slides & audio (91 MB)
Teens & Tweens have lots of free time and access to their parents wallet which creates a game creator's dream.
Hear from: Blitz Games (one of the largest indie developers in Europe & creators of the Famous Burger King Sneak Game) - Addicting Games ( the largest online game website which releases over 20 user generated games a week) and NeoPets (huge online community for tweens, if you haven't heard about them, google "neopets")
our take:
Casual Games are for Everyone. Casual Games are for Everyone. Casual Games are for Everyone. Casual Games are for Everyone. Casual Games are for Everyone. While you may think teens aren't real people yet, they are technically in the "everyone" category.
Okay, we said it. Don't forget it.
Delivered at Casual Connect Seattle, 17 July 2007
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Kenny Rosenblatt (email)
He didn’t realize it then, but Kenny Rosenblatt’s childhood prepared him for current role as CEO at Arkadium Games. Kenny not only grew up playing games, he also had a passion for computers. You could always find him playing with his Atari or in later years mastering Donkey Kong on his Coleco vision console. His passion for gaming and the technology that made games work, quickly translated into the co-founding of Arkadium Games in 2000. Kenny’s background and work at Arkadium has not only entertained gamers worldwide, but has also served the needs of international brands such as Harrah’s, CBS, Mattel, Hearst, Hasbro, Sony and Warner Brothers.
Arkadium creates game software for consumer brands, ad agencies, casino operators and online gamers. The company's growing library of over 125 game engines are developed using Adobe Flash, do not require a download, operate on 99% of all computers and can be customized to meet any client's specific needs. Arkadium's games reach millions of people across all demographics through some of the most popular online destinations and corporate branded Web sites.
Prior to joining Arkadium Kenny was VP of Emerging Technologies at On2 Technologies where he developed several Video on Demand systems for iTV and Set Top Boxes. Kenny has a degree in Information Technology and Management from Syracuse University. He also enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, fishing, and building a great business.
Kate Connally(email)
Kate Connally manages the AddictingGames business at Atom Entertainment. AddictingGames.com is the leading source for the web's best free online games. Over 12 million casual gamers visit the site monthly. Prior to her role with AG, Connally launched and lead product marketing for Shockwave.com's downloadable games business and has managed business development for the company.
Prior to Shockwave.com, Connally 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 AB degree with honors from Princeton University.
Kyra E. Reppen(email)
Kyra E. Reppen is Senior Vice President & General Manager of Neopets, the world’s leading youth community and online virtual world.
Reppen leads and manages all day-to-day operations, creative direction and business strategy for Neopets, which is based in Los Angeles, Calif. Prior to her tenure at Neopets, Reppen was Vice President and General Manager of Nickjr.com, a division of Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Digital Group, where she oversaw strategy, creative and editorial. After assuming that position in 2000, Reppen repositioned Nickjr.com from a television promotional site to the number one parenting website for parents of young children. Reppen was also the architect behind ParentsConnect, a Nickelodeon-owned online community designed exclusively for parents and can be credited with spearheading the acquisition of GoCityKids, the leading local online resource for parents and winner of a 2006 Webby Award for best family/parenting website. In addition, Reppen created and launched Nick Jr. ParentsTV, made-for-the-web broadband video for parents; produced the first-ever 3D online games for preschoolers and led the networks' preschool introduction to wireless, interactive TV and innovative online gaming experiences.
Sion Lenton
Sion has worked in the videogames industry for 9 years, and has been working for Blitz Games for over 2 years now, where he holds the position Project Director.
His most recent project was setting up the dev team for TruSim, the serious games division at Blitz. In addition he worked on the 3 Burger King games in a support capacity. He brings a wealth of game development experience having worked as a Producer/Manager on such titles as Club Football, Dragon Empires, and Micro Maniacs.
Responsibilities include business development and project management as he works to ensure that the company's high quality standards are adhered to, while also ensuring that Blitz stays at the forefront of games development
