With the core free-to-play market hotting up, 5th Planet Games is bulking up its armoury.

Best know for immersive plot-driven titles such as Dawn of the Dragons, the US developer had hired Inside Social Games' Mike Thompson as its new creative writer.

The journalist has also previously worked for publications such as GameShark, The Escapist, Gamezebo and Ars Technica.

Quill skill

"We could not be more excited to welcome Mike to the 5th Planet team," said CEO Robert Winkler.

"His knowledge of the industry is incredible, his writing skills top-notch, and his creativity contagious, but it was his passion as a gamer that really let us know he was the right person for this critical role."

Thompson added; "I am proud to help carry on the 5th Planet Games tradition of developing core games that are not only fun to play but captivating to read as well."