Crystal Dynamics is looking for Environment Artists for one its next gen game teams at its studio in Menlo Park at the heart of northern California’s Silicon Valley.
Title Description
Environmental Artists work with Art Director, Lead Artist, Designers and concept designs to create 3D interiors and exteriors for game projects with an emphasis on 3D modeling, texturing and lighting, and Modeling terrain geometry.
The Environmental Artist works in tandem with the Designer; a joint creative and technical effort to build worlds from initial concept to a finished playable and polished form. While the Designer is ultimately responsible for the fun factor, the Environmental Artist is responsible for the look and artistic integrity of the maps.
Essential functions
[ul]
[li]Modeling terrain geometry and level objects and props
[/li][li]Generating materials (using normal maps diffuse maps, specular maps etc)
[/li][li]Collaborating with the assigned level deisgner to create a visually compelling level which balances asthetics with playability and production feasibility.
[/li][li]UV mapping
[/li][/ul]Skills
Essential -
[ul]
[li]3-5 years of experience in game development
[/li][li]Ability to work well within a team environment.
[/li][li]Strong drawing, texturing, and lighting skills and an excellent sense of spatial relations and structural logic, they are responsible for creating visually stunning, atmospheric, effective and efficient 3D models of natural and architectural environments.
[/li][li]Strong ability to conceptualize, present, and execute ideas within a schedule, while actively participating in technical and artistic problem solving.
[/li][li]Ability to quickly understand custom toolsets and deliver assets within the confines of real time engine constraints and programming demands.
[/li][li]Works independently and in tandem with Designers to complete assigned projects. Requires limited supervision on most work.
[/li][li]Fluency in Maya and Photoshop required
[/li][li]Contributing to the QA effort on proprietary tools by reporting bugs.
[/li][li]Developing the ability to teach and be taught.
[/li][li]Demonstrate an organized approach to problem solving and time-management.
[/li][li]The desire to work in a challenging, fast-paced environment.
[/li][li]Self motivated individual
[/li][li]Evaluate and initiate processes and features needed to improve and streamline production
[/li][li]Must have the ability to meet strict production deadlines
[/li][li]Demonstrate an ability to work with multiple disciplines to meet projects specific needs.
[/li][li]Current on industry trends as it relates to next-generation content creation and techniques.
[/li][li]Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
[/li][/ul]Preferred -
[ul]
[li]Per pixel lighting experience, and thorough understanding of its performance optimization a plus.
[/li][li]Thorough understanding of shading models both real time, and non real-time a plus.
[/li][li]Previous shader writing e.g. Renderman, Mental Ray a plus.
[/li][li]Image processing and traditional compositing paradigms.
[/li][li]Thorough understanding lighting Models, and paradigms. e.g. HDRI, Global illumination, Ambient, Occlusion, etc.
[/li][li]Experience in ZBrush a plus
[/li][li]Strong understanding of architecture a plus.
[/li][/ul]Please apply through our recruiting site - http://tbe.taleo.net/NA4/ats/career…M&cws=1&rid=183, and include a link to your work samples.
Crystal Dynamics has consistently pursued excellence in third-person action adventures, earning critical acclaim for setting new standards in visuals, game design, animation, storytelling, soundscape and character development utilizing internally developed state-of-the-art technology and tools. Successful games developed at Crystal include Tomb Raider: Legend ([www.tombraider.com)](http://www.tombraider.com%29/), the Legacy of Kain series, Project: Snowblind, Whiplash, Mad Dash Racing and the GEX series. Crystal Dynamics was founded in 1992 and acquired in 1998 by Eidos Interactive ([www.eidos.com)](http://www.eidos.com%29/), the well known publisher of Tomb Raider series, Deus Ex, Thief, and the Hitman series. __________________
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The Crystal Dynamics HR Team