H

Creative Director

Halfbrick Studios
Full-time
Remote
Worldwide
🎨 Brand & Creative Marketing

πŸ“Œ Core Information

πŸ”Ή Job Title: Creative Director

πŸ”Ή Company: Halfbrick Studios

πŸ”Ή Location: Remote

πŸ”Ή Job Type: Full-Time

πŸ”Ή Category: Game Development

πŸ”Ή Date Posted: April 9, 2025

πŸ”Ή Experience Level: 5-10 years

πŸ”Ή Remote Status: Fully Remote (Global)

πŸš€ Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

  • Driving the creative vision for Halfbrick's upcoming VR boxing game, Thrill of the Fight 2
  • Leading a cross-disciplinary team to craft an innovative, authentic, and engaging VR boxing experience
  • Collaborating with marketing and community teams to ensure consistent branding across all touchpoints
  • Mentoring and guiding creative talent across various disciplines
  • Making data-informed decisions to continuously iterate and improve the player experience

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, leadership, and passion for VR gaming and boxing. Candidates should have a strong portfolio and proven experience in directing the creative vision on shipped titles, preferably in VR or action genres.

πŸ“‹ Key Responsibilities

βœ… Define and drive the creative vision for Thrill of the Fight 2, ensuring it aligns with Halfbrick’s values and delivers a world-class VR boxing experience

βœ… Lead a cross-disciplinary creative team of designers, artists, audio engineers, and writers, guiding creative output and fostering a high-performing, collaborative environment

βœ… Shape gameplay, mechanics, and pacing to balance realism, challenge, and fun, while making the game accessible and satisfying for a wide range of players

βœ… Review feedback and playtest results to make data-informed decisions and continuously iterate on core gameplay, UX, and overall player experience

βœ… Collaborate with marketing and community teams to ensure the game’s tone, visual style, and messaging are consistent across trailers, promotions, and player touchpoints

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of VR-specific design principles, gameplay systems, and player engagement. Candidates should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, iterative development environment.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Game Design, Fine Arts, or a related field (or equivalent experience)

Experience: 5-10 years of experience in game development, with at least 3 years in a creative leadership role

Required Skills:

  • Deep passion for games and VR boxing, with a strong connection to Halfbrick’s mission and portfolio
  • Proven experience directing the creative vision on shipped titles, preferably in VR, action, or sports-related games
  • Strong grasp of VR-specific / spatial design principles, including physical interaction, player comfort, immersive design, and intuitive controls
  • Solid understanding of gameplay systems, combat mechanics, player progression, and what makes moment-to-moment gameplay feel great
  • Excellent collaboration and communication skills, able to align cross-functional teams around a shared creative direction
  • Natural leadership with the ability to inspire, guide, and level up creative talent across disciplines

Preferred Skills:

  • Hands-on experience with Unity or Unreal Engine in a design or prototyping capacity
  • Genuine interest in combat sports, boxing, or fitnessβ€”as a player, viewer, or athlete
  • Prior experience shipping titles on VR platforms like Meta Quest, PSVR2, or Steam

ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a diverse background in game development and a strong passion for Halfbrick's games will be most successful in this role.

πŸ’° Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $180,000 AUD per year, commensurate with experience

Benefits:

  • Mental health support program
  • Flexible working hours
  • Annual bonus program
  • Extra leave, including charity and meditation leave

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible hours and a focus on work-life balance

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a creative director role in game development. Final compensation will be determined based on the candidate's experience and qualifications.

πŸ“Œ Applicant Insights

πŸ” Company Context

Industry: Halfbrick Studios is a leading game development company specializing in creating high-quality, engaging mobile and VR games. They are known for their hit titles like Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride.

Company Size: Halfbrick Studios has 51-200 employees, providing a mid-sized company environment that offers ample opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Founded: Halfbrick Studios was founded in 2001 and has since grown to become one of the most well-known game developers in the world.

Company Description:

  • Halfbrick Studios values creativity, collaboration, and innovation in game development
  • The company offers a vibrant, fun, and brimming-with-creativity work environment
  • Halfbrick Studios is committed to training and professional growth, ensuring their teams stay hungry, humble, and smart

Company Specialties:

  • Game Development

Company Website: http://www.halfbrick.com

ASSUMPTION: Halfbrick Studios' focus on creativity and collaboration makes it an attractive workplace for game development professionals seeking a dynamic and engaging environment.

πŸ“Š Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, requiring a high degree of expertise and leadership in creative direction and game development.

