Wednesday, January 4 10:45 AM - Noon Track I - GP3: Next Generation Power Gamer Platforms: More Entertainment, More Power, More Choice - Consoles, PC & Mobile The Games Industry is quickly emerging as the premier sector of the entertainment cultural experience. As all the new technologies, from chips and microprocessors to display, broadband and design come together in the new generation of consoles, PC Power and Mobile Devices, we are again about to experience another massive boom in the games industry. This new, never-ending acceleration of the new platforms are like no other rollout in industry history. Whether they are the center of the home entertainment experience or simply the most anticipated new category of platfoms ever released, the industry is about to explode. Games as an entertainment experience is just starting to be felt and embraced by the consumer. As important as film and TV have been in our cultural experience, in the few years, games will emerge as an equal player in the entertainment pantheon. What we are calling Game Power, is the result of new and expanding creative technologies in development, in platform and in delivery. Seth Schiesel, Journalist, New York Times Greg Koler, President, Infinium Labs Jay Cohen, Vice President of Publishing, Ubisoft Dr. Mark Tuffy, Director of Advanced Technology, THX Tasos Kaiafas, Gaming Strategic Planner, Intel Corporation Jon Goldman, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation 9 Entertainment Scott Henson, Xbox Group Manager, Microsoft John Davison, VP and Editorial Director of Ziff Davis Media Game Group, Moderator Scott Henson, Group Manager, Xbox, Microsoft Corporation: As Group Manager at Xbox, Scott Henson is responsible for making Xbox the ultimate platform for game developers. His leadership on this team that supports the global video games industry includes proactive support for programmers, content creators and content services; as well as helping game designers, producers, artists, musicians and sound designers realize their creative visions. Henson has been with Microsoft for more than a decade, working with hundreds of third-party companies on Windows, Internet, handheld, entertainment and gaming platform strategies on a diverse array of products including: Windows 95, 98, Me, XP, Media Center Edition, Windows Mobile and Xbox. During his Xbox tenure, Henson was primarily charged with working with publishers and developers throughout the industry to make Xbox Live, the world's largest all-broadband gaming service, a reality. Henson earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1992, where he was recognized as the Outstanding Electrical Engineering Student for creating applications for Microsoft's emerging product, Windows. Jon Goldman, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation 9 Entertainment: Jon Goldman is CEO of Foundation 9 Entertainment, overseeing operations, strategic planning, and contributing to new product development for the company. Before co-founding Foundation 9, Jon co-founded Backbone Entertainment and also ImaginEngine Corp. Jon has been a key player in bringing Backbone Entertainment’s original IP, Death, Jr. to multiple media. The project is being developed simultaneously as a videogame, comic book and feature film. Jon has been hands-on through every stage of the project, handling negotiations with game and comic book publishers, Hollywood studios and toy companies. He offers a unique perspective on how developing games and traditional media at the same time can be a powerful and mutually enforcing new strategy for content creation. Previous to founding Foundation 9 Entertainment, Backbone Entertainment and ImaginEngine Corp., Jon worked at an investment banking and advisory firm specializing in partnerships between U.S. and Asian technology companies. In addition, Jon created a children's story publishing venture, which received attention across the country, including such places as the Wall Street Journal and National Public Radio. Jon has spoken on a number of topics pertaining to the entertainment and game industries, including the Electronic Entertainment Expo, and iHollywood Forum. Jon attended Harvard, where he received an A.B. degree, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in East Asian Studies, followed by a Mombusho fellowship at the University of Kyoto. Tasos Kaiafas, Gaming Strategic Planner, Intel Corporation: Tasos Kaiafas has been driving Intel's game strategy for over five years. During this time, Tasos has successfully led Intel to increase its involvement in the game industry through marketing, event sponsorship, and industry relations. In late 2004, Tasos was made Intel's Gaming Strategic Planner and is currently managing the business strategy and product planning for gaming on Intel platforms. His vision and leadership will be instrumental in defining Intel's future position in the game industry. Prior to coming to Intel, Tasos worked for seven years as an editor at several gaming magazines and Web sites, including Editor-in-Chief of Incite PC Gaming magazine, Features Editor at Gamespot.com, and Editor of Computer Game Review magazine. Greg Koler, President, Infinium Labs: Koler, 49, brings a wealth of over 15 years of sector specific skills around broadband gaming content and interactive TV services space, first as a consultant for Softbank (R) Broadband media Europe and Japan, a games service and system provider to broadband network operators in Europe, Japan and the USA. He also served in a similar capacity for television broadcast and satellite set-top box manufacture FTA Communication Technologies, and mobile provider Vox Mobile Communications in Luxembourg. Previously, Koler was general manager at Infomedia S.A., Luxembourg, a European subsidiary of Gemstar TV Guide International, Inc., where he was responsible for five sales business units in Europe of the US parent company. Prior to that, he was strategic sales director for TDK Recording Media Europe, a global publisher of entertainment software for consoles and PCs. Under Koler's licensing-based strategy, TDK Mediactive entered the console and PC games market and grew video game net revenue from zero to over $42 million in less than three years. Koler was also a founding director of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Koler has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of California, Berkeley. Jay Cohen, Vice President of Publishing, Ubisoft: Jay joined Ubisoft in 1996 as Business Affairs Manager and was quickly promoted to Senior Manager of Business Affairs and Development. After working for Accolade as International Manager in 1998, Jay rejoined the Ubisoft team as Director of Publishing. Jay was promoted to Vice President of Publishing in 2002. Jay is involved in almost every aspect of the sales and marketing for Ubisoft products in the United States, including product acquisitions, licensing, product management, marketing and sales. Jay has an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. When he’s not launching new products, you can find Jay somewhere in the mountains – biking, hiking or skiing down a black diamond trail. Dr. Mark Tuffy, Director of Advanced Technology, THX: Tuffy has played an integral role in the development of THX multi-media and video games initiatives since joining the company in 2000. As director of advanced technology, Tuffy helps define the technical feasibility of business opportunities being evaluated by THX Business Development and leads the PC system certification and THX Games team. He is charged with inventing new technologies and applying current THX technologies to the video game, PC and home theatre environments. He began his association with THX as the principal engineer of digital technologies. One of his early accomplishments was spearheading the development of THX Certified PC multi-media systems. His impressive academic achievements include earning a Ph.D. from the department of electronics and electrical engineering at the University of Edinburgh, a master of science in digital systems engineering from Heriot Watt University, and an honors degree in electronics and electrical engineering from the University of Edinburgh. JOHN DAVISON,Vice President and Editorial Director, Game Group, Ziff Davis Media: John Davison shapes and directs all Game Group editorial products, including 1UP.com, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Computer Gaming World, Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, and the many special issues. With more than 14 years of experience in the gaming industry, John has seen action in every major gaming sector in the U.S. and Europe and has contributed to both consumer and trade publications in print and online. Previously John served as the Editor-in-Chief of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, seeing it through a number of significant transitions, and prior to that he led Electronic Gaming Monthly through some major milestones in the late 90s. Before moving to the States and joining Ziff Davis Media, John was the publisher of top UK PC gaming magazine PC Zoneat Dennis Publishing.