Freelance/Contract User Interface Artist for Serious Games studio

Muzzy Lane Software is looking for skilled freelance UI Artists to develop user-interfaces for upcoming projects. As UI Artist, you will work with our design and development teams to design and create user interface panels and artwork for our games.

Responsibilities:

• Create user interface art assets (menus, icons, panels, buttons, maps ,etc.) that have strong usability, provide clear feedback, and mesh with the art direction of the project.
• Maintain and update UI elements through iterative development process and testing.
• Work directly or with engineers, on the implementation of UI elements

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Strong skills in Photoshop: ability to create highly detailed and finished work
• Experience with game UI design and development
• Strong graphic design skills (typography, layout, color) especially as they relate to onscreen and interactive design
• Strong art skills
• Familiar with game-development processes
• Interest in games and education

Not required, but a plus:

• User-experience or usability experience and skills
• Experience with web design or flash ui design
• Experience with Illustrator or 3D programs such as Maya or 3DS Max.
• Strong art skills
• Experience with scripting languages or xml

Location and compensation:

• You may work at our Newburyport office, or remotely with regular meetings at the office.
• Compensation will be based on skills and experience.

To apply:

Please send an email with “UI Artist” in the header to jobs@muzzylane.com

Please include a link to a portfolio with relevant examples of your work.

Serious Games Designer

Muzzy Lane Software is looking a Game Designer to work with our team on game design, instructional design, and content for upcoming projects. As Game Designer, you will work with clients and subject-matter-experts to develop learning objectives. Then, you will work with our team to develop game designs and mechanics that deliver those objectives (and are inspired by them.) Finally, you’ll work with our artists and development team and internal and external testers to turn the designs into finished games.

Responsibilities:

• Develop learning objectives for projects, working with SMEs and clients, and conducting research where applicable.
• Translate learning objectives into game experiences and mechanics.
• Work collaboratively with artists and programmers to shepherd the game through production.
• Create and balance content and data for game systems. Write copy for games, including dialog, in-game text, and feedback.
• Test projects and manage testing with students, teachers, etc.
• Help to create and maintain design documents.
• Contribute to design and content for web-based materials that surround games.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree.
• Solid understanding of game genres and mechanics –what makes a game engaging and fun.
• Game design experience: ideally on a serious-game, indie-game or commercial game title.
• Passion for games.
• Strong writing and editing skills. Experience with scriptwriting a plus.
• Experience developing educational materials, media, curriculum is a plus.
• Some research experience a plus.
• Strong time management skills, ability to focus on priorities and solve problems.
• Scripting (javascript etc.) and other coding skills a plus.

Location and compensation:

• You will work at our Newburyport, MA office, with some travel likely. Some work from home is possible.
• Compensation will be based on skills and experience.

To apply:

Please send an email with “Serious Games Designer” in the header to jobs@muzzylane.com

Please include a resume, plus your work history on games that you are proud of, and design and writing samples that you would like us to see. Please do not send code as part of an initial application. Links to game sites are fine.

Game Programmer for Serious Games projects

Muzzy Lane Software is looking for a Game Programmer to program gameplay interaction, systems, and user interfaces, working with Muzzy Lane’s Sandstone development tools. It's an excellent opportunity for a recent grad passionate about games to have an important role in some exciting serious-games projects. The position is at Muzzy Lane’s Newburyport office.

Responsibilities:

• Bachelors Degree, preferably in technical field (CS is a plus)
• Experience programming with scripting languages (Javascript, others)
• Experience programming with XML
• Good sense of code structure and practice

Desirable:

• Some game production experience
• Some C++ experience
• Some understanding of 3D graphics programming
• Experience with production tolls such as Photoshop

Location and compensation:

• You will work at our Newburyport, MA office, with occasional work from home possible.
• Compensation will be based on skills and experience.

To apply:

Please send an email with “Game Programmer” in the header to jobs@muzzylane.com

Please include a resume, cover letter, and links to any game projects you’d like us to see. Please do not send code as part of an initial application.

Game User Interface Developer

Key Function: Produce user interfaces for Muzzy Lane’s game projects.

Preferred Education/Experience:
Ideal candidate will have experience programming with Javascript, XML and HTML. Experience with web or graphic design is a plus. A self-starter, requiring little supervision, who thrives in a team setting.

Requirements:
Experience working with Photoshop, including working with image layers. Knowledge of Dreamweaver, Flash, and other web tools is helpful.

To apply, E-mail resume and cover letter to jobs@muzzylane.com

C++ System Programmer

Location: Newburyport, MA
Date Posted: January 1, 2009

Key Functions: Write C++ code as individual contributor in a collaborative environment, lead tasks, and provide technical input.

Preferred Education/Experience: Candidate must possess a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field. Recent graduates are encouraged to apply, provided they can demonstrate how they have applied their programming skills to completed "real world" projects. A self-starter, requiring little supervision, who thrives in a team setting.

Desired Skills: Must have good analytical, written presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. A working knowledge of object-oriented technologies and web-based technologies is desired. Strong knowledge of Windows and programming experience in C++ or Java are required; experience working with XML and scripting languages such as python is a plus.

To apply, E-mail resume and cover letter to jobs@muzzylane.com