Game Startup Workshop Series 2012   Emerging Platforms   January 17, 2012: 5:30 pm - 7:30pm Bungie Studios, Bellevue, Washington   Come listen to our panel talk about emerging platforms like iOS, Android, WP7, Win8, Facebook and more. What hardware are consumers buying now? What platforms are the best for monetization? What are the platforms that are the best to develop on today, and what are the smart platforms to develop on for tomorrow? Listen to the insight from leading industry experts and find out what’s next in consoles, mobile, tablets, social, and more.   Speakers:   Todd Hooper, CEO and Founder, Zipline Games (Moderator) Grant Goodale, CEO, Massively Fun Inc. Lou Fasulo, COO, Z2Live Randy Chung, Founder, Zhurosoft         Speaker Bios:   Todd Hooper, CEO, Zipline Games Todd is a twenty year veteran of high tech companies including Apple Computer and WatchGuard. Since moving to Seattle in 1998 he has founded two companies in the media and enterprise markets. Todd was first bitten by the entrepreneur bug in high school when he developed a number of video games for Commodore computers, and Zipline represents a welcome return to his gaming roots.   Grant Goodale, CEO, Massively Fun Grant is the founder and CEO of Massively Fun, a game studio focused on building top quality experiences for the web and mobile devices using open web technologies.   Lou Fasulo, COO, Z2Live Prior to Z2Live, Lou lead the Publishing Team at NY based Sonic Boom Games including portfolio planning, sales, business development and marketing for the leading mobile games and UGC applications publisher. Lou’s team inked highly strategic licensing deals in the casual games space with PlayFirst and Big Fish Games, and launched the company's first original IP that achieved Top Seller status and “Best of 2009” on Verizon Wireless’ storefront in 2009.   Previous to Sonic Boom, Lou was the Vice President of Distribution at Vivendi Games Mobile, now Activision, where he lead sales and partner management to achieve the number 6 sales ranking in North America. He secured distribution for the company's mobile products on over 30 channels in the US, Canada, and Latin America. Lou helped launched the award-winning Surviving High SchoolTM game – one of the first original IP’s on mobile that consistently ranked among the top selling titles in North America for two consecutive years.   Prior to Vivendi, Lou held management positions at AT&T Mobility (formerly Cingular Wireless), and oversaw content acquisition and product management of games and applications. Early in his career, Lou was a product manager at Earthlink. He also co-founded GroovePort, a company that launched one of the first digital music subscription services with content from over 70 labels. Lou received his Masters Degree in Engineering from Clarkson University   Randy Chung, Founder, Zhurosoft   In 2009, Randy Chung and David Tsai founded Zhurosoft, Inc., specializing in social/casual mobile games. Their first breakout title was High School Hero, launched in Q1 2010. They soon followed this with the release of a fantasy-themed spin-off called Fantasy Hero. Their latest title is Monster Kingdom, one of the few social/casual games to feature head-to-head play. Zhurosoft has been entirely self-funded, and is currently based in Seattle's Pioneer Square. Prior to founding Zhurosoft, Randy worked at Amazon.com as a software development engineer. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Electronic Engineering and Computer Science.   Upcoming Workshops and Events   Power of Play: 5th Annual State-of-the-State of Interactive Media   The annual State-of-the-State of the Interactive Media industry is here again! Every year, industry executives are brought together to talk about the new trends and innovations coming our way and the opportunities it creates for business. In 2011, we saw the competition heating up between emerging platforms and witnessed the continued growth of social and mobile content. This discussion is bound to be lively!   This event is for industry insiders and for newcomers. The program will begin with the release of the data of our new economic impact study and breaking news from the Washington Interactive Media Accelerator. Next, the panel of industry executives will explore the ever-changing industry of interactive media. The panel will also discuss publishing fragmentation which has changed the industry in record time and gives way for opportunities for independent developers. What will be coming next and how do you re-invent yourself to stay afloat? BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! This year's event will also include an industry reception following the Power of Play program. Good food and drink to celebrate 2012!   Cost for this event is $75 until 1/17. Use your discount code to get $10 off.   “The best thing about this event [Power of Play] was getting to hear lots and lots of very concise and distilled nuggets of industry insight, and meeting with people….This was one of the best networking events I've been to so far.” ~ Game Industry Entrepreneur   For full agenda and event info go to: www.PowerOfPlay.us     Game Startup Workshop: Partnering   February 28, 2012 ~ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm   Needing a distributor? A publisher? Looking to license your product or to partner with companies to develop your game? Knowing when to pursue a partner is an important strategic step. Successful partnerships and negotiations can be key to your company’s success. What are the pitfalls to avoid and opportunities that should not be missed? Our panel industry executives have been through it all and will share their war stories with you.   For more information go to: www.GameStartup101.com     Game Startup Workshop: Production in the Real World March 20, 2012: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm   Welcome to the nightmare that is shipping your game. Come listen to the industry's top producers and internal development folks who will lend their insights to you for the evening. What are the best systems and tools? How do you handle growth and scaling? How is the best way to manage multiple teams and projects? What are the best ways to communicate what you need? This topic is key to your title's success and is a session not to be missed!   For more information go to: www.GameStartup101.com Missed past workshops? You can still see them!   All past workshops and presentations are located on the Game Startup Website. Some presentations and videos require you to login. All you need to do is subscribe and you will have access to all resources that we have on the site. A great resource for all entrepreneurs.   www.GameStartup101.com AT A GLANCE   Emerging Platforms Power of Play Partnering/Licensing Production in   the Real World Past Workshops How do you subscribe to get your discount code?   Go to: www.GameStartup101.com   Hit the subscribe button at the top. In your confirmation email you will get the code you can use for all workshops and events. Game Startup Workshop Series   This workshop series is brought to you by the Washington Interactive Network and enterpriseSeattle.   We'd like to thank our sponsors for helping make that happen: Bungie Studios, Cairncross & Hempelmann, Garvey Schubert Barer, Microsoft BizSpark, Tenacious Ventures, Rock Bottom, and Microsoft SBN. 2012 Game Startup Workshop Series   Each workshop is $25 for subscribers and $35 for non-subscribers.   Sign up for all 5 workshops in advance and save cash!   Go to: GameStartup101.com for more info.   These workshops sold out last year, so save your seat today!   Walk in Registration is $40, cash or check only.   The Power of Play is not a Game Startup Workshop. Cost for this event and reception is $75 until 1/27.

