Jared Kasl and Tom Fry founded PagodaWest Games in 2011 comprising a team with a passion for the ever exciting world of video games old and new and a vision of how they can be unique, unpredictable and fun for anyone, not only the hardcore. With each of our staff member’s sights set on high production values throughout, we aim to produce some of the most fleshed out experiences seen on mobile devices to date.
Co-Founder & Game Design Director
Jared is one of the co-founders of PagodaWest Games and an avid all-round designer. When he’s not busy cycling around Portland OR or enjoying the great outdoors Jared is donning several caps relevant to the design and creation of games, possessing both formal training in computer science and as well as a notable artistic streak. His experience in these areas gives him a unique perspective which can be harnessed to bridge the gap between programmer and artist.
In 2005 he oversaw the completion of an infrastructure aimed at aiding flight instructors to teach students how to fly a plane using flight simulator software for the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, NE. This allowed for up to ten players to sit in separate cockpits built from scratch to take flight lessons in a simulated real world environment complete with air traffic control and custom built fully-functioning control panels created to closely simulate the feeling of flight in an aircraft. It was so well received by its wide audience that was visited by top Microsoft executives who provided generous funding for future endeavors.
Shortly after his time at the museum, Jared worked in an IT position at the University of Nebraska, where he managed all computer-related issues in the establishment. Outside of work Jared was a director of the Audio/Visual production at a local church, taking on various roles from camera technician to editing and production.
Although his technical know-how is ever present, it is his creativity and dedication that guide him and resonate through his work.
Co-Founder & Art Director
Tom co-founded PagodaWest Games with Jared and professes in animation, graphic design and illustration. Pulling on his extensive training and experience in the media industry in London, it is Tom’s consistent aim to visually enrich his work in every manner possible.
Prior to PagodaWest Games’ formation Tom studied animation at Southampton Solent University in the UK and was awarded a First Class BA Honors Degree upon graduation. In his final year he single-handedly animated, directed and wrote a prize-winning animated short entitled “Natal Attraction” which was broadcast on national UK television and was a successful entrant into various film festivals including the London Raindance Film Festival 2009.
Tom then went on to work at London-based animation studio Picasso Pictures where he worked under the acclaimed directing duo Tokyoplastic on their latest 2D animated short “The Autumn Sea” as an in-betweener and keyframe artist. In addition to this, Tom continued his freelance work collaborating with clients such as Motorola, Sainsbury’s and Santander on various animation, graphics and illustration projects as well as consulting with a number smaller start-up companies to help devise and establish their branding strategies from character design and animation to logo and web design.
Tom’s love of games and technical mindset coupled with a consistent endeavor for challenge, excitement and fun in his work make for the perfect compliment on PagodaWest Games’ staff as art director where he is very much in his element.
Lead Game Programmer
Khoa is PagodaWest Games’ Lead Game Programmer and proud Visual & Game Programming BS graduate of the prestigious Art Institute of Portland.
Having interned previously at SuperGenius Studio as a gameplay programmer developing a prototype and bringing the very best of his skill set to the table, PagodaWest Games is Khoa’s first foray into a lead programming position where producing the smoothest game experience is his top priority. Highly skilled in his profession, Khoa uses his strong base in C++ to pick up any new languages for the task in hand, and keeps a strong work ethic in maintaining clean, readable, commented code.
His sharp mathematical ability to co-ordinate his work doesn’t stop at his desk either. Khoa is a well accomplished musician, particularly on the drums and bass guitar, and a hard-training martial artist, most notably in the art of Doce Pares Eskrima (and has just started training in Wing Tsun too). Khoa works out his artistic muscles as a hobbyist photographer, carrying his camera everywhere he goes!
Khoa’s versatile ability to concisely communicate with designers and artists makes game coding more than just a job to Khoa, it is his passion.
