- Ability to independently create or modify simple 3D assets for level needs.
- Experience creating more complex gameplay events through Level Blueprint and Sequencer.
- Experience setting up narrative scenes, intros, gameplay events, and other scripted sequences.
- Experience building or rebuilding Level Design pipelines.
- Understanding of AA/AAA production pipeline requirements.
- Experience independently managing a location from initial idea to final game result.
About the Project
DEVIL GATE is an Action/RPG in the Diablo-like genre with a dark dark fantasy world, dynamic combat system, and a large number of diverse gameplay situations. The project is currently in the MVP stage. The team is systematically preparing the project for the next stages: Pre-Alpha and Alpha.
We are already collaborating with well-known Western publishers, including THQ Nordic, Focus Entertainment, and 3D Realms, and are receiving professional feedback on the project. The team is actively working on the feedback received, refining key aspects of DEVIL GATE, and strengthening the production pipeline considering the further development of the project.
Important
At the current stage, the project is being developed on team enthusiasm and without fixed compensation.
However, DEVIL GATE is a real commercial AA project development, not a training or hobby project.
We are looking for individuals who want to join the project at this stage, gain real team development experience, work on production tasks, and, together with the team, prepare the project for funding.
We are also currently restructuring the Level Design department, so specialists will have the opportunity not only to create content but also to participate in shaping the workflow, documentation, and future production pipeline.
What You Will Get
- Experience working on a real commercial game project.
- Production tasks within a full Level Design and Level Art pipeline.
- Work on locations, combat situations, and exploration in an Action/RPG world.
- Work with modern Unreal Engine 5 tools.
- Opportunity to significantly enhance your professional portfolio.
- Work in a team with defined roles and a production process.
- Opportunity to participate in shaping and developing the Level Design department.
- Opportunity to grow with the project as it progresses through development stages.
Please attach your portfolio, examples of levels, or playable projects when applying.
We are particularly interested in works featuring isometric levels, Level Art, combat arenas, dungeon design, exploration, encounter design, visual environment polishing, and in-game cinematics. The quality of work and understanding of the process are more important to us than formal experience.
