Character Art Director - NBA 2K at Visual Concepts

Novato, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Video GamesIndustries

Requirements

7+ years of proven experience in Character Art for video games, including 2+ years in a leadership role guiding teams and defining visual direction
A portfolio that demonstrates excellence in character design and the ability to establish and maintain a cohesive visual style, supported by strong proficiency in Maya, ZBrush, Substance, and Photoshop
Strong cross-disciplinary communication skills, with experience collaborating closely with Design, Animation, Tech Art, Rigging, Engineering, and Production teams
Strong technical skills with deep understanding in real-time character pipelines, including skin, eye, and fabric
Experienced in mentoring artists, leading critiques, and partnering with production to track progress and adapt to shifting priorities, with fluency in task and asset management tools such as Shotgun/ShotGrid/Flow, or similar platforms
Ability to create high-quality work in a fast-paced environment and able to incorporate feedback from multiple collaborators across multiple teams
Love for video games and basketball - it helps!

Responsibilities

Drive the visual direction and quality bar for all character assets, partnering with Art Leads and Directors to define the game’s visual identity, style guides, and documentation
Maintain high visual quality, accuracy, brand consistency and technical standards by reviewing and providing constructive feedback on assets
Collaborate with other Directors to establish best practices, and streamline cross-functional workflows
Champion innovation by evaluating and integrating emerging tools, techniques, and pipelines through proactive R&D initiatives
Represent the Character Art team in technology and pipeline discussions, advocating for tools and processes that enhance creativity and efficiency
Lead and mentor the character art team through thoughtful feedback and reviews
Partner closely with Producers to track progress, assess priorities, and adapt plans as needed to meet production milestones

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Character ArtVideo Game ArtArt DirectionVisual Style GuidesAsset ReviewPipeline DevelopmentR&DTeam LeadershipMentoringProduction Collaboration

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What experience is required for the Character Art Director role?

Candidates need 7+ years of proven experience in Character Art for video games, including 2+ years in a leadership role guiding teams and defining visual direction. A portfolio demonstrating excellence in character design and proficiency in Maya, ZBrush, Substance, and Photoshop is required, along with strong technical skills in real-time character pipelines.

Where is the Character Art Director position located?

The role is based at our Novato studio.

What does the company culture emphasize at Visual Concepts?

Visual Concepts believes great games are made by diverse and empowered teams with a shared passion for play, featuring independent and entrepreneurial teams committed to artistry and technical innovation.

What salary or compensation does the Character Art Director role offer?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What makes a strong candidate for the Character Art Director position?

A strong candidate has 7+ years in character art with leadership experience, a standout portfolio in character design using tools like Maya and ZBrush, excellent cross-team communication, and a passion for video games and basketball.

Visual Concepts

Develops and publishes sports video games

About Visual Concepts

Visual Concepts develops and publishes video games, with a strong focus on sports titles like NBA 2K and WWE 2K. Their games are available on all major gaming platforms and are designed to provide high-quality, immersive experiences for players. The company generates revenue primarily through game sales, both physical and digital, as well as in-game purchases and downloadable content, which allow players to enhance their gaming experience. What sets Visual Concepts apart from its competitors is its extensive experience in the industry, having been established in 1988, and its global presence with studios in various countries, which helps them attract diverse talent and expertise. The goal of Visual Concepts is to continue creating engaging and technically advanced games that resonate with gamers worldwide.

Novato, CaliforniaHeadquarters

1988Year Founded

M_AND_ACompany Stage

Consumer Software, GamingIndustries

501-1,000Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance

Company Equity

Performance Bonus

Risks

Indie developers' innovative games may draw attention from Visual Concepts' established franchises.

Rising development costs could impact Visual Concepts' profit margins.

Microtransactions may lead to gamer backlash against Visual Concepts' games.

Differentiation

Visual Concepts excels in creating technically advanced sports games like NBA 2K and WWE 2K.

The company has a global presence with studios in California, China, South Korea, and Hungary.

Visual Concepts leverages a robust business model with game sales and in-game purchases.

Upsides

Cross-platform play could expand Visual Concepts' user base significantly.

AI-driven tools can enhance the realism of Visual Concepts' sports franchises.

Esports popularity offers new engagement opportunities for Visual Concepts' NBA 2K franchise.

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