Power to the People: The Art of Casual Game Developer Shared Revenue Program

audio (41 MB)

Many of the leading casual games portals -- MSN, BigFish, Shockwave, AddictingGames -- are taking deeper interests in developing original properties. In doing so, they are acting as publishers, nurturing talent both with business models as well as market know-how. This panel gathers representatives from the major casual games portals in a discussion about the publishing services these portals provide. Discussion topics include: How deeply involved in publishing services are major casual games portals getting? What are casual games portals offering developers with regards to the following: + upfront financing + ongoing performance-based rewards + publisher services + QA and production access + consumption information and statistics What advantages can portals bring to the publishing model? What are the advantages they can bring to the developer? Can they help make more and better hits? Are there any inherent conflicts? What do developers most want?

Delivered at Casual Connect Seattle, July 2008

DOWNLOAD

Ned Sherman (email)

As CEO, Publisher and Executive Editor of Digital Media Wire, Inc., Ned Sherman works at the center of the rapidly growing digital media industry, where he brokers relationships and keeps a tab on the most important developments shaping the industry. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Publisher Ned Sherman is more than the average pundit: He is an attorney and has an inside grasp of what is happening.”

Kate Connally (email)

Kate Connally is the Vice President of the AddictingGames business at MTV Networks. With over twenty million visitors a month, AddictingGames.com is the largest youth-oriented online game site in the United States. Prior to her role with AG, Kate launched and lead product marketing for Shockwave.com’s downloadable games business and also managed business development for its parent company, Atom Entertainment. Prior to Atom, Kate was an associate at Advent International, a private equity firm, from 1996 to 1998 and an analyst at Volpe, Welty and Co., a boutique investment bank from 1994 to 1996. She has an A.B. degree with honors from Princeton University.

Ambra Wellbeloved (email)

Ambra manages the Shockwave business at MTV Networks and brings with her more than twelve years of consumer technology experience and business strategy, with focus on online games and entertainment. With millions of visitors each month, Shockwave is one of the top ten gaming sites on the Web. As an early employee of Shockwave (formerly Macromedia), Ambra has held a variety of management positions, including Director of Ecommerce and VP of Production, and is involved in all aspects of the development of Shockwave. Prior to this, Ambra led the design and development efforts for Sony Signatures ecommerce web sites and headed the production departments for both Organic Inc. and Publicis International digital web agencies. Ambra holds a B.S. degree from the University of Utah.

Dan Prigg (email)

Dan Prigg is General Manager, Publishing & Programming in the Games division at RealNetworks. Mr. Prigg’s primary responsibilities include managing all publishing activities across PC, console and handheld devices. He is responsible for the programming of global services from direct-to-consumer to syndication and works with more than 160 active partners to launch and maintain the RealGames global distribution channels. Prior to this role, Dan served as Senior Director of Games at Real and was responsible for overseeing third party licensing and pc publishing. Dan started his career in gaming at Humongous Entertainment, and now has more than 10 years of experience in the industry.

Gabe Carter (email)

Gabe has been in the casual games biz at Oberon for the past 2 years. As a Developer Partnership Manager, he’s the guy you need to convince that your game is the cat’s meow. It hasn’t always been gem swapping and hidden object finding for Gabe, though. He started his career at the now defunct Acclaim, working on mega-hit console games such as Vexx and The Red Star (*crickets*). If you ever need to know anything about what Oberon is up to, Gabe’s the guy to talk to.

HOME \| LECTURES & ARTICLES \| BUSINESS MODELS \|Power to the People: The Art of Casual Game Developer Shared Revenue Program audio (41 MB) Many of the leading casual games portals -- MSN, BigFish, Shockwave, AddictingGames -- are taking deeper interests in developing original properties. In doing so, they are acting as publishers, nurturing talent both with business models as well as market know-how. This panel gathers representatives from the major casual games portals in a discussion about the publishing services these portals provide. Discussion topics include: How deeply involved in publishing services are major casual games portals getting? What are casual games portals offering developers with regards to the following: + upfront financing + ongoing performance-based rewards + publisher services + QA and production access + consumption information and statistics What advantages can portals bring to the publishing model? What are the advantages they can bring to the developer? Can they help make more and better hits? Are there any inherent conflicts? What do developers most want? Delivered at Casual Connect Seattle, July 2008 DOWNLOAD Ned Sherman (email) As CEO, Publisher and Executive Editor of Digital Media Wire, Inc., Ned Sherman works at the center of the rapidly growing digital media industry, where he brokers relationships and keeps a tab on the most important developments shaping the industry. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Publisher Ned Sherman is more than the average pundit: He is an attorney and has an inside grasp of what is happening.” Kate Connally (email) Kate Connally is the Vice President of the AddictingGames business at MTV Networks. With over twenty million visitors a month, AddictingGames.com is the largest youth-oriented online game site in the United States. Prior to her role with AG, Kate launched and lead product marketing for Shockwave.com’s downloadable games business and also managed business development for its parent company, Atom Entertainment. Prior to Atom, Kate was an associate at Advent International, a private equity firm, from 1996 to 1998 and an analyst at Volpe, Welty and Co., a boutique investment bank from 1994 to 1996. She has an A.B. degree with honors from Princeton University. Ambra Wellbeloved (email) Ambra manages the Shockwave business at MTV Networks and brings with her more than twelve years of consumer technology experience and business strategy, with focus on online games and entertainment. With millions of visitors each month, Shockwave is one of the top ten gaming sites on the Web. As an early employee of Shockwave (formerly Macromedia), Ambra has held a variety of management positions, including Director of Ecommerce and VP of Production, and is involved in all aspects of the development of Shockwave. Prior to this, Ambra led the design and development efforts for Sony Signatures ecommerce web sites and headed the production departments for both Organic Inc. and Publicis International digital web agencies. Ambra holds a B.S. degree from the University of Utah. Dan Prigg (email) Dan Prigg is General Manager, Publishing & Programming in the Games division at RealNetworks. Mr. Prigg’s primary responsibilities include managing all publishing activities across PC, console and handheld devices. He is responsible for the programming of global services from direct-to-consumer to syndication and works with more than 160 active partners to launch and maintain the RealGames global distribution channels. Prior to this role, Dan served as Senior Director of Games at Real and was responsible for overseeing third party licensing and pc publishing. Dan started his career in gaming at Humongous Entertainment, and now has more than 10 years of experience in the industry. Gabe Carter (email) Gabe has been in the casual games biz at Oberon for the past 2 years. As a Developer Partnership Manager, he’s the guy you need to convince that your game is the cat’s meow. It hasn’t always been gem swapping and hidden object finding for Gabe, though. He started his career at the now defunct Acclaim, working on mega-hit console games such as Vexx and The Red Star (crickets). If you ever need to know anything about what Oberon is up to, Gabe’s the guy to talk to.