ZOMBIE BONSAI
V
A small, independent game studio focused on combining fun stories with engaging mechanics.
We create supportive games that are enjoyable whether you're at your absolute best or totally drained after a long, hard day.
Current Project
We're currently working on a supply-chain city builder set on a space station lost in a strange galaxy. You'll meet weird and amusing characters, both human and otherwise. You'll build infrastructure to survive and, eventually, thrive. You'll explore a galaxy full of wonders and mystery, groaning under the weight of an ancient promise that can no longer be kept. If you like Frostpunk, Star Control or Sunless Sea - with perhaps a more lighthearted twist - we hope you'll love what we're cooking up :)
Here's what our playtesters are saying about the game:
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“Love the freedom to address problems how you want”
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“There’s always something to do, which feels good.”
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“I liked that you have solutions to bottlenecks from different angles.”
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“I liked the moment where the game first asks me to build real infrastructure. That was exciting”
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“I love that running out of food isn’t game over. I like recovering.”
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“The writing is fun. I want to scan more to get more dialogs.”
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“The scarcity and challenge of running out is cool. It felt like tension without being stressful.”
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“I am enjoying the puzzle of building all the space structures and placing them so they have access to everything.”
You too could be a playtester ;) Drop us a mail at zombiebonsai@gmail.com. We'd love to have your help in crafting this game.
We're Looking for a Tech Artist!
We're looking for a technical artist to help pull together the visuals for a city-building \ exploration game set in space. The game has ~10 hours of playable content and a defined style. We're translating the concepts into 3D and need a technical artist to help! The work will focus on making the game's core shaders, tuning the game's lighting model and solving technically focused visual problems - like efficiently rendering a starfield background or nebulas.
You'll be working with a small team. The studio head is the gameplay designer and developer, with experience in both AAA and indie game making. The art team consists of an overall concept artist, two structure designers and a 3D modeler. You'll be interacting with everyone on the team, although you'll be managed by the studio head and likely work closest with him and the 3D modeler. We expect the engagement to last 1-2 months.
As a technical artist, you will
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Help to transcribe the visual style of the concept arts into the engine (shaders, VFX, lighting, post processing...)
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Find solutions to specific graphics problems
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Review and identify areas of investment that will help bring the game visuals closer to the concept illustrations
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Work with developers and artists to design and improve art workflows
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Explain or write documentation for the overall visual tech strategy, major new code and workflow changes
The following skills are expected:
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Excellent knowledge and understanding of Unity URP
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Strong skills in creating shaders, using either shader graph or code
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Solid technical and artistic skills to configure lighting and post processing effects accurately
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Solid knowledge of rendering features and how to create\use custom post processing techniques
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Good knowledge in VFX production (VFX graph and/or shuriken)
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Ability to work autonomously towards an artistic goal, experimenting\iterating until a great looking, performant solution is achieved
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Ability to work in a team, share work frequently for feedback and give\receive detailed comments
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Affinity for stylized, whimsical art directions
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3+ years of game industry or graphics work experience with a portfolio or equivalent demonstrating the visual impact you've had
If you're interested, please send your resume, portfolio and any other info you think might be relevant to zombiebonsai@gmail.com. We're most interested in someone who can start soon, but for somebody that's truly awesome, we can wait.