VFX Lead

Description

CRITERION GAMES – VFX LEAD

Criterion is a multi-award winning developer, best known for the hit Burnout series and is amongst the best game studios in the world with a world class team of game makers at its heart. 

Most recently, Criterion were responsible for Need For Speed Most Wanted. The Need For Speed series has been labelled “the bestselling racing brand in the gaming world” after franchise sales topped 100 million copies. Criterion’s latest instalment received rave reviews from critics and won a ton of awards. This follows Criterion developed Hot Pursuit, which became the highest rated Need For Speed title ever and set a new bar for online excellence with its BAFTA winning innovative Autolog feature set.

Criterion Games provides a stable studio atmosphere and is backed by Electronic Arts, the world’s largest publisher and developer of video games. Located in Guildford town centre, within leafy Surrey, we’re only a short 40 minute train journey from London and all its entertainment. 

To be a part of this talented team you need to be passionate about games and committed to being the best in the world at what you do. You need to know what matters to the people who play our games and be passionate about surpassing their and our, expectations. In return we offer the chance to work with the foremost talent in Europe in an upwardly mobile studio where professional growth of our employees is at the heart of how we operate.

This is a very exciting time at Criterion Games and anyone that joins us will be working on top selling, world class games, on cutting edge hardware in an extremely creative environment.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Visual Effects Lead is responsible for the overall VFX in the game, working closely with the Art Director, Creative Director and Game Designers. Great communication skills are essential as you will be expected to present to executives. Strong collaboration to create the best possible game experience is required.

As a leader within the overall art team you must be able to inspire and motivate the team to deliver their best work. Must be able to work effectively with an internal team and in some cases distributed team members.

REQUIRED VISUAL EFFECTS LEAD SKILLS

• Organized, good communication skills and a great team-player attitude

• Production Design skills to direct the team to create plausible, believable VFX

• Understanding of game design and player feedback requirements for visuals

• Excellent visual language skills to create distinctive effects

• Collaborate and garner consensus with game designers, producers and engineers

• Proven track record mentoring artists and great industry connections for recruiting

• Able to give effective critiques and also take strong criticism

• Proactively identifies and manages resource and outsourcing requirements

• Experience building a team and delivering against time and tech constraints

• Extensive experience with Visual Effects editors and particle systems

• Strong technical art skillset to aid in innovative effect usage and integration with other systems

• Working knowledge of Maya, and/or other commercial 3D authoring packages

• A keen eye for motion, compositing, and animation

• Experience as an animator, modeller and/or texture artist a plus

• Thorough knowledge of the game development process

• Passion for creating memorable experiences driven by visuals

• Passion for gaming

EXPERIENCE

• Extensive game and/or film industry experience

• Shipped AAA titles as an VFX Lead/Director/

• Current/Next-Gen Console and PC experience

• Demonstration of strong all-round art skills

• Familiar with industry standard software and trends