Historian

As a Historian at Firaxis Games, your responsibilities will include collaborating with art and design teams to craft relatable characters, writing and editing dialogue and lore, conducting thorough historical research, and translating complex historical topics for general audiences. You'll also ensure historical accuracy across departments and troubleshoot potential storytelling issues.

To qualify for the Historian role at Firaxis Games, you should have at least 4 years of experience in a writing or narrative design capacity, a degree in History or a related field, and advanced knowledge of history. Experience with game writing workflows and historical research is highly beneficial, as well as excellent communication skills.

As a Historian at Firaxis Games, you will work on narrative development for AAA titles, crafting engaging and historically accurate content that enriches the gaming experience. You'll collaborate with teams to ensure your historical insights shape characters, dialogue, and overall storytelling across various game genres.

Firaxis Games is committed to maintaining a healthy work-life balance for its employees, including historians. The company offers flexible work hours, hybrid work options, and numerous wellness initiatives, ensuring that creative minds can thrive both in and out of the studio.

Yes! At Firaxis Games, we value professional development and offer numerous opportunities for growth within the company. Historians can expand their roles by taking on more complex projects, participating in cross-departmental collaborations, and enhancing their skill sets through training and mentorship.

When discussing your historical research experience, highlight specific projects that required deep dives into history. Explain how you approached the research, the resources you used, and how your findings enhanced the narrative in a game context. Show your passion for connecting players to history through compelling storytelling.

To ensure historical accuracy while making content accessible, I focus on distilling complex topics into relatable narratives. I compare academic resources and engage in discussions with historians or subject matter experts, ensuring that the final product balances factual accuracy with engaging storytelling for players.

Share a specific experience where you worked with designers on character development. Discuss your role in shaping the character’s backstory and dialogue, how you integrated historical insights, and the feedback process that helped craft a well-rounded character that resonated with players.

My writing process begins with thorough research to understand the character's historical context. I then draft dialogue that captures their voice and motivations while remaining true to the period. I revise my work based on team feedback to ensure it agrees with the overall game tone and narrative flow.

In educating my team about historical inaccuracies, I would present clear, researched examples along with suggestions for corrections. I would encourage open dialogue and collaboration, helping others see how accurate portrayals can enhance the gaming experience without overshadowing fun.

To keep historical content engaging, I focus on storytelling techniques, such as character-driven narratives and relatable conflicts. I tailor my writing to be dynamic and add layers of intrigue while ensuring that the history remains integral to the player's experience.

Genres such as strategy, RPGs, and adventure games highly benefit from historical accuracy. These genres offer players immersive experiences where historical contexts add depth to gameplay, making the stories feel more authentic and compelling.

I once adapted a historical event into a narrative for a game by focusing on the personal stories of those involved, showcasing their struggles and victories. I modernized the language and context to make it relatable to today’s audience, while ensuring the essence of the event remained intact.

I view feedback as a valuable opportunity for growth. I listen actively to the suggestions made by peers and incorporate their insights while staying true to the historical material. Constructive criticism helps refine my work and strengthen our team’s collaborative efforts.

I’m particularly drawn to Firaxis Games because of its commitment to quality storytelling and rich game mechanics. The chance to be part of a team that values historical accuracy while innovating gameplay really excites me. I'm enthusiastic about sharing my passion for history in a dynamic, creative environment.