Immersive Entertainment, Interactive Experiences, Creative Leadership
JAMES (H) DARGIE
I build worlds that people live in. From the ruins of Metroid Prime to the undead world of Call of Duty Zombies, to Defiance, the first transmedia MMO and TV show, and the best location based experiences in the world. A body of work across every medium that matters.
ART / CREATIVE DIRECTOR
$4B+
FRANCHISE REVENUE
22+
SHIPPED TITLES
30+
YEARS EXPERIENCE
THE MATRIX / Medal of Honor - AIRBORNE - PACIFIC ASSAULT - RISING SUN / Sphere Vegas / Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within / Defiance / COD Zombies - Original Developer / Qiddiya Gaming City / METROID PRIME / CALL OF DUTY - BLACK OPS - BLACK OPS 2 - MODERN WARFARE 3 /
SELECTED WORK
Where the work has LIVED
Six projects from thirty years. Each a different world, a different medium, a different frontier.
CALL OF DUTY:
BLACK OPS & ZOMBIES
ART DIRECTION / TREYARCH
ORIGINAL DEVELOPER / BAFTA GAME AWARD 2010
METROID PRIME
SENIOR ARTIST / RETRO STUDIOS
BAFTA WINNER / GDC GAME OF THE YEAR
THE MATRIX RELOADED & REVOLUTIONS
LEAD MODELLER / WARNER BROS.
VES AWARD / BOX OFFICE LEADER
DEFIANCE
STUDIO CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF ART / TRION
FIRST MMO / TV TRANSMEDIA PROJECT
FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN
LEAD CG ARTIST / SQUARE PICTURES
PIONEERED PHOTOREAL CG FILM
VISION TO EXECUTION
How a world gets
BUILT
The journey usually begins with reference - then a deck I craft to align the vision, inspire the team, and rally the support of executives and publishers. From there the creative is refined through clearly articulated pillar documents, feedback guides, and visual target materials to maintain alignment across internal and external partners.
Below is the Defiance process: from blank slate to a living MMO synchronized in real-time with a SyFy television series. The first of its kind.
01 SIGNAL THE SILENCE
Intentional minimalism as the opening move. A deliberate pause that creates space for clarity, signaling to your team that what follows is built on focus, not flash.
02 CAPTURE THE CORE
Before visuals, before mood boards — the feeling. The emotional imprint the player should carry long after they log off. That is the real starting point.
03 DEFINE THE VISUAL DNA
For Defiance: The Road Warrior, Book of Eli, Starship Troopers. A distinct, mythic look that cuts through genre noise and feels both fresh and legendary.
04 BUILD THE PILLARS
Documented creative pillars that every team member, publisher, and broadcast partner can align to independently. Vision only scales when it is written clearly enough for someone else to execute.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
The medium keeps changing. The standard doesn't.
From building hovercraft models for the Wachowskis to directing 16K interactive games at the Las Vegas Sphere. Film, console, VR, transmedia, location-based entertainment, and cutting edge techniques.
Every frontier, same bar.
Esport & Gaming City, Riyadh SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR 2025 - PRESENT
Designing next-generation gaming venues and large-scale player experiences. Leading cross-functional teams across architecture, technology, and entertainment
Activision / Treyarch ART DIRECTOR, ASSOC. / LIGHTING DIRECTOR 2008 - 2011
Part of the founding team that created COD Zombies. Black Ops earned 7 BAFTA nominations, the BAFTA GAME Award of 2010, and the Golden Joystick for Best Shooter. Combined franchise revenue exceeds $30 billion.
Call of Duty: Black Ops, Black Ops II, Zombies DLC, Modern Warfare 3
Electronic Arts (EALA) CG DIRECTOR / PRODUCER 2003 - 2007
First console title on Unreal Engine. Lighting direction, VFX, weapons, vehicles, and first-person experience direction across three shipped titles. Medal of Honor held the Guinness World Record for Best-Selling FPS Franchise as of 2008.
Medal of Honor: Airborne, Pacific Assault, Rising Sun
ESC Entertainment / Warner Bros. LEAD MODELER / DESIGNER 2002 - 2003
Lead hovercraft and weapon platform artist on two sequels to a film that won four Academy Awards including Best Visual Effects. Sequels grossed $1.5 billion combined and earned Saturn Awards for Best Science Fiction Film.
The Matrix: Reloaded, The Matrix: Revolutions
CONTACT
DESIGNING large and small scale interactive experiences that merge spectacle with storytelling, blending cutting-edge tech with pop-cultural punch.
LEADING creative vision across games, live events, and immersive media, turning bold ideas into unforgettable, high-impact realities.
ELEVATING diverse voices and boundary-pushing narratives that entertain, surprise, and connect with global audiences.
Explore my WORK; see my approach to Direction in VISION; or read my BIO; and let’s build something extraordinary together.
Senior Creative · Art Director · Games · Film · Immersive · AR/VR
GET IN TOUCH
Interested in learning more about me, my work or how we can collaborate on an upcoming project? Feel free to reach out anytime, I would be more than happy to chat.