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Jagex has announced two new senior appointments as it continues to expand its team and “build on [its] portfolio of living games”.
Looking to boost its headcount by 25 per cent by the end of the year, the Cambridge studio has taken on Dan Vargas as art director and Ian Thomas as technical director. Vargas – who has assumed the role of art director on an unannounced online action role-playing game – has nearly 20 years of experience in the industry, including Electronic Arts and Ubisoft.
Ian Thomas has joined Jagex’s publishing platform team from Glint, Inc., bringing with him more than 16 years of software solutions and engineering experience.
“Jagex continues to attract and secure industry-respected expertise and Ian and Dan are key hires who will strengthen our creative and technical management teams,” said CEO Phil Mansell. “We recognise the importance of technical innovation and investing in exceptional talent, with almost 100 new hires targeted, and further modernising our technology, are key elements of our strategy through 2019 and beyond as we build on our portfolio of living games.”
“I’m excited to join Jagex as Art Director and to be working on this ambitious project,” Vargas added. “I made the move from Canada seeking personal and professional growth, and Jagex’s evolution and aspiration made this adventure a very attractive opportunity. I believe in the vision and I’m eager to build out our team, focus on visual development and leverage my experience in the collaborative efforts required to make a great game.”
Every month, Jagex’s developers visit MCV from Runescape’s Gielinor to talk about their latest adventures. This month, Daryl Clewlow, senior director of art, provides talks about the challenges of art direction.
