Donlan, Parkin, Porter and Stuart co-found Hookshot Inc Gem expands business development team TV exec joins We R Interactive Splash Damage hires FIFA dev
HOOKSHOT l Four popular UK games
journalists have set up a digital games website: Hookshot Inc.
CHRISTIAN DONLAN, SIMON PARKIN, WILL PORTER and KEITH STUART have decades of experience between them. Donlan won Best Specialist Writer – Online at last year’s Games Media Awards, while Porter and Stuart have picked up awards for PC Zoneand The Guardianrespectively. Hookshotlaunched earlier this week and reports on digitally distributed titles priced at under $15 each. It covers games on consoles, handhelds, smartphones, tablets and PC, including browser and Facebook games. “Keeping track of the very best downloadable titles on multiple platforms can be a challenge,” said Porter. “There are countless downloadable games being created by companies big and small, and we want to single out the ones that truly deserve the attention of busy people with hectic lives.”
GEM l LOUISE YARNOLD has been hired as Gem’s new business development account manager.
She joins the distributor and retail services provider after several years at Toyota, where she handled sales, finance and business development. She will assist and report to head of business development PHILIP MUNRO. Munro said: “The key to Louise’s success will be to support
and sharpen Gem’s vision and objectives by delivering new, innovative products with differentiation that will work well for retail, but also to offer support to the wider divisions within Gem to ensure these products are suitable to the channel.”
WE R INTERACTIVE l The social games publisher has hired PAUL WHITEHEAD as global commercial director. Whitehead was formerly head of corporate and business developer at Channel 4. He will oversee commercial development and marketing for We R Interactive, with the initial goal of increasing user numbers for the publisher’s portfolio and bringing in new brand partners.
SPLASH DAMAGE l GRIFF JENKINS has joined the UK developer as director of production.
He previously spent seven years at Electronic Arts, where he was senior development director on multiple FIFA titles and worked on other popular franchises, such as Need For Speed. He has also worked at Eidos, Criterion and Kuju Entertainment.
“I’m really excited to become director of production at Splash Damage, particularly because of its incredible vision for multiplayer gaming,” said Jenkins. “I’m delighted to become an integral part of that future.”