Venezuela-born Dano started out in film-making but knew from an early age that his true vocation was the dramatic world of video games. He completed a Masters in game development here in Barcelona, and his adventure at Social Point kicked off a year later. Dano is our iOS Project Manager for Dragon City. He is, in other words, a Dragon Master!

 Dano, what attracted you to Social Point?

A mix of opportunities to grow professionally and be part of the biggest creative team in Barcelona. Social Pointers are driven by an infectious passion – from the first dragon baby to the last line of code implementation – that makes working here unlike anywhere else.

And what does a Project  Manager do?

Well, it’s our job to ensure that everyone else is doing their job in a sense. We have a to know what’s going on in all the departments and ensure that our programers, artists, designers and business teams are in sync. We’re also right at the coal face in terms of planning, scheduling, time management and spotting those potential problems before they become problems. I read somewhere that product managers can’t make everyone happy all the time, but they can keep everyone productive. I guess I’d go along with that.

So what do you enjoy most about your job?

Seeing our efforts reflected in the enjoyment felt by our gamers. That’s a powerful feeling of accomplishment.

You’re in  charge of Dragon City on iOS. So do  you prefer playing it on mobile?

Generally speaking I love to play on mobile devices. They are with me all the time, so I don’t have to rush home to play games. And as time passes, we are seeing better and better video games with great quality appearing or the mobile phones and tablets.

So what were the biggest updates in Dragon City this month?

Well last week we had the biggest most complicated cross platform update in the history of the game!

We released two new expansion islands, we increased the level cap for users and also for dragons; new buildings and a bunch of really cool things the fans were asking for. It was really a big challenge to put out all these major updates, whilst ensuring that all three platforms – flash, iOS and Android – stayed online with zero interruptions. There was a bit of nail-biting at Social Point, but we held it together and I’m pretty proud of our Dragon City team.

What’s life like at Social Point HQ?

In a nutshell? Incredibly fast- paced. Positive. Demanding. And mega-creative.

Living in Barcelona rocks too. Architecture, cafes with terraces. Gorgeous weather, food, wine. And it has a beach. I keep having to ask myself if I died and went to heaven.

How did you get into gaming, Dano?

Ah, I think I was born to make games. Since I was little, I’ve always been fascinated by video games. I remember this clear moment  as a kid, when I was playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (for the millionth time). I heard myself saying: Hey, there are people out there actually making this, and reaching other people through their art. I want to do this too!

From that moment on I knew what I wanted to do. Fifteen years later, here I am. I studied cinema directing and producing. My first baby steps in the video game industry were as a low-poly 3D artist, then a QA manager and finally a fully fledged Product Manager. And I have loved every day of the journey.

Any advice for would-be product managers out there?

Be the best at being the best. Learn and know a little bit of everything. Be the guy or the girl that people can rely on!

And finally, Dano – the big reveal! Who is your favorite game character?

The bad-ass Lava Dragon. He looks amazing – like a rock star. And he behaves like a puppy. What more could you want?

Dano and Lava Dragon at Social Point HQ.

If you are looking for a challenge and you’d like to join our team, why not take a look at our JOBS page and check out the current job openings? You might just find the perfect fit!