socalTECH

JULY 19, 2012

A mobile app new project by a local, Los Angeles team has taken to Kickstarter to help fund its efforts to create an animated, interactive caveman for your iPhone and iPad. The team includes entertainment and tech vets who have worked on computer games from Activision, animation from Dreamworks and Disney, and who have worked at Yahoo!

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Activision Yahoo Mobile Entertainment 212

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 3, 2015

Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard has agreed to acquire King Digital Entertainment , the developer of mobile games, including Candy Crush, in a deal worth $5.9 Activision said its wholly owned subsidiary, ABS Partners C.V., Activision said the acquisition will be highly complementary to its business.

Activision 100

Activision Entertainment Santa Monica Acquisition 100

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2011

Earlier this month, Los Angeles-based Gamzee (www.gamzee.com), a new game company founded by Howard Marks, the co-founder of Activision and Acclaim Games, announced a seed round of funding. There's been a dramatic shift in recent years from the traditional videogame model, to social, mobile, and casual games. What is Gamzee all about?

Activision 217

Activision Platform Startup Mobile 217

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2011

I invested in LA-based Gogii , one of the fastest growing, most exciting mobile social networking companies you’ve never heard of and maker of a product called textPlus. Scott Lahman , Zack Norman & Austin Murray were the three co-founders of JAMDAT, the most successful mobile 1.0 Sorry, moms. Zack is the creative talent.

Gogii 310

Gogii Invest Blogging Startup 310

socalTECH

APRIL 5, 2011

Santa Monica-based Jirbo , a developer of mobile applications for the iPhone, said this morning that it has named Will Kassoy as its new Chief Executive Officer. Jirbo has over 200 mobile applications in the Apple App store, and also operates ad network AdColony.

Activision 165

Activision Santa Monica Mobile Networking 165

socalTECH

JUNE 24, 2014

Los Angeles-based mobile video advertising firm AdColony has been acquird by Silicon Valley mobile ad company Opera , the two said Tuesday. Before AdColony, Kassoy had been at Activision Blizzard. video mobile acquisition merger opera adcolony' The deal is worth up to $350M. AdColony is led by Will Kassoy. READ MORE>>.

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Activision Mobile Advertising Acquisition 153

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2013

StartEngine's founders are Howard Marks, who co-founded Activision, and investor Paul Kessler. StartEngine provides $20,000 to $100,000 in funding to promising startups, and also offers up mentoring, office space, and help in getting those startups to the next stage.

Santa Monica 178

Santa Monica Startup Activision Commerce 178

socalTECH

JANUARY 18, 2012

Los Angeles-based Gamzee , the HTML5 game development firm headed by Howard Marks, one of the founders of Activision, has shifted its staff as it rethinks how to approach the market. The startup develops the Skyscraper City social game, which lets users create and build a city, adding buildings, redeveloping neighborhoods, and more.

Activision 191

Activision Mobile Resource Los Angeles 191

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard said late Monday that it has received clearance from the South Korean Fair Trade Commission, on its deal to acquire King Digital Entertainment. The clearance is one of a number of clerances required on the $5.9 billion deal, which was announced in November.

Activision 100

Activision Santa Monica Acquisition Entertainment 100

socalTECH

JUNE 16, 2011

Los Angeles-based Gamzee , a developer of HTML5 and mobile/social games, announced Thursday that it has raised $1M in a seed round of funding. Gamzee is headed by Howard Marks , a co-founder of Activision and Acclaim Games, and former SVP at Disney Interactive Media Group. READ MORE>>.

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Seed Funding Riot Games Funding Activision 145

socalTECH

APRIL 25, 2011

Lahman is also one of the co-founders of JAMDAT Mobile, the immensely successful developer of mobile games, which had an IPO in 2004, and eventually became part of Electronic Arts in 2006. We spoke with Scott about GOGII and textPlus, the shifting mobile market, and also what lessons he's applied to his new startup.

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Gogii Mobile Activision Electronic Arts 200

socalTECH

OCTOBER 4, 2011

Venice-based VenLabs , a developer of mobile applications focused on music, said Monday that it has launched a new iPhone and iPod Touch app called DimSong , which allows users to remix instrumental music based on their movements and surroundings. Lehrich was previously at Activision's 7 Studios. READ MORE>>.