    

Contact:          Kristina Hudson, Director, Washington Interactive Network
Email:              Khudson@enterpriseSeattle.org
Phone:            206.914.9056
 

enterpriseSeattle Awarded $1.2 Million to Help Create the Washington Interactive Media Accelerator 

September 27, 2011 – Seattle, WA --- enterpriseSeattle, formerly known as the Economic Development Council for Seattle and King County, today announced that it was awarded $1.2 million in federal funding through the Federal Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, a multi-agency competition launched in May to support the advancement of 20 high-growth, regional industry clusters. The funding received from the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, Department of Labor’s Employment & Training Administration, and the Small Business Administration will go to the establishment of the Washington Interactive Media Accelerator (WIMA) and the furthering of enterpriseSeattle’s Washington Interactive Network (WIN) targeted at supporting the interactive media industry in Washington State.

“The interactive media industry in Washington State currently has more than 150 companies that employ more than 15,000 people,” said Jeff Marcell, President and CEO of enterpriseSeattle.  ‘The funding provided by this grant will allow us to continue our work in support of the interactive media industry, creating an accelerator and programs that will continue to attract jobs and capital investment to our region.”

Since 2007, the interactive media industry has experience more than a 33 percent increase in the number of employees in the Seattle Metropolitan region, despite a challenging economy. The WIMA will provide support services to assist new startup, provide internships and other professional training opportunities, collaborate on improved curriculum development and mentoring, and provide both a common physical space and virtual portal that will foster and maintain new business and potential employees.