Reporting Structure: The Creative Director will report directly to the Head of Studios and will oversee a cross-disciplinary team of designers, artists, audio engineers, and writers.

Work Arrangement: This is a fully remote position, allowing for global applicants and a flexible work-life balance.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Potential to grow into a leadership role within Halfbrick Studios, such as Head of Studios or Creative Director for other projects
  • Opportunities to work on multiple projects and gain experience in various aspects of game development
  • Chance to mentor and develop junior team members, fostering their growth and career advancement

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to make a lasting impact on Halfbrick Studios' future projects.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote, with no physical office location required

Office Location(s): N/A (Global)

Geographic Context:

  • Halfbrick Studios has a global presence, with team members located in various countries around the world
  • The company's headquarters are in Brisbane, Australia, but this role does not require proximity to the headquarters
  • The remote work environment allows for a flexible and adaptable work schedule, with a focus on results and productivity

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible hours and a focus on work-life balance

ASSUMPTION: The fully remote work environment at Halfbrick Studios offers candidates the opportunity to work from anywhere in the world, providing a high degree of flexibility and work-life balance.

πŸ’Ό Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

  • Online application submission
  • Phone or video screen with the HR team
  • Creative challenge or test project
  • Final interview with the Head of Studios and other key team members

Key Assessment Areas:

  • Creativity and vision for the game's design and player experience
  • Leadership and team management skills
  • Understanding of VR-specific design principles and gameplay systems
  • Communication and collaboration skills

Application Tips:

  • Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
  • Prepare a portfolio showcasing your creative vision, leadership, and game development experience
  • Be ready to discuss your passion for games, VR boxing, and Halfbrick Studios' portfolio

ATS Keywords: Creative Direction, Game Design, VR Boxing, Leadership, Team Management, Unity, Unreal Engine, Playtesting, Data-Informed Decisions, Player Experience

ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role will be competitive, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their creativity, leadership, and technical skills throughout the interview process.

πŸ› οΈ Tools & Technologies

  • Unity or Unreal Engine
  • VR-specific design and development tools
  • Project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello)
  • Communication and collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams)

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have experience with relevant game development tools and be comfortable learning new tools as needed.

πŸ‘” Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

  • Creativity
  • Collaboration
  • Innovation

Work Style:

  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Results-driven
  • Collaborative and team-oriented

Self-Assessment Questions:

  • How do you align with Halfbrick Studios' values of creativity, collaboration, and innovation?
  • How comfortable are you working in a fully remote, global team environment?
  • What aspects of your work style make you a good fit for this role and Halfbrick Studios' company culture?

ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong alignment with Halfbrick Studios' values and a flexible, collaborative work style will be most successful in this role.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

  • Managing a remote, global team with varying time zones and work schedules
  • Balancing the creative vision with technical constraints and project timelines
  • Adapting to a fast-paced, iterative development environment
  • Ensuring consistent branding and messaging across multiple platforms and touchpoints

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and be able to adapt to changing priorities and feedback.

πŸ“ˆ Similar Roles Comparison

  • This role is similar to other creative director positions in game development, but with a focus on VR-specific design principles and boxing game mechanics
  • Halfbrick Studios' mid-sized company environment offers more opportunities for collaboration and growth than larger enterprise-level companies
  • Candidates can expect a clear career path with opportunities for growth and advancement within the company

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to work on a high-profile VR boxing game with a well-established and respected game development company.

πŸ“ Sample Projects

  • Previous VR boxing game projects or prototypes
  • Game design documents or creative vision statements for similar games
  • Portfolio pieces demonstrating leadership, team management, and creative direction skills

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their previous work and how it relates to the creative vision and goals for Thrill of the Fight 2.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

  • How does this role fit into Halfbrick Studios' long-term vision for the Thrill of the Fight franchise?
  • What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
  • How does Halfbrick Studios support the growth and development of its creative team members?
  • What are the most challenging aspects of working on a VR boxing game, and how can this role address them?
  • How does Halfbrick Studios approach playtesting and gathering player feedback to inform game design decisions?

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should come prepared with thoughtful questions that demonstrate their interest in the role and the company's long-term success.

πŸ“Œ Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

  • Submit your application through this link
  • Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
  • Prepare a portfolio showcasing your creative vision, leadership, and game development experience
  • Be ready to discuss your passion for games, VR boxing, and Halfbrick Studios' portfolio during the interview process
  • Follow up with the Halfbrick Studios HR team one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and inquire about next steps

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.