Click on the Video Below and Sample a Session from a previous Digital Hollywood event. For Additional Video Sessions, Click Here Digital Hollywood Tuesday, October 30th 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM – Special Workshops Workshop B: The Virtual Worlds and Massively Multiplayer Gaming Explosion - PC, Console and Mobile 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. Craig Sherman, CEO, Gaia Online Ed Zobrist, President, Sierra Online, a division of Vivendi Games Mike Goslin, Vice President, Virtual Reality Studio, Walt Disney Internet Group Don L. Daglow, President and CEO, Stormfront Studios Inc. David Laux, Global Executive, Games & Interactive Entertainment, IBM Bob Ferrari, Executive Director, Business Development & Sales, Turbine Inc. Geoffrey Selzer, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board, Emergent Game Technologies Russell G. Weiss, Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP, Moderator Mike Goslin, Vice President, Virtual Reality Studio, Walt Disney Internet Group: Mike Goslin is vice president of the Virtual Reality (VR) studio at the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG). He is primarily focused on the development of Disney's Toontown Online, a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) for kids and families and Pirates of the Caribbean Online, a MMO created for fans of the popular film franchise. Goslin joined the VR Studio in 1996, when it was part of Walt Disney Imagineering, to work on virtual reality attractions for theme parks. Over the next several years, he was technical lead on a series of projects that were developed for DisneyQuest; a chain of "super arcades" featuring Virtual Reality rides and games such as "Alladin's Magic Carpet VR Adventure" and "Hercules in the Underworld" which opened in 1998, and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold" which won the award for Outstanding Attraction from the Themed Entertainment Association in 2001. Before joining Disney, Goslin was a researcher for The Institute for Simulation and Training in Orlando, Florida where he worked with psychologists from the U.S. Army to evaluate Virtual Reality as a means for training soldiers to perform dangerous tasks. During that time, he collaborated with Jacki Morie on "Virtopia", one of the first examples of Virtual Reality as artwork, which premiered at the Florida Film Festival in 1993. Goslin holds a bachelor of science degree from Duke University and a master of science degree in computer science from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where under the guidance of the legendary Dr. Fred Brooks, he led a research team whose goal was to push the limits of what was possible in creating immersive virtual worlds. Ed Zobrist, President, Sierra Online, a division of Vivendi Games: Ed Zobrist is responsible for Sierra Online’s game initiatives for console and PC platforms, including publishing FreeStyle Basketball for the U.S. market and the development of titles for Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade. Zobrist previously was senior vice president, Global Marketing for Vivendi Games. In this role he was responsible for overseeing worldwide marketing initiatives for brands such as Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Leisure Suit Larry, Empire Earth, SWAT, The Incredible Hulk, Scarface and 50 Cent. Prior to joining Vivendi Games, Zobrist was a founding partner and president of Zono, Inc. and ASAP Games, a consulting and videogame software development company. Among his clients were Electronic Arts, Sony, Sega, Fisher-Price, Universal Studios, PopCap and Disney Interactive. While consulting for Disney Interactive, he led the company’s marketing efforts to achieve three top-10 selling games including the number-one hit, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Previously, Zobrist held several senior level marketing positions for Mattel including director of Marketing, Hot Wheels and senior marketing manager for the Boy’s Toys division. His experience also includes a role as product manager for the Kenner division of General Mills where he led The Real Ghostbusters product line to more than $100 million in sales. Zobrist holds a master's degree in business administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Columbia University. Don L. Daglow has served as president and CEO of Stormfront Studios since founding the company in 1988. Stormfront's most recent best-seller is "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" for PS2 and Xbox from EA Games, based on the film from New Line Cinema. Don's work has earned recognition in publications ranging from Computer Gaming World to Inc., Upside, The Red Herring and the San Francisco Business Times. Electronic Games called him "one of the best-known and respected producers in the history of the field." Prior to founding Stormfront, Don served as director of Intellivision game development for Mattel, as a producer at Electronic Arts, and as head of the Entertainment and Education division at Broderbund. He developed the first-ever computer baseball game in 1971 (now recorded in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown), the first mainframe computer role-playing game (1976), the first sim game (Intellivision Utopia, 1982) and the first original play-by-email game (Quantum Space for AOL, 1989). Don co-designed Computer Game Hall of Fame title Earl Weaver Baseball (1987) and the first massively multiplayer online graphic adventure, Neverwinter Nights for AOL (1990). He holds a BA in Creative Writing from Pomona College and a M.Ed. from Claremont Graduate University. 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. Craig Sherman is CEO of Gaia Online, the largest online hangout for teens. Craig leads the company's strategic planning, management, and technology development with a focus on maintaining Gaia's rapid growth as a company and one of the most popular online destinations for teens. Prior to joining Gaia Online, Craig served as an Entrepreneur in Residence for Benchmark Capital. Craig was also COO of MyFamily.com, where he helped grow the company from $23 Million to $150 Million in sales. During his tenure, Craig helped re-focus the company on its consumer subscription business and grew that from 200,000 to over 2 million subscribers, taking the company from significant losses to profitability. Geoffrey Selzer, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board, Emergent Game Technologies: Prior to accepting the leadership role at Emergent, Geoff consulted to video game and other media companies, specifically on the development and exploitation of cross-media intellectual property, fund raising and production. From 1995 through 1998, Geoff served as VP, Creative Development and Production for Disney Interactive, where he built, managed, and created the vision for a group of over 100 professionals responsible for the design, development and production of the interactive software titles at Disney Interactive. In addition to his work at Disney, Geoff enjoyed successful careers in publishing and investment banking with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions. Geoff completed his MBA (with a concentration in finance/international business) at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Business. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy awarded by Beloit College in Wisconsin. Robert Ferrari, Executive Director, Business Development & Sales, Turbine Inc.: Robert Ferrari joined Turbine, Inc. in early 2004 and serves as executive director of global business development & sales. Mr. Ferrari has over fifteen years of corporate development, sales and marketing experience leading emerging technology companies in the entertainment, consumer, and technology sectors. At Turbine, he is responsible for building the business through a wide range of strategic partnerships that drive domestic and international publishing, licensing, physical distribution, digital distribution, online subscription revenue, and technology partnerships. Before joining Turbine, Mr. Ferrari held senior executive roles leading the business efforts of diverse start-ups and fortune 500 companies on a global basis. As a veteran of the digital media and online entrainment industries, Mr. Ferrari has been active in pioneering new technologies, products, and services in the B2C and B2B industries. His senior executive tenures include; VP Sales & Marketing at Philips Electronics, EVP Sales & Marketing at Merinta Entertainment Software, VP Websurfer Inc, and Managing Director of Convergence Ventures. As an experienced and knowledgeable industry speaker, Mr. Ferrari has been an active participant at high profile convergence events including; the International Consumer Electronic Show, Digital Hollywood, Digital Media Summit, Game Market Watch, CTIA Mobile & Entertainment, Digital Media’s Game & Mobile Forum, Jupiter Media’s WiFi Planet, and I-Wireless Forum.