Thursday, February 9 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM Session A: Game Power - as Games Crossover into Music, TV, Movie, Mobile, Advertainment & Custom Branded Experience In today’s global entertainment environment, the successful extension of a franchise is not only part and parcel of the business plan, it is also welcomed and embraced by the consumer. The power, quality and popularity of the various entertainment mediums, make it possible for a game to enable a successful movie franchise, just as a successful ‘70s TV show can be recast as a worldwide movie blockbuster. This of course can start the cycle all over again, generating the next generation of game, DVD, toys, CD, t-shirts, live events and so on. Unique to this phenomenon today however, is the need to protect the brand as it is extended into each category. Competition and consumer sophistication today demand a level of creativity in the games, movies and TV shows produced, something that brand extension itself can not overcome. Joseph Varet, Business Development and Strategy, MTV: Music Television Chris Early, Studio Manager, Microsoft Casual Games Geoff Graber, CEO, DoubleFusion Ralph Rivera, VP & GM, AOL Games, America Online, Inc. Scott Cohen, President, Game Trust, Inc. Nicholas Loria, EVP of Advertising Sales, Massive Incorporated Matt Ringel, President, Games Media Properties, Moderator Chris Early, Studio Manager, Microsoft’s Casual Games Group: Chris Early is studio manager for Microsoft’s Casual Games Group. A gaming industry veteran, Chris leads Microsoft’s Casual Games Group in expanding Microsoft’s casual gaming audience and game experiences across multiple platforms. Microsoft’s approach to casual gaming reaches beyond the traditional online segment, tapping into diverse markets that span MSN Games, MSN Messenger, Mobile and Xbox LIVE Arcade. Prior to joining Microsoft, Chris served as chief operating officer of GameSpy and executive vice president and general manager of Mplayer. Chris holds a BA in Economics and International Management from Claremont Men’s College. Ralph Rivera, VP & GM, AOL Games, America Online, Inc.: As Vice President and General Manager of AOL Games, Ralph Rivera is responsible for all programming and business strategy for AOL Games, which provides content, services, and marketing for Web, PC, and console games for AOL members and game fans on the Web. Under Mr. Rivera’s direction, AOL Games continues to offer new initiatives that bring AOL members exclusive content and maximize their overall gaming experience while delivering valuable promotional and marketing benefits to game industry partners. Throughout his career, Mr. Rivera has focused on the intersection of technology and media. Prior to his position at AOL Games, he held executive and staff positions at America Online’s Moviefone, Pearson, Simon & Schuster, Deloitte & Touche, and IBM. He earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia College and an M.B.A. degree from New York University. Consistently ranked among the leading online gaming sites, AOL Games offers online games, exclusive demos of the hottest video games, comprehensive video games information including cheats, tips and reviews, and exclusive original streaming video programming. According to comScore Media Metrix, nearly 9 million game fans visit AOL Games and spend an average of 267 minutes per visitor each month, making games the second most popular activity on AOL behind email/instant messaging based on time spent per account. Scott Cohen, President, Game Trust Inc.: Scott Cohen is President of Game Trust, a leading developer and provider of Internet gaming software, technology, and online computer games. Game Trust has developed infrastructure for online and wireless casual games incorporating a community and commerce platform with over 35 game titles, supporting tournaments, subscriptions and virtual merchandise sales. The Game Trust platform reaches 50 million players each month, and is licensed by leading Internet portals and game developers worldwide. Major clients include Shockwave, MoneyGaming.com, MiniClip, Boomtown, and MTV games, among others, who rely on Game Trust to improve game play and increase revenues. Cohen joined Game Trust in April of 2004, bringing with him over 25 years of expertise in strategic development and deal-making, having been an integral part of the success of several Internet companies. For these enterprises, Cohen built sales and client service organizations to support accelerated growth and market dominance. His career exhibits leadership in business in the United States and Europe, and performance in both corporate and entrepreneurial environments. As a co-founder and senior level executive, Cohen was critical to the success of two IPO's over the past seven years: LivePerson (LPSN on NASDAQ) and 24/7 Media (TFSM on NASDAQ). Nicholas Loria, EVP of Advertising Sales, Massive Incorporated: Nick’s experience in media sales as well as marketing and sales management spans 25 years in broadcast, cable, print and new media both domestically and internationally. He is a former Senior Vice President of MTV Networks where he was responsible for all advertising sales for the MTV group which included MTV, MTV2, MTVU and MTV.com. Prior to MTV, Nick was Senior Vice President of North American sales for Turner International which included CNN and the Cartoon Network in Europe, Asia and Latin America. In these positions, he was responsible for ad sales revenue, strategy and business development and sales staff management for all domestic offices. Nick started his career at CBS where he assisted in focus group research for Children’s programming and later in the print production department for CBS Television. Nicholas holds two BA degrees from the City University of New York for Political Science and Criminal Justice and has completed extensive business course work at Pace University Graduate School of Business. Matthew Ringel, President and CEO, Games Media Properties: Matthew Ringel, President and CEO of Games Media Properties, has helped pioneer the integration of video games with "traditional" media throughout his career. Ringel founded Games Media Properties in 2002 as an entity to create properties, programming and strategies that integrate video game franchises into other mainstream media, entertainment and branding campaigns. The company’s flagship touring property, GameRiot, has now appeared 120 times in over 60 cities and 200,000 attendees. Games Media Properties has worked closely with such video games companies as Microsoft, Activision, Ubisoft, Vivendi Universal Games, LucasArts, Electronic Arts, Namco, and ESPN Video Games; technology companies such as nVIDIA, AMD and Alienware; and consumer brands and media such as Blockbuster, Pepsi, DaimlerChrysler, Kraft, and SpikeTV. Ringel also has an extensive background in television and live entertainment. He frequently speaks and writes about the video games industry and branded entertainment, leading panels on "Games and Advertising" and "Games and Hollywood" at CES, The Media Summit, and Digital Hollywood, and "The Future of Branded Entertainment" as part of Advertising Week 2004. Ringel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale, and a Ph.D. from the University of London, where he studied as a Marshall Scholar.