Wednesday, January 5 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM Track II - GP8: Internet Gaming: Understanding the Multiplayer Universe – from Functionality to Marketing & Distribution for the Console, PC & Mobile Environment The multiplayer game universe is growing into a full-fledged digital society of friends and distant strangers playing card games for hours a day, mobile gamers joining in for a quick hand while at the airport to hardcore gamers who are playing action games in online competition. There are now millions of individuals online, committed, involved and addicted to one gaming or social universe or another. When it started – nearly decades ago – the universe was a powerful Net force in text-only formats. Now in today’s advanced graphical broadband universe, PC gamers, console gamers and mobile casual gamers are all equally involved. With these numbers and the progressive expansion of the technology, the possibilities of how people relate to each other online will be endless. In this session, we will explore the state of online games, how the market is evolving from a marketing and distribution as well as technological perspective. Cam Ferroni, General Manager, Xbox Live Nada C. Usina, General Manager, Games Business, Nokia Steve Byrd, Senior Vice President, STATS, Inc. Mark Jung, CEO, IGN Entertainment Robert Ferrari, Executive Director, Marketing, Turbine Entertainment Mark Gagne, EVP & CFO, Mythic Entertainment Michael Goodman, Senior Analyst, Media & Entertainment Strategies, The Yankee Group, Moderator Nada C. Usina, General Manager/Director, Entertainment & Media, North & South America, NMP, Nokia Inc.: Nada C. Usina currently serves as General Manager of Entertainment & Media, North & South America, for Nokia. Usina is responsible for leading all initiatives making games, music & media mobile within Nokia. Her team is responsible for creating mobile devices & applications optimized for content consumption as well as bringing the added value of mobility to the entertainment & media business. Usina joined Nokia Corp. in September 2002 from Yahoo! where she held various positions including head of Entertainment Business Development & Sales efforts. Usina came to Yahoo! via acquired Broadcast.com/AudioNet where she headed Sports Property Content & Acquisitions and was instrumental in creating groundbreaking deals for Internet audio & video streaming with the NCAA, NHL, NFL, PGA, MLB and others. Usina also headed the marketing department that was responsible for events such as the award-winning Victoria’s Secret webcasts. Her experience also spans the sports & media community with stints at the Atlanta Olympic Organizing Committee, various collegiate sports management roles, and bringing several professional sports franchises to the State of Florida while at the Florida Sports Foundation. Usina recently received the "Champions Beyond the Game" award from her alma mater Florida State University in recognition for her outstanding contribution to the sport community. Usina earned a Master of Science degree and Bachelor’s degree in Marketing & International Business. Steve Byrd, Senior Vice President, STATS, Inc.: Steve Byrd has been with STATS, Inc. since 1997. He originally served as Vice President of Marketing for the company then became Vice President of the STATS Fantasy Sports Business Unit. Mr. Byrd has multiple business unit responsibility including Television, Fantasy Sports and Publications. Under Mr. Byrd’s direction, STATS TV/ITV group has established itself as the leading provider of sports research and on-air graphics to the major television sports broadcasters including FOX Sports, CBS Sports, FOX Sports Net, WGN, Rogers Sportsnet, and The Sports Network Canada. Mr. Byrd is a Founding Board Member of the fantasy sports industry trade group known as the Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA). STATS Fantasy Sports powers games for leading media companies including ESPN, AOL and Sports Illustrated. Mr. Byrd has been in the sports industry for 15 years. Previous to STATS, he served in senior marketing, sales management and business development positions at Wilson Sporting Goods, AMF Bowling & Billiards and Sports Sciences. Mr. Byrd has an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BSME from Purdue University. Michael Goodman, Senior Research Analyst, Media & Entertainment Strategies, The Yankee Group: Michael Goodman joined the Yankee Group as a senior research analyst for the Media & Entertainment Strategies Planning Service in January 1999. Mr. Goodman’s responsibilities include research and analysis for the converging media and entertainment products and services among consumers. This includes such topics as broadband and mobile entertainment, digital audio, gaming, high-speed Internet access, and cable and satellite television. His areas of expertise have been applied in research spanning the media value chain including consumer adoption, retailer strategies, content strategies, competitor analysis, and partner selection. Other areas of expertise include audience research (television ratings), market research, and project management. Michael Goodman is a frequently cited industry expert in the broadband and mobile entertainment spaces. His has spoken at multiple tradeshows and client events including the E3, NAB and Digital Hollywood. In addition, Mr. Goodman’s research has been referenced in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, CNET News.com, CNBC and WSJ Radio Prior to joining the Yankee Group, Mr. Goodman was a marketing representative for Nielsen Media Research, where he was responsible for the design, management, analysis, and marketing of custom research projects. In addition to television audience research, topics covered included the penetration and usage of new technologies in the home, consumer satisfaction, market profiles, and concept testing. Prior to his position at Nielsen Media Research, Mr. Goodman held several positions with VOPAN Marketing Research, conducting market research on consumer products. Michael Goodman holds a B.S. degree in business administration from Boston University. Robert Ferrari, Executive Director of Business Development, Turbine Entertainment Software: Robert Ferrari serves as the Executive Director of Business Development at Turbine Entertainment Software - a global developer, operator and publisher of online entertainment. In this role, Robert manages strategic marketing, business development, digital distribution, and channel sales for Turbine's products and services. Robert is a seasoned executive with more than 15 years of sales and marketing experience in the convergence industry, driving the growth and profitability of global corporations and start-ups. He has experience in a broad range of industries related to software development, content creation and delivery, and digital device platforms in the PC, Gaming, CE, and Mobile industries. Robert also serves on the board of Convergence Ventures. Mark Gagne, EVP and CFO, Mythic Entertainment: Mark Gagne serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Mythic Entertainment. Gagne is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years experience driving the profitability and growth of both public and private companies in a broad range of industries including software development, internet and database technologies and direct marketing services. Gagne is managing partner and co-founder of Decagon Partners. Some of his previous positions include CEO of Availant, Inc and CFO/COO of three public companies leading three IPO’s (CMGI, BridgeStreet, Clarus).