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Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
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 Re: Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
Posted by KungFuSquirrel on Wed Dec 8th at 3:19am 2004

The Company:

Raven Software is an award-winning computer game software developer based in Madison, Wisconsin. Our focus is on graphic excellence and superb gameplay. As avid gamers, we build the kind of games we enjoy playing: games that are visually engaging and enjoyable with high-level, intense playability. We remain dedicated to pushing ahead the level of quality in electronic gaming.

Job Type: Full Time
The Position:

Level Designer

Responsibilities:
Raven is looking for an experienced level designer for a game built using the DOOM3 engine. The applicant will be responsible for various aspects of design: creating a concept of a level on paper, building in Radiant, lighting, enemy placement, and some scripting. The applicant must work on site and be a team player.

Qualifications:
? Previous level design experience preferred but if you?ve made your own great levels, we?ll take a look
? Familiarity with Radiant a must
? Familiarity with Lightwave a plus
? Experience with scripting a plus


Posted from the new Gamasutra entry. Contact info available there, or PM me and I'll give you the appropriate e-mail address/addresses.

As I mentioned in the previous thread, my short time at Raven has been absolutely incredible. Whether you like Raven games or not, Raven offers one of what most of us feel (many with much more experience than me ) is one of the best jobs in the industry. Security is good as an Activision-owned studio and the average length of employment is something like 6 years. You only have something to lose if you don't apply, so if you're even remotely thinking about it, give it a shot. [addsig]



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 Re: Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
Posted by ReNo on Wed Dec 8th at 3:23am 2004

This would be the ideal opportunity for me if I lived in the US - I'm probably finishing up uni this year as its not going the way I want at the moment, so I'm going to be looking for a job very soon. The fact I don't know radient would have been a bit of a stumbling block, but I'd probably have applied regardless.

If anybody from around here does give it a shot, then best of luck to you, its a great opportunity without a doubt!
[addsig]



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 Re: Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
Posted by omegaslayer on Wed Dec 8th at 4:30am 2004

lol poor reno, i would do it, but im not familiar with scripting (other than that Ive used lightwave and radiant), and I dont want to move from santa cruz to the Raven headquarters (where ever that is).
[addsig]



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 Re: Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
Posted by Cash Car Star on Wed Dec 8th at 8:19am 2004

Madison, Wisconsin. It's in the first line.



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 Re: Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
Posted by Junkyard God on Wed Dec 8th at 8:27am 2004

hmmmz, maybe i know someone who wants to join fill in a aplication i'll see if he want's to help

Thanks for posting it anyway Kungfu

[addsig]



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 Re: Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
Posted by Adam Hawkins on Wed Dec 8th at 7:20pm 2004

Normally i'd jump at the opportunity apart from a few minor setbacks:

? Familiarity with Radiant a must
? Familiarity with Lightwave a plus
? Experience with scripting a plus

[addsig]



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 Re: Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
Posted by ReNo on Wed Dec 8th at 7:22pm 2004

In a somewhat related topic, how much modelling are you doing at work Andrew? Is most of your work done in Radiant, or Lightwave (or your modelling package of choice)? I'm no doubt going to have to improve my modelling skills at some point, just curious how much of your props etc... you make yourself.

EDIT: Adam, you could probably dive in and learn Radiant in a few days if you dedicated a lot of time to it. Its still additive geometry, I can't imagine it to be horrendously different.
[addsig]



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 Re: Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
Posted by OtZman on Wed Dec 8th at 9:15pm 2004

Very interesting. Do you take grades from previously accomplished educations into consideration as well, or du you just go by those four qualification points?
[addsig]



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 Re: Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
Posted by Adam Hawkins on Wed Dec 8th at 10:30pm 2004

Andrew, would I be able to apply with Hammer experience rather than Radient. I know it states Radient experience is a plus but if it used the same principles as Hammer would that be enough? I'm guessing not but it's worth asking eh?

Or if I showed the willingness to learn a new editor?

[addsig]



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 Re: Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
Posted by KungFuSquirrel on Wed Dec 8th at 11:08pm 2004

The lead designer on Quake 4 came to Raven for Soldier of Fortune with no experience in editors other than Worldcraft whatsoever. Ken Banks hadn't touched Radiant before he started, and I only had dabbled in it. We're doing ok for ourselves. Learning an editor from a staff of people who have years upon years with it is a very quick process, much moreso than any tutorial or guide online could ever give you

Reno: Almost all my work is in Radiant. I've done some terrain work in Lightwave, but other than that we rarely need to build our own props - either they're there already, or the uber-power of patch meshes and radiant lets us build them quicker and easier in the editor. However, it's still a good idea to get familiar with a modeling package. Some of our guys model their own normal maps for textures and high or low poly roughs for model props before handing them over to the art team, for example. [addsig]



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 Re: Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
Posted by ReNo on Wed Dec 8th at 11:22pm 2004

Thats good to know, thanks Also, what are Raven's thoughts on hiring non-US staff? I got in touch with Gearbox and Epic in the past to find out their thoughts on what getting a degree would do for my employment opportunities in level design, and they said they only normally hire US folks except in rare circumstances. They did say they have been known to do some contract work with Europeans, which is something however.
[addsig]



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 Re: Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title
Posted by Agent Smith on Thu Dec 9th at 12:06am 2004

I was wondering the same thing Reno, as being in Australia makes it somewhat difficult to apply for jobs in the US. I have a small amount of experience in Radiant, really just fiddling around in it, but besides that I've only really used Hammer, UnrealEd and the editor for Red Faction. I would love to apply but I'm afraid still having a year of a Graphic Design and New Media course to complete may also be a hinderance, besides the fact I live in Australia.

Personally I'm hoping this official Valve HL2DM competition will open some doors for at least some mappers in the community, as events like this are a great way to get noticed by the big gaming company's and get your name out there, especially if you place.






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