Activision 133

Activision Venice Mobile Startup 133

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 19, 2020

The wind, he said, “refers to the ever-growing desire for quality by mobile gamers.” ” Breaking the wave, on the other hand, entails TiMi applying new development tools to building high-budget, high-quality AAA mobile games. “TiMi didn’t succeed in China because of WeChat and QQ.

Tips 149

Tips Activision Mobile Tool 149

socalTECH

APRIL 29, 2019

The Overwatch League , the e-sports tournament operator which is based on Activision Blizzard's popular overwatch title, has its very first beer sponsor, in the form of AB Inbev (ABI). Bud Light joins such other sponsors as Coca-Cola, Toyota, T-Mobile, HP, and Intel. READ MORE>>.

Activision 113

Activision Mobile 113

socalTECH

MARCH 15, 2018

Los Angeles-based mobile game developer Jam City has snagged two executives from game developer Machine Zone, the company said this morning, adding two to its executive team. Ulm was most recently GM of Machine Zone's San Diego studio.

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San Diego Activision Mobile Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 11, 2019

The Call of Duty Endowment , the non-profit started by Activision named after the popular Call of Duty game published by the company, has launched a new campaign to raise funds for the nonprofit, which says it uses 100 percent of its proceeds going directly to finding jobs for veterans. READ MORE>>.

Activision 113

Activision Content Mobile Funding 113

SoCal Tech Calendar

NOVEMBER 23, 2012

Social and mobile technologies are unleashing unprecedented amounts of opportunity for companies willing to embrace this new era of customer personalization and employee empowerment. VP of IT Strategy and IT Program Mgmt - Activision-Blizzard Tom Schwaninger ? For this annual event we? Cindy McKenzie ? Managing Partner ?

Technology 113

Technology CIO AITP Activision 113

SoCal Tech Calendar

OCTOBER 19, 2009

With all of the major console and PC video game companies in Los Angeles (Electronic Arts, Activision, THQ, Blizzard), it only makes sense to discuss how more and more games are bringing in aspects of social media to enhance game play.

Electronic Arts 100

Electronic Arts THQ Activision Social Media 100

socalTECH

DECEMBER 26, 2012

Howard Marks is co-founder of Activision , and head of Los Angeles-based startup accelerator StartEngine. Following that, I think mobile advertisement technologies. What was the biggest news for you/your firm this year? I think that the biggest news for StartEngine this year is our productivity. SAAS is here to stay.

Southern California 168

Southern California High Tech SaaS Social Media 168

socalTECH

JULY 18, 2018

Seismic's titles include such VR and mobile games as Marvel: Strikeforce and Blade Runner: Revelations. Seismic's founders--which include Greg Borrud, Eric Gewirtz, and Chris Miller--previously worked at such companies as EA/Pandemic and Activision. READ MORE>>.

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Culver City Activision Acquisition Mobile 100

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 30, 2011

Topics of discussion will be Saas, Cloud, Mobile, Gaming, Social Markets, what surprises are coming for 2012, creating value with your company, hiring problem solvers, and building sensible businesses. He sits on several boards and is involved in the virtual worlds, gaming, mobile, media, and healthcare markets.

Tech Coast Angels 105

Tech Coast Angels Startup Angel Southern California 105

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 17, 2012

Topics of discussion will be Saas, Cloud, Mobile, Gaming, Social Markets, what surprises are coming for 2013, creating value with your company, hiring problem solvers, and building sensible businesses. In 1991, Marks and a partner transformed ailing video game giant Activision into a $14B market cap video game industry leader.

Startup 110

Startup Activision Santa Monica SaaS 110

socalTECH

AUGUST 27, 2012

It's an intensely competitive market in developing games for the iPhone and other mobile platforms, with thousands and thousands of titles competing for attention from users. William is in San Diego, and is a longtime gaming vet, having been at Activision in the days of The Manhole and Myst. How did you get into iPhone development?

Mobile 216

Mobile Startup Software Review Platform 216

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 15, 2011

In San Diego you have Qualcomm so an entire mobile industry has been spawned. In Los Angeles you have large industries in garment industry, defense, games (both physical like Mattel and virtual like Activision) and music. Each of these companies exited for more than $500 million and several north of $1 billion.

