[HOBBY][REVSHARE] UE5 Programmer and 3D Artist needed to initiate an initial build for a competitive multiplayer Ice Hockey game! Look further if you want to challenge Electronic Arts and make a better, consumer-friendly online hockey experience!

Greetings!

I am seeking individuals/teams with experience and/or interest in game design to bring a competitive ice hockey team-based game to life. I have a drafted business plan which currently sits at about 48 pages and covers a significant amount of game design details, including game mechanics, features, art design, initial builds (vertical slice, alpha, etc), and a market analysis. The objective at this time is to launch a vertical slice to be marketable to a point of intriguing crowdfunding and investors.

I've included a very rough demo created by one of our programmers to date to show that we are in the process of testing possibilities through UE5:https://gfycat.com/handmaderepentantalaskanmalamute

At this time, this is an unpaid position. However, if we are able to develop an initial build that can pique the interests of crowdfunding and investments, we will develop a revenue-sharing model with priority in funds being allocated to the technical-side of development (programming, art design, sound design, etc).

Game Information:

The game’s aim is to focus on a hyper-competitive and authentic hockey experience similar to EA NHL’s EASHL mode; however, it will not be a clone, rather a challenger to EA’s series. The game will feature 3 vs. 3 and 6 vs. 6 club matches. There will be significant customization of the skater, the club ("clan"), and “locker room” setting. Key mechanics will be implemented so that it rewards high levels of skill and team-based play, while also having low barriers of entry for people interested in the game (and hockey for that matter).

The game will be released initially on PC with consideration of console. There will be no ties to the NHL given licensing agreements, and certain physics may not initially match that of a multi-billion dollar company. Given no ties to the NHL or its affiliates/partnerships, it allows the design team to flex their creative muscles about what can be created in terms of branding and logo designs!

The goal is to develop something that is:

1. Fun: Must be aesthetically and mechanically pleasing at all times while not being simply a “novelty”
2. Competitive: Game must focus on team-work, have balanced mechanics, have team-based rankings, and include statistic-driven satisfaction
3. Customizable: Players will be able to customize their skater that fits their personality, including skater aesthetic, locker room aesthetics, equipment aesthetics, on-ice goal scoring aesthetics, etc.

I do have a working title which I'm currently keeping under wraps publicly. I have drafted a Mission Plan to communicate our game's mission:

[CODE NAME - PROJECT BREAKAWAY] is an online virtual ice hockey video game developed by [PROJECT BREAKAWAY STUDIO TITLE] that fosters a team-first competitive environment by providing a mechanically polished and aesthetically rich gameplay experience. [CODE NAME - PROJECT BREAKAWAY] operates with a consumer-first mentality through active community engagement, a value-friendly cost structure, promoting the unique identify of the player, and champions a fully inclusive environment. [CODE NAME - PROJECT BREAKAWAY] plans to become the premiere competitive hockey video game franchise by challenging anti-consumer practices from corporate goliaths within the market.

Who we are looking for:

People who have programming and art design talents to assist in creating a “Vertical Slice” so that we can begin marketing the idea of the game through crowdfunding and investment pool resources. Currently we do have a team that does include varying levels of programming and game design knowledge, so we’re looking for folks who can collaborate with such. Overall, we are looking for game designers who:

· Have a moderate knowledge of ice hockey rules, designs, and functions.

· Are great collaborators and creative thinkers who understand the nuance of game design.

· Can regularly meet to update progress.

As we work toward the vertical slice, here are the specifics being sought from a 3D Art Designer and Game Programmer:

3D Art Designer:

· Experience with 3D animations for human-like avatars in Unreal Engine 5

· Knowledge, or willingness to learn, of hockey equipment designs (sticks, helmets, goalie pads, ice rinks, etc).

· Initial goal is to design a basic human (standard proportion) hockey skater with animations built in that feature:

• Puck shooting & passing
• Puck dribbling
• Simple deking (left/right)
• Stick checking
• Minor body collision reaction (getting “bumped)

· Design a basic hockey ice rink with empty nets on either side

· Creative input is welcomed for design of skaters!

Game Programmer:

· Experience with (or willingness to learn) Unreal Engine 5

· Ability to take two 3D Skater models and program them to be able to:

• Move (skate) 360 degrees on a blank ice rink
• Shoot/Pass a puck
• Dribble a puck
• Perform simple dekes
• Perform simple stick checks (poke, stick-lift)
• Initiate minor body hits/collisions
• “Score” on an open empty net

· Ability to implement appropriate hockey puck physics that reacts accordingly based upon impact (from stick, hitting boards/net/posts, etc)

· Experience with (or willingness to independently learn) networking and online gaming mechanics will be integral to success.

Background on me:

· I’m in my 30s, married, have a house and a solid career as a claims manager for an insurance company. I have experience in coaching, investigations, interviewing, presentation collaboration, and project management. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a focus in Sports Management.

· I enjoy traveling with my wife and gaming on my down time. I play a variety of games such as Halo, Hell Let Loose, and Call of Duty. I’m an avid hockey fan (Go Pens!) and I played the NHL series from 2008 to 2021, as once they started creating the new-gen versions I decided it was no longer worth the $60/year investment + buying a new system just for playing Chel. My buddies and I miss those nights and experiences dearly though, but we want a game that fits our needs, which is what Project Breakaway aims to do.

If you have an interest in joining our team, please message me for more details. We do have a small discord set-up at this time. Thank you for your time!