Click on the Video Below and Sample a Session from a previous Digital Hollywood event. For Additional Video Sessions, Click Here Media Summit 2008 Thursday, March 13th 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM Session C: Virtual Worlds – the Massively Multiplayer Phenomena – a Global Media Marketplace While virtual worlds and the massively multiplayer game are not technically the same thing, their similarities are striking and in this session we will take a look at a broadband and mobile universe that is growing into a full-fledged digital society of friends and distant strangers who are creating, living, game-playing and otherwise immersing themselves in alternate human or non-human environment. In today’s advanced graphical broadband and mobile world, it is easier to understand how daily life in an all-digital environment – be it entertainment, work, adventure, travel or alternate lifestyle could become as real and accepted as real life. In this session, we will open a discussion of what our 2nd lives are all about. Matt Bostwick, SVP MTV Networks Andrew Schneider, President, Live Gamer Craig Sherman, CEO, Gaia Online John Needham, CFO and Senior Vice President, Sony Online Entertainment Brad Singer, Executive Vice President, Products and Markets, PaymentOne Ed Moran, Director of Product Innovation, Deloitte Service LLP AJ Peralta, Chief Creative Officer, Icarus Studios, Moderator John Needham, CFO and Senior Vice President, Sony Online: Entertainment: As CFO and Senior Vice President for Sony Online Entertainment, John Needham is responsible for all financial administration and business development for the company. Mr. Needham has been with Sony Pictures Entertainment since 1994. During his tenure, John has served in many positions including Director of Corporate Development, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Vice President of Finance, Telemundo Networks. Since joining Sony Online Entertainment in 2001, Mr. Needham has been focused on international expansion and the formation of Platform Publishing, the company’s cross-platform publishing, distribution and marketing label. John is a graduate of San Diego State University and began his career at Arthur Andersen & Co. AJ Peralta, Chief Creative Officer, Icarus Studios: AJ Peralta, has extensive experience developing youth strategies, social media marketing programs and digital experiences for entertainment and consumer brands including Coca Cola, Motorola, Nokia, and every major film and television studio. He was President of brand entertainment firm Digital Brandcasting Corporation where he signed artists including Will Smith and Alanis Morissette, and developed new media properties, online play experiences, and content for Web distribution. AJ has the unique experience of producing and launching programs on platforms including feature film, television, narrow and broadband Internet, wireless, PC CD-ROM, and live events. He is an award-winning filmmaker, founder of The Other Venice Film Festival, and has guest lectured at the USC School of Film and Television on branded entertainment. AJ graduated from the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley. Craig Sherman, CEO, Gaia Online: During business hours, Craig Sherman lives in gaiaonline.com, the leading teen hangout on the web. Craig leads the company’s strategic planning, management, and technology development. Prior to joining Gaia Online, Craig served as Entrepreneur in Residence at Benchmark Capital. Craig was also COO of MyFamily.com (ancestry.com), where he helped grow the company from $23 million to $150 million in sales and transform it from an advertising-based site to a highly profitable consumer subscription business. Before this, Craig held senior positions at American International Group, where he ran all marketing and internet sites for AIG in Japan and Korea. Matt Bostwick, SVP, MTV Networks: Matt is responsible for developing next generation media + business models and for MTV Music group as head of an internal “start up company” formed last year. First group of projects involve tests of hybrid media formats combining television, 2d web and 3d virtual communities into one integrated system. • Virtual MTV (VMTV)- Episodic reality TV meets virtual reality community Beta Launch September ’06 with Virtual Laguna Beach. Since expanded to include Virtual Hills (Hollywood), Virtual Pimp my Ride, Real World Sydney, ’07 Video Music Awards, and Life of Ryan Virtual Skate park. Virtual Laguna Beach was recently awarded an EMMY. A first for any virtual world. • Virtual Lower East Side (vLES)- Web and 3d virtual music community focused on idie artists and the fans who love them. Alpha July ’07, Alpha II January ’08 • Prior to this, he was President of the Sweet Spot consulting group specializing in convergent space between: media, consumer marketing and technology. In this capacity he worked for MTV Music group to develop and test a multi-platform networked audience strategy for MTV. The pilot program rolled out with the launch of Season 2 of Laguna Beach: The Real OC. The program resulted in a unprecedented multi-platform success with record ratings, web traffic and broadband streams, dvd sales, mobile phone downloads, and formation of a 650k member online fan community. Matt has worked in entertainment, consumer marketing, media technology development and start up ventures with Disney (Kingdom Hearts I, Tron 2.0, ToonWorld) 2000-2002, Coca-Cola Japan (C-Mode interactive vending program with Ntt DoCoMo) 1996-2000, Nabisco and Kraft Foods (start up beverage venture now over $1B sales). Andrew Schneider, Founder and President, Live Gamer: Andrew Schneider has been a digital entertainment industry leader and catalyst for emerging business opportunities at the crossroads of media and technology for over 14 years. Prior to founding Live Gamer, Schneider served as executive vice president of marketing at Wind-up Records, the world’s leading independent record label, where he focused on digital innovation. Previously, during his eight year tenure at Sony Pictures Digital, Schneider developed and launched award-winning interactive marketing campaigns for major entertainment franchises, developed consumer broadband content services, and launched user generated media tools and applications. Schneider began his career in at NBC Television Network, where he inaugurated the company’s interactive marketing practice with the network’s first online presence. Brad Singer is Executive Vice President of Products and Markets for PaymentOne, a leading online payment solutions provider. Brad leads the company’s overall market strategy, new product initiatives, and partnership activities. Brad has over 18 years of business and general management experience in the media, payment and technology markets. Previously, Brad served as Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Content Licensing at NewsEdge, an early pioneer in content syndication, which achieved annual growth rates of over 40%, consistent profitability, and a successful IPO during his 8-year tenure (later acquired by Thomson Corporation). Brad also served as General Manager of the NewsPage.com business, an early innovator in on-line fee-based services. Most recently, Brad served as Vice President Marketing and Business Development at TeleKnowledge, a billing and e-commerce infrastructure company. Brad has also held management positions at Citibank and General Electric and served on the Dun and Bradstreet executive Advisory Board. He earned a BS in Computer Science and Economics from Tufts University, and holds an MBA in Finance from the Wharton Business School. Brad has been featured in the technology and business press, and has been a frequent speaker at industry events. Ed Moran, Director of Product Innovation, Deloitte Service LLP: Ed Moran is a Global Deloitte Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) subject matter specialist. With more than 15 years of experience, he advises companies in the areas of strategic planning, product innovation, competitive positioning, and technology commercialization. He also leads the Convergence team in the Northeast, which develops Deloitte points of view and strategies on digital Convergence and how clients may exploit Convergence, Community, Social Networking, Web 2.0 tools and new business models. A member of the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneer Selection Advisory Committee, Mr. Moran regularly speaks and lectures in the U.S. and internationally on the topics of digital Convergence, Community, Gen X/Y marketing, and much more.