Venture Capital 313

Venture Capital Southern California Google Startup 313

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Prior to joining DWA Chris worked at Activision Blizzard for 13 years, during which time he held a number of role including Executive Producer and Lead Game Designer. He decided to enter the video game business out of a love for all types of games, and the powerful influence the local hobby store had on his childhood in Maine.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Technology Activision Entertainment 94

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 24, 2013

Prior to joining DWA Chris worked at Activision Blizzard for 13 years, during which time he held a number of role including Executive Producer and Lead Game Designer. Robin Kaminsky - CEO 1 st Street Partners | Former EVP of Publishing, Executive Lead Global Gaming Activision / Blizzard.

Technical Review 76

Technical Review Technology Activision Entertainment 76

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 30, 2012

Mobile Web America, Inc. has created a simple to use, online application for your business to create a mobile site and secure its mobile presence. We utilize the content of your existing website and create a mobile version on-the-fly. CitySourced is a real time mobile civic engagement platform.

CalTech 91

CalTech Company Companies Idealab 91

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 20, 2012

Howard Marks , Co-Founder at Activision / StartEngine. A 20-year industry veteran, having co-founded juggernaut Activision as well as Acclaim Games. He sits on several boards and is involved in the virtual worlds, gaming, mobile, media, and healthcare markets. Navy, Pfizer, & Unisys Corp. Dinesh earned his B.S.

Idealab 84

Idealab Tech Coast Angels CalTech Startup 84

socalTECH

OCTOBER 15, 2015

We're helping to build a new league that is forming around these professional teams, and working with publishers like Riot Games, Blizzard, Activision, and Valve to lock in broadcast stations, the ESPNs, the Twitches, and Foxes, and Turners to help create an ecosystem around this. They're essentially a Twitch for mobile.

Riot Games 100

Riot Games Southern California Invest Mobile 100

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 13, 2013

Mobile and new generation consoles are being adopted at an astounding rate, and all the while gaming has become an increasing social outlet. Robin Kaminsky , founder of 1st Street Partners and former EVP of Activision Blizzard. The gaming industry has changed since the days of Atari and Odyssey. Joshua Yguado , President of SGN.

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Lootcrate S3 Education Activision 80

socalTECH

JANUARY 18, 2012

All three of us have been working together for quite awhile, since Activision, fifteen or sixteen years ago. Certainly, we will be moving to mobile and tablet in the future, and our technology is built to do that, but philosophically, we're very focused on Facebook. Greg, thanks for talking with us today.

Entertainment 154

Entertainment Startup Platform Content 154

SoCal Delicious

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

When he was 23 years old in 1993, Sky heard about the Internet and realized that it was the future, not the next wave, not a “passing trend” Following Earthlink’s incredible success, Sky founded eCompanies, an accelerator that helped spawn LowerMyBills.com, JAMDAT Mobile, and business.com. 13 comments. 9 people listening.

Technical Review 75

Technical Review Entrepreneur Riot Games Southern California 75

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 2, 2012

He recently produced the Silicon Beach Fest along with Kevin Winston of Digital LA , and his mobile ad optimization and re-engagement company PageWoo came out of the 1st graduating class for the new Los Angeles accelerator Start Engine (developed by serial entrepreneur of Activision fame, Howard Marks).

News 95

News Los Angeles Ideas Startup 95

socalTECH

DECEMBER 6, 2011

That's the problem that the mobile app ntro is looking to solve. I started at Activision, and worked as a producer and director. Why did you decide to start a company in the mobile area, rather than the video game business? Josh Resnick is a serial entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of nProgress , the company behind ntro.

Electronic Arts 236

Electronic Arts Startup Mobile West Los Angeles 236

socalTECH

MARCH 21, 2012

We're also looking at mobile, because of the presence of Qualcomm and a huge body of talent around mobile, and social commerce, because of our success in social commerce, most recently with BeachMint, ShoeDazzle, and others.

Startup 254

Startup Los Angeles Entrepreneur Media 254

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

Mobile first is becoming an important part of our daily lives. We interact with the world through our mobile devices, and they are quickly becoming our main vehicles for accessing and sharing information. Hence the emergence of Source13, a new mobile conference produced by Flurry. How do you discover the right people to follow?

Mobile 71

Mobile Technical Review Platform Startup 71

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 6, 2014

From investments and business, Robin Kaminsky , Entrepreneur in Residence at Rustin Canyon Partners, and former EVP of Publishing at Activision. The inspiration to create Call of Duty vs Clash of Cans is very different on mobile. $$ and Advertisements. Gaming (especially mobile) is an inherently social experience. Social Gaming.

Mobile 93

Mobile Platform Technology Screening 93