PlayJam hires ex-PopCap director as head of games

Smart TV outfit PlayJam has appointed the former director of development at PopCap Dublin as its new head of games.

Sameer Baroova will be responsible for coordinating with game developers for content on the company’s upcoming GameStick platform and its PlayJam Games Network.

As well as working at PopCap since 2005 in a number of roles including technical lead, engineering manager and project director for PvZ Fanatics, Baroova also founded Gamavoo in 2005, later acquired by PopCap.

“I am thrilled to take the role of head of games at PlayJam and look forward to the prospect of being a part of this fast evolving games industry,” said Baroova.

“PlayJam is an incredible place to work, full of fun, talented people and having the opportunity to build on its commendable success in the TV games arena is a real privilege.”

PlayJam CCO Charles Tigges added: “Sameer has in-depth understanding of the industry and an enormous respect within it; we are pleased to welcome him to the team where he will play a central role in shaping the future of games on TV.

“We have some very exciting times ahead of us with both our Smart TV proposition and now with the imminent launch of GameStick. We are passionate about our mission to bring affordable games to TV and a strong team will be key in meeting these ambitions.”

PlayJam is currently crowdfunding portable TV games console GameStick on Kickstarter, which has smashed its £100,000 funding target and raised $386,989 at the time of writing, with 16 days left to go.