Shifty Eye Studios is looking for a 3D Character Animator to help bring our characters to life in our cinematic for an action-adventure title in our Calgary office. We’re looking for people with at least two years experience up to senior – if you’re not sure if that’s you, go ahead and apply anyway, we’d love to hear from you.

Job Responsibilities

 

Artistic Skills

• High quality animation with a good sense for weight, cloth & hair, posing, acting, timing and strong keyframes for gameplay and cutscenes.
• Experience making game run and walk cycles, jumping, crawling etc, in several different styles depending on the character type/art direction.
• Demonstrates skills that include being: proactive, detail oriented, creative, organized, efficient, good communicator.

Technical

• Ability to modify already created rigs with new bone placement and control relocation if needed.
• Animation/Modeling in either: Maya (preferred), Motion Builder, 3DS Max, Blender and familiarity with integration into Unity.
• Experience working on games, tv or movies.
• 2+ Professional yrs animation experience
• Integrate animations into the game while meeting technical limitations for bone count and weights per vertex.

Bonus Experience

(we don’t expect anyone to have all these things, but each could be helpful)

• Character Rigging
• Create original skeleton rigs & controls
• Binding & painting weights
• Ability to modify existing models geometry as well as UV’s
• Create character models from scratch
• UV Characters
• Lip Sync
• Motion Capture data and cleanup experience

Other Notes

• Must have an online portfolio with several examples of cycles, animated scenes.
• Work on site in our studio in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Benefits

• Casual dress
• Two weeks paid vacation
• 5 paid sick days
• Stock options/Profit Sharing

Interested Applicants can apply Here. 

Shifty Eye Games is excited to welcome Andrey Petravchuk as our new Senior 3D Artist. Andrey, who recently moved from Ukraine, brings a rich background from his time at leading companies like Ubisoft, Disney, and Zynga, contributing over a decade of expertise to our team.

Andrey’s specialization spans 3D modeling, digital sculpting, hard surface modeling, 3D rigging and animating, lighting and rendering, and texturing. His arrival promises to elevate the visual and interactive quality of our projects, pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve in game development.

We’re thrilled to have Andrey on board and look forward to the creativity and innovation he brings to Shifty Eye Games. Join us in giving him a warm welcome to the team!

As the dust settles on this year’s Game Developers Conference, our CEO Tuncer Deniz shares his valuable insights and takeaways, bringing back not just memories but also lessons and a renewed sense of inspiration.

A Testament to Passion and Resilience

Tuncer notes the unwavering passion that defines the gaming industry. Despite a year of challenges, the enthusiasm and commitment to crafting exceptional games remain the industry’s heartbeat. This enduring passion is what fuels innovation and keeps the community resilient and forward-moving.

The Power of Personal Connections

Highlighting the importance of one-on-one interactions, Tuncer emphasizes the significance of personal meetings at GDC. While scheduling conflicts are inevitable, leading to some missed connections, the completed meetings were profoundly rewarding. Personal engagements not only strengthen professional relationships but also spark collaborations and shared visions for the future.

Celebrating Community and Longevity

Reconnecting with former colleagues and sharing moments of laughter underscore the GDC’s vibrant community spirit. For Tuncer, these reunions are a reminder that while making games is a business, fostering lasting relationships lies at its core. The joy of GDC is found in its ability to blend professional endeavors with the warmth of camaraderie and shared history.

Mentorship and Industry Growth

The conference also presented moments of mentorship and guidance, especially with aspiring developers. Engaging with young talent, Tuncer offered insights, encouragement, and a clear message: the path to industry entry is challenging but achievable with determination and a positive work ethic. Such interactions underscore the importance of leadership, respect, and open communication in nurturing the next generation of game developers.

Contemplating the Industry’s Landscape

Reflecting on the vast attendance at GDC, Tuncer pondered the implications of an industry abundant with studios and new titles. The concern is not just about quantity but about the innovative quality that defines memorable and impactful games. He advocates for a paradigm shift towards risk-taking, originality, and the crafting of exceptional gaming experiences, whether by large studios or indie developers.

Looking Ahead

In the aftermath of GDC, Tuncer is more committed than ever to applying these insights to Shifty Eye Studios’ operations and creative endeavors. The conference has reinforced the studio’s dedication to innovation, excellence, and the profound community spirit that makes the gaming industry unique.

As we reflect on Tuncer’s takeaways from GDC, we are reminded of the complex yet rewarding nature of game development, a field driven by passion, creativity, and the constant pursuit of excellence.

Shifty Eye Games, an independent, industry veteran-owned game development studio has appointed Vikas Gupta, Justin Ratushniak, and Bungie founder Alexander Seropian to its board of advisors. The company also announced its ongoing search for key talent additions.

These strategic moves coincide with a significant milestone for the company: as Shifty Eye prepares for the company’s biggest project yet – a stealth-adventure game based on a world-famous movie franchise – the studio also was awarded $788,500 CAD in funding to distribute, sell and promote the game in more than 180 countries. The funding comes from the Government of Canada and Canadian Heritage through the Creative Export Canada program, Export-Ready Stream.

“Adding deeper insight and expertise to our advisory board is a critical step in Shifty Eye’s rapid evolution into a premier game development studio,” said Tuncer Deniz, ex-Bungie project lead and CEO and founder of Shifty Eye Games. “Alexander, Justin and Vikas bring incredible media and entertainment experience to Shifty Eye, and we look forward to leveraging their acumen as we continue to build our upcoming game project. With Shifty Eye also receiving funding through the Creative Canada Export Project, we now have the resources to promote the Canadian gaming industry around the world, bolster our talent pool, and provide our team with the necessary support to make our next – and every project – a hit.”

We’re excited to report directly from the Game Developers Conference (GDC), the premier event that has gathered the brightest minds in the game development community from March 18-22. This year, Shifty Eye Studios is proud to be in attendance, represented by our CEO and team leads who are engaging firsthand with the pulse of the industry.

GDC stands as a pivotal hub for professionals across the gaming world, including programmers, artists, producers, and game designers. It’s a melting pot of ideas, showcasing the latest in game development tools and services, with industry giants like AWS, Epic, and Google leading the charge. Our team is diving deep into a wealth of lectures, panels, and discussions, gaining insights and inspiration to propel our projects forward.

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone for Shifty Eye Studios, as we’ve been honored with a substantial grant from the Government of Canada through the Creative Export Canada program, under the Export-Ready Stream. This accolade not only recognizes our dedication to excellence in video game production but also reinforces our commitment to sharing our creative vision on a global scale.

The grant, totaling $788,500 CAD, is a testament to the potential seen in our upcoming major video game project, which is set to captivate audiences in over 180 countries. With this funding, we will enhance our efforts to distribute, sell, and promote the game internationally, ensuring that our innovative gaming experience reaches a vast audience. The game, designed for PC/Mac and gaming consoles, will break language barriers by being translated into 20 languages, making it universally accessible and enjoyable.

Exciting news from the Shifty Eye team! We’ve recently transitioned from our downtown Calgary locale to a fresh, innovative space in the vibrant neighborhood of Inglewood. This move is not just a change of scenery, but a significant step forward in our journey towards greater creativity and collaboration.

Our new office is equipped with state-of-the-art furnishings to boost comfort and productivity. We’ve partnered with EFFYDESK for our new desks, selecting designs that enhance workflow and inspire innovation. Complementing our modern workspaces are the ergonomically designed chairs from ergoCentric Inc., ensuring that our team enjoys the utmost comfort while crafting the gaming experiences you love.