“Washington State has become a global leader in the interactive media industry, a sector that is quickly changing the worldwide landscape of entertainment, information and commerce,” said Kristina Hudson, Director, Washington Interactive Network. “This grant will allow us to further the programs we’ve developed as part of the Washington Interactive Network, and build on the ongoing partnerships that we have in place with industry and other non-profit and public organizations”.

About Washington Interactive Network

The Washington Interactive Network was created in 2004 and is an economic development program funded by enterpriseSeattle. The purpose of WIN is to promote, nurture, and grow the Interactive Media industry in Washington State.  

www.WashingtonInteractiveNetwork.org
www.GameStartUp101.com

About enterpriseSeattle

For over 35 years, enterpriseSeattle has provided client-based economic development services to businesses throughout King County. enterpriseSeattle's mission is to be a "difference-maker" in the community by growing the jobs and tax base in King County, its 39 cities and the greater Puget Sound region. It accomplishes its mission through a customized client services program focused on business retention, expansion and recruitment. It's objective is to become the premier economic development organization in the US.  

www.enterpriseSeattle.org

    

Contact:          Kristina Hudson, Director, Washington Interactive Network
Email:              Khudson@enterpriseSeattle.org
Phone:            206.914.9056
 

AIE Contact:   Dr. Christopher Erhardt
Email:              chrise@aie.edu.au
Phone:             206.428.6350

Academy of Interactive Entertainment Lands at the Seattle Center

Seattle, WA – The Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE), a non-profit academic institution providing vocational training for the digital media industries, signed a lease with the Seattle Center and will be opening their doors to students in June.

"The AIE looks to be another welcome addition to Seattle's growing range of educational resources for students seeking a practical, real-world education," says Scott Steinberg, lead technology analyst for TechSavvy Global. "Offering results-oriented instruction in digital media, 3D graphics and video game development, the local high-tech and gaming communities are pleased to have such an acclaimed source of insight and talent located just around the corner.”

“The AIE will provide students with real world skills that employers look for in grads that are applying for a job in game development as a programmer, artist, or engineer,” says Dr. Christopher Erhardt who is heading up the new campus. “We are offering 2-year advanced diplomas and 1-year certificates in game development targeted at the casual and social game sectors as well as focused courses in Screen & Media, Computer animation and digital post production F/X for students interested in getting into film animation.”

With over 150 interactive media companies in the local game industry, the Seattle region’s strong interactive media cluster was a major decision point for AIE. “Education is a strong cornerstone for growing our local workforce which is a driving need for our local industry,” said Kristina Hudson, Director of enterpriseSeattle’s Washington Interactive Network. “In the next few years, we have the unique opportunity to be the global center of game and interactive media development and IP creation, if we stay competitive with our education, taxes, and incentives.”

About Washington Interactive Network

The Washington Interactive Network is an economic development program currently funded by enterpriseSeattle. The purpose of WIN is to promote, nurture, and grow the Interactive Media industry in Washington State.  

www.WashingtonInteractiveNetwork.org
www.GameStartUp101.com

About enterpriseSeattle

For over 35 years, enterpriseSeattle has provided client-based economic development services to businesses throughout King County. enterpriseSeattle's mission is to be a "difference-maker" in the community by growing the jobs and tax base in King County, its 39 cities and the greater Puget Sound region. It accomplishes its mission through a customized client services program focused on business retention, expansion and recruitment. It's objective is to become the premier economic development organization in the US.  

www.enterpriseSeattle.org

About Academy of Interactive Entertainment:

Established in 1996, the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) has earned much recognition as Australia’s leading educator for the Computer Game Development and 3D digital industries. Their cutting edge, hands-on training is nationally accredited and recognized through the Australian Qualifications Framework. Their graduates continue to be instrumental in building the games and interactive entertainment related industries in some of the fastest growing CGI arenas. AIE has grown significantly over the years and has campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra, Australia, and now Seattle.

More details about the US campuses can be found at www.TheAIE.us. Information about the Australian campuses can be found at www.aie.edu.au.