David Osborne

Senior Narrative Designer: RuneScape Dragonwilds @ Jagex: The RuneScape Company

About

An experienced design leader with a strong track record in AAA, Console, PC, Mobile, MMORPG, looter-shooters and narrative games (Outriders, RuneScape, Life is Strange, Just Cause). I have seven years of experience at Creative Director / Lead Designer level, as well as direct design in multiple fields including MTX/Live Service, Narrative, Progression and Gameplay (3Cs, Combat). Successes include 7 growth years leading RuneScape (#2 MMORPG in the world), lead-design of RuneScape Mobile (#1 F2P app), and design ownership of Outriders for Square-Enix.

Country

United Kingdom

City

Cottenham

Industry

Computer Games

Skill

Photoshop, HTML, CSS, Editing, Storytelling, Multimedia, Web Site Production, Television, French, Microsoft Excel, Management, PaintShop Pro, Microsoft Word, Video Games, MMO, Monetization, Live Video Streaming, Presentation Skills, Production Management, JIRA

Experience

Senior Narrative Designer: RuneScape Dragonwilds

Jagex: The RuneScape Company

2026-1 - Present · 9 mos

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Six-month contract, ending in July 2026. Providing quest designs, biome themes, flows, story overviews and dialogue/text for the survival-crafting game RuneScape Dragonwilds. UE5 implementation on a daily basis, implementing quest and dialogue flows.

Senior Gameplay Designer

Square Enix

2022-2 - 2025-12 · 3 yrs 11 mos

London, England, United Kingdom

Square-Enix's dedicated design representative on the Outriders franchise (Outriders, Worldslayer, unannounced title), as well as Life is Strange (Double Exposure, unannounced title) and Just Cause (unannounced title). Worked with external creative directors to ensure quality via feedback. Ensured adherence to milestones. Applied direct design where there were deficits including progression systems, live service frameworks, narrative and combat responsiveness. Oversaw vetting of 140+ potential acquisition titles over four years, writing reports and liaising with external developers.

Creative Director / Lead Designer (RuneScape)

Jagex: The RuneScape Company

2015-2 - 2022-2 · 7 yrs 1 mo

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Most senior designer on the RuneScape MMORPG (1m MAU, #2 MMORPG), leading the game as a triumvirate with Product and Producer. Oversaw seven successive years of growth. Product determined goals, which then moved to Creative Director / Lead Designer (role updated during employment) to determine roadmap. Day-to-day included management of 8+ designers, design-oversight of 30+ developers, aim-setting for all content, public face of game, owner of GDD, and direct design when there were deficits (MTX, Progression, UX, Live Service, Narrative). Successes include release of RuneScape Mobile (#1 F2P app), intro of monetisation systems to RS, several successful skills (RS progression system) and design of Elf City landmass.

Senior Narrative Designer

Jagex: The RuneScape Company

2009-6 - 2015-2 · 5 yrs 9 mos

United Kingdom

Ownership of narrative arc for RuneScape MMORPG. Oversight of all narrative content, including quests (1-2 hour story missions). Collaboration with quest designers and writer of multiple quests. Successes include ‘6th Age’ narrative arc, bringing the gods to RuneScape. Architect of episodic story structure.

Web Content Editor

Jagex

2005-6 - 2009-6 · 4 yrs 1 mo

Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom

Producing web copy, including newsposts, game walkkthroughs and creative writing. Also editing of ingame copy.

Sports Editor

Chapters Sports

2006-2 - 2006-5 · 4 mos

Producing continuous sports copy for multimedia TV and website Creating and sourcing own stories Managing and training a small team of editors

Diary Planner / Order Coordinator

Inca Interiors

2004-10 - 2005-10 · 1 yr 1 mo

Ordering and maintaining a stock of kitchen furniture and appliances Organising the diaries of 25 fitters to fit the kitchens Co-ordinating the diaries with the on-site schedules of purchasers