Games: Who Wants To Play

We have all been exposed in some way or another to the world of games. Over the past few years we have seen tremendous advances and changes in the way we choose to play games.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

The obvious leaders Nintendo Game cube, Microsoft Xbox, and Sony PlayStation are in a battle to develop and launch the next winning platform in 2005. Of course this creates a wider market and a new wave of competitors. And not to be left out are the good old fashioned board games and role playing games that aren't so old fashioned these days.

Many of those interested in the game industry and the companies that are supporting and providing service to the multiple game companies in the Northwest are asking the following questions:

.         Where is the opportunity for those looking to be part of this game industry?

.         Should game makers create games that will fit into the culture or make games that change the culture?

.         How will the market change?

.         Are games facing a creativity crisis?

.         Is the game industry on a technological plateau?

Many talk of the growing market, yet a growing market requires more customers, is the market ripe for growth or is it stagnant?

Presenting Company:   James Gwertzman, Sprout Games
Moderator:  Stuart Moulder, WildTangent, Vice President WildStudio
Expert Panelists:
Ed Ventura, Microsoft (Xbox), Director of Franchise Development
Stephen Arnold, Polaris Venture, Managing General Partner
Scott Wallin, Metaplay, President and CEO

BIOs
James Gwertzman is the managing director of Sprout Games, a leading independent studio creating casual computer games for digital distribution. All of Sprout's games have achieved top-10 status; Sprout's best-selling game Feeding Frenzy was featured in the charts for over 47 weeks and received the 2004 Editor's Choice award from RealNetworks. Mr. Gwertzman has been involved in the game industry since 2000 when he co-founded his first game studio, Escape Factory, to create Xbox and PS2 games. Mr. Gwertzman graduated from <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>
Harvard College with a degree in computer science. His senior thesis received the prestigious Hoopes Prize for its original research on world-wide web caching techniques and has been widely cited. He is currently enjoying the challenges of raising a pair of toddler twins.

Stuart Moulder has been in the interactive entertainment business since 1991 where he began his career with Sierra Online as Producer of Sierra's first CD-ROM title, Mixed-Up Mother Goose CD. Stuart next worked on Sierra's pioneering online gaming network: the ImagiNation Network. Joining Microsoft in 1994, Stuart led the growth of Microsoft's games business from $45 million to over $200 million. During his tenure at Microsoft, Stuart was responsible for Microsoft's largest franchises including Age of Empires, Flight Simulator and Halo. Stuart also led several of Microsoft's studio purchases, including the acquisitions of FASA Interactive, Ensemble Studios, and Bungie Studios.In 2004, Stuart joined Wild Tangent where he is responsible for the development of downloadable games for consumers and for corporate clients. During his tenure at Wild Tangent, Stuart has overseen the delivery of nearly a dozen titles to clients ranging from Nike to Coca Cola to Fox TV.

Ed Ventura currently serves as Director of Franchise Development in Microsoft's Xbox Worldwide Content and Marketing group.  His game experience spans 16 years including ten in Microsoft Games Studios.  He was responsible for Microsoft's first Windows 95 title, "Fury3" and planner of the world renowned PC game franchise, "Age of Empires."  Prior to Microsoft, Mr. Ventura co-founded DTMC, Inc., a game developer/publisher for Nintendo including SNES titles, "Lester the Unlikely" and "California Games 2."  Mr. Ventura also co-created "The Illuminator," a licensed Nintendo Game Boy light accessory during the 1989 launch of this handheld platform.

Steve Arnold is with Seattle-based Polaris Venture Partners. Steve focuses on investments in information technology and digital media. Prior to co-founding Polaris, Steve served as a special advisor to Burr, Egan, Deleage & Co., following more than 10 years in executive positions in the software industry. He served as vice president of Broadband Media Applications at Microsoft Corporation and as president and CEO of Continuum Productions (now Corbis). Before Continuum, Steve was vice president and general manager of LucasArts Games and Learning divisions, and vice president of the New Media Group at Lucasfilm Ltd. He continues to serve as vice chairman of the board of directors of the George Lucas Educational Foundation. Steve represents Polaris on the boards of directors of Group Source Solutions, Impinj, MessageGate, Syncronex, and Turbine Entertainment.

Scott Wallin is a 20 year veteran of the electronic game industry, and is co-founder, President and CEO of Metaplay, Inc. Metaplay, founded in 2002, is a Seattle based mobile entertainment company focusing entirely on the business of publishing and developing entertainment products for the mobile cell phone industry. Previously Scott held executive positions with some of the most prominent games companies in the world, including Humongous (and Cavedog) Entertainment where he also served on the publishing board of parent company Atari Entertainment (formerly Infogames/GTI). Scott was also one of the first employees at Starwave, an innovative, early Internet Paul Allen company dedicated to exploring Mr. Allen's vision of a "wired and wireless connected world".