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Nexon America’s Min Kim and Zynga’s Brian Reynolds Join Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences’ Board of Directors
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is pleased to announce that Min Kim, vice president of live games at Nexon America, Inc., and Brian Reynolds, chief game designer, Zynga, have been appointed to the AIAS' Board of Directors effective immediately.
As vice president of live games, Min is responsible for all the product initiatives at Nexon America. Prior to co-founding Nexon America, Min launched the Global Edition of Nexon's flagship title, MapleStory. He has made significant contributions to the adoption of digital content cards at retail, and recently launched Karma Koin. He also serves on the America's Advisory Board for the Merchant Risk Council.
A twenty-one-year industry veteran, Brian Reynolds is recognized as one of the industry's most talented and productive game designers. Honored by PC Gamer magazine as one of twenty-five "Game Gods" and one of IGN's "Top 100 Game Creators of All Time," Reynolds played a key role founding three successful videogame studios: Firaxis, Big Huge Games, and Zynga East. At Zynga, Brian led FrontierVille to 35 million players and now helps game teams across the company innovate on social gameplay.
View the official press release here.
Learn more about our new Board members here.
15th Interactive Achievement Awards Finalists Revealed + GameSpot Media Partnership
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) is pleased to announce the finalists for the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (IAAs). More than a hundred titles were played and evaluated by members of the Academy’s Peer Panels. These panels, one for each award category, are comprised of the game industry’s most experienced and talented men and women who are experts in their chosen fields. Thank you to our peer panelists for volunteering your time and energy!
Additionally, the AIAS is proud to reveal its exclusive partnership with GameSpot for the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (IAAs) and the D.I.C.E. Summit. GameSpot will provide live streaming video of the awards ceremony, as well as exclusive online content from the D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit sessions that take place throughout the week.
View the 15th IAA official release.
View the GameSpot media partnership official release.
View the complete list of finalists here.
TEN FINALISTS NAMED FOR
3rd ANNUAL INDIE GAME CHALLENGE
The ten finalists in the 3rd Annual Indie Game ChallengeSM hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University and GameStop, were announced today. Reflecting the international scope of this year’s Indie Game Challenge, three of the ten finalist teams are from Finland, Sweden and Germany. Returning to host the IGC awards ceremony is Adam Sessler, host of G4’s X-Play.
The Indie Game Challenge finalists are eligible for $250,000 in cash and prizes. Winners will be announced Feb. 10 at the 2012 D.I.C.E.™ (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit at the Red Rock Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
The ten finalists include the following (Team/game):
- Blendo Games - Atom Zombie Smasher
- Eyebrow Interactive - Closure
- Zeroscale - Demolition Inc.
- Team Nitronic - Nitronic Rush
- Paradox Shift - Paradox Shift
- EmptyClip Studios, Inc. - Symphony
- Ty Taylor and Mario Castaneda - The Bridge
- Team Dream - The Dream Machine
- The Fourth Team - The Fourth Wall
- Facepalm Games - The Swapper
For more information on the competition, learn more about each finalists, and vote for the Gamer’s Choice prize, visit: www.IndieGameChallenge.com .
View official press release here.
AIAS INDUCTS EPIC GAMES’ TIM SWEENEY TO ITS HALL OF FAME; CONFIRMED TO SPEAK AT THE 2012 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced that Tim Sweeney, founder and chief executive officer of Epic Games, will be the 16th inductee into the AIAS Hall of Fame, and will be taking the stage for the first time at the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit. Tim is respected throughout the industry for his technological innovations, advancing many of today’s highly successful PC, console and mobile games. Tim’s development of the Unreal Engine and award-winning franchises such as the “Gears of War” and “Unreal Tournament” series have been catalysts in the evolution of gaming.
The AIAS Hall of Fame is bestowed on game creators who have been instrumental in the development of highly influential games and moving a particular genre forward. These individuals demonstrate the highest level of creativity and innovation, resulting in significant product influence on a scale that expands the scope of the industry. The 2012 Hall of Fame Award will be presented by Epic Games Vice President Mark Rein at the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. The Awards will be hosted by actor, comedian and game enthusiast, Jay Mohr.
More information on Tim at Kotaku’s exclusive interview.
View the official press release here.
BLIZZARD'S FRANK PEARCE JOINS THE ACADEMY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is pleased to announce that Frank Pearce has been appointed to the AIAS’ Board of Directors effective immediately.
Pearce is a cofounder and executive vice president of product development at Blizzard Entertainment, where he plays a critical role in the development of all Blizzard Entertainment games, including the World of Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® series. He brings to the AIAS’ Board more than 20 years of industry experience.
View the official press release here.
ACADEMY OF INTERACTIVE ARTS & SCIENCES HONORS ED LOGG AS THE 2012 PIONEER AWARD RECIPIENT
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has unveiled its 2012 AIAS Pioneer Award recipient, Ed Logg. As an innovator, game designer and programmer, Ed's work contributed to the creation of some of the most iconic entertainment properties – including Asteroids, Centipede, and Gauntlet – arcade games that continue to shape the way that modern games are designed today.
The Pioneer Awards is reserved for individuals whose career-spanning work has helped shape and define the interactive entertainment industry with the creation of a technological approach or the birth of a new genre. The 2012 Pioneer Award will be presented by Mark Cerny, president, Cerny Games, at the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas.
More information on Ed at Wired.com's exclusive interview.
View the official press release here.
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