Black Forest Games is the biggest studio of THQ Nordic Vienna and part of the fastest-growing publisher in Europe – Embracer Group. Here in the South of Germany, near the French border, we combine the creative freedom and culture of an independent studio and the financial security and stability of a big publisher with the possibility of working on worldwide known IPs. Currently, we’re working on ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin’.  As an international team, we embrace diversity and inclusivity, considering it an essential aspect of our core values.

Concept Artist

We are currently looking for an environment and character concept artist to work on ‘TMNT: The Last Ronin’ and all our upcoming titles in the future. You will be creating 2D concept art (characters, buildings, props, backgrounds) in accordance with the artistic vision of the game. This role will have frequent interaction within the Concept Art team, as well as with the Outsourcing Manager and the 3D and Character Art teams. We are looking for someone used to teamwork and to communicate and iterate proactively.

Responsibilities:

• Creating 2D concept art efficiently, including characters, environments, mood paintings, buildings, props and vehicles, user interface and storyboards.
• Assisting other teams, from Game Design to Narrative, supporting the creation of the game’s vision and bringing all the pieces together.
• Understanding and adapting to possible technical constraints when creating concepts so that the translation between concept and final assets is as straightforward as possible.
• Creating faster and more accurate concept art for 3D in-house environment artists and outsourcers with 3D tools like Blender, 3dsmax, etc.
• Communicating with outsourcing companies.
• Creating storyboards of real time cutscenes used as a base of work for our cinematic team.

Reporting Lines:

This role reports to the Lead Concept Artist

Requirements:

 Shipped at least 1 title as a concept artist.

• 3+ years’ experience at a game studio working as a concept artist.
• Highly proficient with 2D drawing and painting tools like Photoshop.
• Experience with 3D modelling tools.
• Have strong fundamental skills in drawing, painting, light and color.
• Strong knowledge of anatomy, proportions and perspective
• Being able to adapt to different art styles, from very realistic to stylized.
• Self-motivated, problem solver and proactive.
• Good ability to communicate with others and to work as part of a team.
• Proficient English skills.

Pluses:

 Sculpting/mapping/texturing skills.

• Experience with open world games.
• At least 1 AAA title shipped.
• Experience working with outsourcing companies and communicating with externals.

We would like to see the best pieces of your portfolio (Assessment)

What else do we offer?

• Flexible working hours
• 30 days of holiday
• Competitive salary
• Green office, fresh fruits, coffee and drinks
• Additional free health insurance
• Pension Plan
• Mental health support
• Free accident insurance
• Fitness area in the studio
• Stability of a successful publisher paired with the creative freedom of an independent studio

And the chance to work with a great team in an open culture where your opinion and input are welcomed and considered, beyond your dedicated task.

Why join Black Forest Games?

Our team seeks long-term companions – we are hiring for the studio, not for the project. This principle holds a significant value in our company philosophy. Regardless of your background, we warmly welcome talented individuals. Black Forest Games provides a work environment that promotes a harmonious work-life balance and grants considerable flexibility. Here you have the chance to work on & shape up worldwide known IPs.
Our studio is situated in the picturesque region of Southern Germany, conveniently close to cities like Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, and Basel. Our location enjoys exceptional connectivity, thanks to the amazing transportation infrastructure: three nearby airports, the highway, and the train station right around the corner. Despite our well-connected surroundings, Offenburg offers a unique blend of natural beauty and modern convenience, away from the chaotic noise of crowded cities.

Black Forest Games is the biggest studio of THQ Nordic Vienna and part of the fastest-growing publisher in Europe – Embracer Group. Here in the South of Germany, near the French border, we combine the creative freedom and culture of an independent studio and the financial security and stability of a big publisher with the possibility of working on worldwide known IPs. Currently, we’re working on ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin’.  As an international team, we embrace diversity and inclusivity, considering it an essential aspect of our core values.

Lead VFX Artist (f/m/d)

We are currently looking for a Lead VFX Artist to work with us on our upcoming projects with Unreal Engine 5.
To create our VFX we are using the tools which Epic provides (such as Niagara, Blueprints etc.) as well as a variety of licensed software (e.g. MAX, Substance Designer, Photoshop, ZBrush and Houdini FX, which become more and more a central part of our pipeline). In general, we are very flexible and open-minded about new techniques and software.
The ideal candidate should have the passion and the skills to support your team members: planning the project, building up the teams, briefing them and helping them develop. For that reason, it is a must that you enjoy communicating openly and helping people bring the best in themselves to work.
As a VFX lead, we are also looking for someone that is eager to create VFX which are visually stunning, well-timed, often interactive, and still performant. We are looking for someone who enjoys pushing for innovation with very strong communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities: 

• Create Visual effects using Unreal 5 and a variety of technical approaches, matching the visual style of the game.
• Create the required VFX assets (meshes, textures, flow maps, image sequences, vertex animations, etc.)
• Communicate with designers to collect all relevant information for effective creation and to brief team members.
• Work together with the VFX director, Tech Art, and Code to ensure the highest quality and best performance for effects.
• Follow through with an effect and keep it on the radar until it is fully implemented and working as intended.
• Plan and create VFX task lists, assigning tasks and monitoring them until approval.
• Feeding and Maintaining the VFX pipeline with outsourcing companies.
• R&D for the effect pipeline – new tricks and techniques.
• Work on further improvements and customization of our existing effects toolset. (E.g. helping to build a library of useful material functions, Niagara module, VFX blueprints, etc.).
• Manage your team by having 1-t-1, conducting annual reviews and mentoring team members
• Communicate with Art Direction and HR about team-related topics (training, career opportunities, etc.).
• Participate in recruitment processes for the team (evaluate CVs and portfolios, interview candidates, give feedback, assist the decision making)

