10:45 AM - Noon
Track I - GP3:
Cool Game Gear – Next Generation in Devices & Peripherals – Functionality & Design
The phenomenon of games rests not only on the power and play factor, but also on the ingenuity of the design and the inventiveness of the game playing machines and the peripherals that give them additional sound and extensive options. From the introduction of unique handhelds like Game Boy to the SoundBlaster, the 3D audio and video experience, virtual reality and simulation enablers, the gear that take games to the next level of experience are just starting to take off. Game gear will emerge in many forms, as an attachment to the head, an adjunct to the eye, an extension of the hand or as an element of the clothing. Game gear will be an entire environment or a new system that we can only imagine today. The computer interfaces and display systems that we see in science fiction movies today will arrive as game gear in the near future.
Fred Swan, Director of Marketing, Interactive Entertainment Business Unit, Logitech, Inc.
Matt Miller, Director of Product Marketing, Plantronics
Kevin Ray, Chief Technology Officer, Majesco Games
Dean Chang, CTO and Vice President, Technology Adoption and Gaming Business, Immersion
Tasos Kaiafas, Games Strategist & Marketing Specialist, Intel
Susan Corben, Director of Marketing, NYKO Technologies
Shawn Smith, Associate Editor, Videogames Transmedia, Journalist, Ziff Davis Media, Moderator
Susan Corben, Director of Marketing, Nyko Technologies: As part of Nyko’s senior management team, Susan Corben plays a critical role in fulfilling the company’s mission to deliver innovative peripherals to enhance the digital lifestyle. As director of marketing, she oversees all of Nyko’s corporate, brand, and product marketing strategies, including advertising, public relations, promotions and partnerships. She also oversees corporate development with 3rd party software publishers, and with 1st party console and PC manufacturers. Under Corben’s marketing direction, Nyko has garnered accolades and awards for inventive video and computer game gear such as the top-selling Air Flo™ video game and PC controllers, the popular the Wireless Net Extender™, and SpeakerCom™ for Xbox Live™. Prior to joining Nyko, Corben served in senior marketing positions at Media Revolution, where she developed marketing programs for Sony Pictures, Microsoft, Capcom, Konami, and America Online, and at IXL Enterprises, a global Internet Technology consulting company, where she advised fortune 1000 and entertainment companies with online marketing strategies. Previously, as an art director and designer for Disney and Twentieth Century Fox, Corben worked in television and film production on "The X-Files" television series, and on various Disney feature films.
Shawn Smith, Associate Editor, Videogames Transmedia: Shawn Smith has more than 10 years of experience working in the videogame press. Among the most well-read Electronic Gaming Monthly "Review Crew" members of all time, Shawn was part of a nucleus of people who helped shape the voice of EGM for nearly a decade. Mr. Smith is the Associate Editor of Videogames Transmedia, the only publication dedicated to covering the convergence of videogames with other mainstream forms of entertainment, and writes as freelancer for companies like Toys R Us and Ziff-Davis
Fred Swan, Director of Marketing, Interactive Entertainment Business Unit, Logitech, Inc.: Fred Swan, an industry veteran with more than 17 years of experience in peripherals marketing and sales, has lead Logitech’s worldwide marketing efforts within interactive gaming for more than six years. He and his staff are responsible for the design and marketing of Logitech game controllers and the relationships with 3rd party game developers and console 1st parties. He has focused Logitech's gaming group on building a strong global position for the Company, providing great products that meet gamers’ stringent requirements, and working closely with 1st and 3rd parties to stimulate innovation in games. Under his guidance, Logitech has become the world’s most recognized brand for console and PC gaming accessories and has delivered ground-breaking products for the major platforms. Prior to joining Logitech, Mr. Swan held a range of positions at FWB, Inc. and Sony Electronics.
Kevin Ray, Chief Technology Officer, Majesco Games: Kevin Ray has 14 years of experience in engineering and programming, including seven years in the interactive entertainment industry. Previous positions include CTO of Mattel Interactive, VP of Engineering at Games.com, Director of Technology at Hasbro Interactive and Principle Engineer at MicroProse. Prior to this, Mr. Ray was Director of OzzLab at Ozz Research and Director of Engineering at Byte by Byte Corporation, where he worked on the development of one of the first commercial 3d modeling, rendering and animation programs, Sculpt 3d.
Matt Miller, Director of Retail Channel Marketing, Plantronics, Inc.: Matt
Miller, director of retail channel marketing, brings nearly 20 years of diversified, real-world product advertising and marketing know-how to Plantronics. His channel, marcomm, PR and research expertise have enabled him to build a high-volume, worldwide distribution channel for Plantronics headsets. Most recently, Miller was integral to the development and launch of Plantronics’ GameCom™ series, including the enormously popular GameCom Halo® 2 Edition headset for Xbox Live™. Miller came to Plantronics in 1999 as the director of marketing for the Computer Audio System Division (CASD), where he helped propel Plantronics into new product sectors such as computer audio and gaming. He successfully launched the .Audio and DSP lines of PC headsets before getting the nod to step up to a lead the company’s entire line of office and consumer products. Prior to joining Plantronics, Miller was the director of channel and OEM marketing for Caere Corporation, and he served as the national sales and distribution manager for Orchid Technology, a manufacturer of network cards, video cards and motherboards, prior to Caere. Miller holds a Bachelor’s Degree in marketing from San Jose State University.Dr. Dean Chang, CTO and Vice President, Technology Adoption and Gaming
Business, Immersion: Dean Chang is the CTO and vice president of technology adoption. He is responsible for guiding technology strategy and driving adoption of Immersion's TouchSense® haptics technology. He also manages all aspects of Immersion's gaming business. Since joining Immersion in September 1994, Chang served the company in a variety of roles including director of embedded systems, director of software, director of developer relations and support, director of platforms and applications, and senior director of evangelism and development. He holds 21 patents in the field of haptics and has authored articles for Computer magazine and BusinessWeek Online. Chang was a Pi Tau Sigma graduate from MIT and holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from MIT and master’s and doctor’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. He also holds an MBA with honors and received the highest distinction of Palmer Scholar from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.