What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Animator position at Epoch Games?
Company Description
Epoch Games is a volunteer-based, all-online, global game development team. We have no centrally-located headquarters and are unincorporated at this time. Most of the original founding members were modders developing the total conversion Middle Earth Roleplaying Project (MERP) mod for the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim:
http://www.moddb.com/mods/merp-middle-earth-roleplaying-project
Currently Epoch Games is developing The Lays of Althas: Sundered Order (LoA:SO). LoA:SO is an in-development indie open-world RPG set in an original fantasy world. The game is being developed using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4 (UE4):
https://www.unrealengine.com/
For more information about the game, please check out our IndieDb page:
http://www.indiedb.com/games/the-lays-of-althas-sundered-order
NOTE: The address listed is our central office, but we are working as a completely remote development team at this time. No relocation is necessary.
Job Description
In this volunteer position you will be working closely with 3D Character Artists and our Riggers to Animate Human and realistic (and sometimes Fantastical) Creatures for The Lays of Althas: Sundered Order (LoA:SO). 3D Characters are created in Reallusion's Character Creator 3 (CC3), and Creatures are often created using Unreal Engine Marketplace Third Party Assets and modify them.
You will also be helping us in building and leading a new Animation Team (although such experience is optional).
The ability to Rig and Skin Characters is optional, but recommended. It is also recommended, but not required, to have experience with Reallusion iClone 7 to assist with animating Reallusion CC3 Characters.
Communication is key to a smooth and efficient pipeline, you must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with other team-members and not be afraid to ask should any problems arise. We are an English-speaking team, so English fluency is a must.
Other duties include attending weekly team meetings and following team policies.
NOTE: This is not an Internship. We are not looking for short-term Interns. We are looking for a long-term Volunteer Lead Animator.
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- Strong understanding of Human anatomy and movement.
- Expertise in animating 3D Characters
- Expertise in animating quadrupeds and aerial creatures
- Understanding of traditional animation principles that enhance believable movement
- Experience with non-gaming Non-linear Animation (NLA) systems and/or has animated for games
- Rapid prototyping and turn-around for animations
- Self-motivated and able to troubleshoot technical challenges
- Online communication (English) and Team-collaboration skills
- A passion for animation and a dedication to creating AAA quality games
Optional Requirements:
- Managing and organizing other Animators, and a fair amount of spare-time in order to communicate and manage them
- Creation of 3D Character Skeletons & Rigs
- Skinning (weighting) 3D Human Characters & Clothing/Armor
- Creation of 3D quadruped and aerial creature Skeletons & Rigs
- Skinning (weighting) 3D quadrupeds and aerial creatures
- Reallusion Character Creator 3 (CC3) and iClone 7 experience
Additional Information
Software Requirements:
- Autodesk Maya for Animations
- Unreal Engine 4 (https://www.unrealengine.com/register)
Optional Software:
- Motionbuilder useful, but not essential
- Reallusion iClone 7 (https://www.reallusion.com/iclone/) - a copy can be provided to the Lead Animator if needed