Narrative Designer & Writer (Freelance)

BKOM Studios•Quebec, QC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Narrative Designer and Writer (Freelance) is a specialist in the art of storytelling in video games, driven by the desire to create immersive and memorable experiences for players. They are an expert in narrative gameplay, capable of translating narrative concepts into captivating in-game moments. They are responsible for crafting the story, dialogue, item descriptions, and other narrative texts. They act as a key link between the narrative vision and its concrete implementation in the game, ensuring maximum narrative consistency and quality.

Requirements

Possess experience in a game writing or narrative design role, having worked on shipped products
Possess in-depth knowledge of current trends in the video game market, different genres and their target audiences, in order to create relevant and engaging narratives
Demonstrate an exceptional ability to communicate complex narrative ideas, systems and mechanisms, both written and oral, in a concise and impactful manner
Demonstrate proven ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams throughout the project development cycle
Be able to receive and give constructive criticism, thus fostering an environment of continuous improvement and professional growth
Demonstrate a thirst for learning and growing as a narrative designer, actively seeking development opportunities and being open to feedback on performance
Possess the analytical skills needed to understand what makes great narrative experiences

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with game engines like Unreal or Unity, or with specific storytelling tools like Twine, is a plus
In-depth knowledge of the Pathfinder universe and/or Action RPGs (ARPGs)

Responsibilities

Be our champion of narrative strategy and quality across the entire game
Work with the Creative Director to establish a strong and clear story arc for our game and each of its chapters
Do justice to the iconic Pathfinder world and characters through compelling dialogue and engaging gameplay moments
Write sharp, impactful and engaging dialogue
Plan for environmental storytelling, such as clues to investigate, narrative moments, dramatic reveals
Help envision how we should unfold big storytelling moments like entering a boss arena or entering a story-critical area
Communicate the narrative vision to the team
Integrate and test all in-game narrative content within levels using available technical tools
Attend and monitor voice-over (VO) sessions to ensure quality and compliance with the narrative vision
Participate in the reviews of gameplay and to the sessions of playtesting to assess the impact of the narrative and suggest adjustments
Analyze player feedback and data to identify opportunities for narrative improvement
Remain highly aware of narrative trends in the video game industry and analyze competing titles for inspiration and innovation