Jon Hare

Jon "Jops" Hare (born 20 January 1966) in Ilford, Essex, UK is a British computer game designer, game artist and musician. He is one of the two founder members and directors, with Chris Yates, of Sensible Software, one of the most successful European games development companies of the late '80s and '90s.

Hare was co-designer and artist of all of Sensible's hits prior to 1992 including Parallax, Wizball, Microprose Soccer, SEUCK and Wizkid. He was also the lead designer and creative director of Mega Lo Mania, the Sensible Soccer series and the Cannon Fodder series, some of the most popular software franchises of the mid 1990s.

Hare is also known for writing the music for a number of Sensible Software's games, including Cannon Fodder, Sensible Soccer, Sensible Golf and the never released Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll, which featured over 30 tracks written and arranged by Hare and his frequent musical collaborator, Richard Joseph. Hare publishes all of his own music and the music of friends and others related to the computer games industry via his online music publishing company www.sensiblesoundware.com.

Since the sale of Sensible Software to Codemasters in 1999, Hare has worked internationally on a number of games in the capacity of a consultant designer on a number of titles including Prince Naseem Boxing, Frontline Command, Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing, Real World Golf, Sensible Soccer 2006, Football Superstars and I-Can Football.

As co-founder and owner of development company Tower Studios Jon has creatively directed a number of mobile games titles including Cannon Fodder, Sensible Soccer, and International Rugby 7s. Tower Studios is also the holding company for all of the Intellectual Property that Hare has accumulated over the course of his career.

From October 2006 - October 2008 he was Content Development Director of Nikitova LLC, overseeing the development and design of Nikitova’s games.

In July 2009 Jagex announced that Hare had joined the company as Head of Publishing.

Throughout his career Hare has done much work in the area of media. He has had a close association with the games press for many years, most notably with the magazines ZZap 64, Amiga Power and Retrogamer and the website Eurogamer.com. Hare has also contributed to such games TV Shows as Gamesmaster and Gamesnight and the radio show One Life Left.

Since 2002 Hare has been very active in the area of public speaking and education where he has spoken for companies such as BAFTA, Sony, and GDC as well as doing lectures in a number of universities and institutions in the UK and across Europe in relation to computer games design and development.

Hare has been a voting member of BAFTA across all media since 2004.