Requirements: 

• 5+ years experience as a VFX artist in a studio
• Experience with Unreal 5 (Niagara, Blueprints, etc.).
• Experience with Realtime VFX the obstacles and challenges.
• Being capable of VFX asset creation (meshes, textures, flow maps, image sequences, vertex animations, etc.).
• Ability to adapt to visual styles.
• Ability to create custom shaders and post effects.
• Inquisitive mindset and creative approach to work: capable to create effects in a constrained environment (project-specific performance requirements, amount of emitters and particles, etc.).
• Organized and responsible workflow to maintain file hygiene.
• Excellent communication skills and proven ability to work within a team.
• Self-driven mindset and being able to take over complex tasks and construction sites
• Good people skills and the ability to see and develop the talent of team members

Pluses: 

• Experience with video visual effects software particles e.g.  Adobe After Effects.
• Keen interest in CGI effects production.
• Basic programming or scripting skills.
• Passion to grow your skillset and to include a variety of techniques into your effects. (e.g., metaballs, fluid simulation, morphing, complex particle behaviour, etc.).
• Willingness to invest in tools design, further development, and documentation (sending your requests to the tools code team).
• General CG artistic skills, such as animation, camera work, and hand drawing skills.

We would like to see your portfolio and reel.

What else do we offer?

• Flexible working hours
• 30 days of holiday
• Competitive salary
• Green office, fresh fruits, coffee and drinks
• Additional free health insurance
• Pension Plan
• Mental health support
• Free accident insurance
• Fitness area in the studio
• Stability of a successful publisher paired with the creative freedom of an independent studio

And the chance to work with a great team in an open culture where your opinion and input are welcomed and considered, beyond your dedicated task.

Why join Black Forest Games?

Our team seeks long-term companions – we are hiring for the studio, not for the project. This principle holds a significant value in our company philosophy. Regardless of your background, we warmly welcome talented individuals. Black Forest Games provides a work environment that promotes a harmonious work-life balance and grants considerable flexibility. Here you have the chance to work on & shape up worldwide known IPs.  Our studio is situated in the picturesque region of Southern Germany, conveniently close to cities like Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, and Basel. Our location enjoys exceptional connectivity, thanks to the amazing transportation infrastructure: three nearby airports, the highway, and the train station right around the corner. Despite our well-connected surroundings, Offenburg offers a unique blend of natural beauty and modern convenience, away from the chaotic noise of crowded cities.

Black Forest Games is the biggest studio of THQ Nordic Vienna and part of the fastest-growing publisher in Europe – Embracer Group. Here in the South of Germany, near the French border, we combine the creative freedom and culture of an independent studio and the financial security and stability of a big publisher with the possibility of working on worldwide known IPs. Currently, we’re working on ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin’.  As an international team, we embrace diversity and inclusivity, considering it an essential aspect of our core values.

Animator (f/m/d)

We are currently looking for an experienced animator to to join our team as we embark on creating our next exceptional game using the Unreal Engine. As an Animator, you will have the chance to work on a range of gameplay animations from keyframe to mocap that will help bring our characters to life.

”Responsibilities:

• Creating keyframe 3D animations for characters and creatures for in-game and cutscenes.
• Cleaning up and editing motion capture data.
• Working together with our game designers, concept artists and character modelers on the aesthetic of the movement and gameplay specific animation timing.

Reporting Lines:

Reporting directly to the lead animator.

Requirements:

• Proficient in using Autodesk Maya.
• Proficient in using Autodesk Motion Builder.
• Shipped at least 2 titles as an animator.
• 5+ years in the game industry.
• Ability to produce realistic as well as stylized human and non-human movement.
• Understanding of animation requirements for an action game (sharpness, telegraph timings, combat actions timings, etc.)
• Self-motivated, technical problem solver
• Excellent communication skills & proven ability to work within a team.
• Willingness to work on location.

Pluses:

• Experience with Unreal 4/5 engine (animation graph, blueprint system, sequencer).
• Experience with 3DS Max.
• Knowledge of character rigging and skinning.

 Assessment:

• CV and portfolio
• First interview (online or in person)
• Test-task (information will be given to you)
• Ideally on-site interview if possible, otherwise online

What else do we offer?

• Flexible working hours
• 30 days of holiday
• Competitive salary
• Green office, fresh fruits, coffee and drinks
• Additional free health insurance
• Pension Plan
• Mental health support
• Free accident insurance
• Fitness area in the studio
• Stability of a successful publisher paired with the creative freedom of an independent studio

And the chance to work with a great team in an open culture where your opinion and input are welcomed and considered, beyond your dedicated task.

Why join Black Forest Games?

Our team seeks long-term companions – we are hiring for the studio, not for the project. This principle holds a significant value in our company philosophy. Regardless of your background, we warmly welcome talented individuals. Black Forest Games provides a work environment that promotes a harmonious work-life balance and grants considerable flexibility. Here you have the chance to work on & shape up worldwide known IPs.
Our studio is situated in the picturesque region of Southern Germany, conveniently close to cities like Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, and Basel. Our location enjoys exceptional connectivity, thanks to the amazing transportation infrastructure: three nearby airports, the highway, and the train station right around the corner. Despite our well-connected surroundings, Offenburg offers a unique blend of natural beauty and modern convenience, away from the chaotic noise of crowded cities.