GMG signs well-known members of the MMO community.
Maynard, MA. – November 14, 2006 - Green Monster Games, LLC (GMG), a company dedicated to producing innovative massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), today announces its first round of new hires which includes well-known members of the MMO community. GMG's Founder, Curt Schilling, has announced ten employees thus far to lead the development of the company’s first MMO.
Steve Danuser has been appointed Director of Community Development/Senior Designer. Danuser will oversee the construction of the company's official website (www.greenmonstergames.net) and develop its fan community while reporting directly to GMG's Founder, Curt Schilling. Danuser, known in the online world as “Moorgard,” was the co-founder of Mobhunter, one of the first websites focused on game design analysis and discussion. He joined Sony Online Entertainment in San Diego in 2003 as the Community Manager for EverQuest® II, founding one of the strongest and most vibrant communities in the MMO space. At SOE he later became a designer on EverQuest® II, working on many aspects of the game including significant contributions to the Echoes of Faydwer™ expansion. Danuser continues to discuss game design on the popular Moorgard.com website.
Ryan Shwayder has been named Community Relations Manager/Designer at GMG and will be working to establish the company's presence through the web and other media alongside Danuser. Shwayder, commonly known to the gaming world as “Blackguard,” has been developing online communities for years, most recently as the Community Relations Manager for EverQuest® II where he also worked with Danuser. He volunteers his time for local IGDA chapters and is well-known for his game development blog at Nerfbat.com.
Erik Theisz has signed on as a Senior Producer for GMG. Theisz also contributed to the worldwide launch of EverQuest® II. He was Design Supervisor and Associate Producer for the original EverQuest® II game, as well as the expansions Desert of Flames™, Kingdom of Sky™, and Echoes of Faydwer™.
Michael Woods joins GMG as Assistant to Director of Customer Service Development/Designer. Woods has an extensive background in customer service, including three years at Sony Online Entertainment.
GMG’s design team will feature an impressive group of experienced MMO artists spearheaded by the creations of Senior Artists Brian Jones and Brian Labore. Jones, known throughout the online gaming community as “BoBo the Seal,” is an industry veteran who has contributed to over twenty-five projects, most notably Age of Empires® 3 for Ensemble Studios and Titan Quest™for Iron Lore Entertainment. Labore, also a veteran in the MMO community, worked at Turbine Entertainment and Blue Fang Games as a Lead Animator. Most recently, Labore was the Animation Director/Lead Animator at Iron Lore Entertainment for the title Titan Quest™.
“Green Monster Games is dedicated to changing the landscape of the MMO gaming world. The success of GMG lies within the talented individuals who run our business, and create our games,” said Curt Schilling, founder of the recently launched online game company based in Maynard, MA. “We have begun assembling a core group of respected individuals with exceptional talent, and even more exceptional character at their respective positions. Steve Danuser, Ryan Shwayder, and Brian Jones are well known and incredibly well respected in the gaming community. Their signing immediately solidifies Green Monster’s position in the MMO development industry.”
On the business end of GMG, Bill Thomas has been retained as the Director of Investor Relations. He will work directly with Curt Schilling as GMG secures strategic partners that will enhance both sides of the partnership as the companies move forward. Bill Thomas brings to the company over 30 years of executive-level business experience.
J. Robin Bickhart has been hired as Director of Business Operations. Bickhart relocated to Concord, MA from Dallas, Texas where he had 18 years of IT, project management, and Business Operations experience.
Brandon Franks joins GMG as Director of Information Technology. Franks' previous employment was as an IT Manager at an industry-leading engineering firm in Arkansas.
Keith Moegle was appointed Assistant to the Founder. Moegle is a former Senior Program Developer for Microsoft when the company first opened it doors back in the 1970s and still consults with Microsoft and other major corporations on software development. Moegle is an associate of Curt Schilling through the ALS Association, a non-profit organization Schilling has supported since 1992. Moegle has been living with ALS for two years.
All employees are working out of GMG’s Maynard, MA headquarters.
ABOUT GREEN MONSTER GAMES:
Green Monster Games, LLC was founded in the Boston area by Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. Green Monster Games' first title will feature the artistic vision of Todd McFarlane (creator of Spawn, www.spawn.com) and celebrated author R.A. Salvatore (creator of Drizzt, one of modern fantasy's most memorable characters). Together with a growing team of experienced industry professionals, Green Monster Games is now in pre-production on its premier title.
EverQuest, Desert of Flames, Kingdom of Sky, and Echoes of Faydwer are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC.
IRON LORE ENTERTAINMENT and Titan Quest are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Iron Lore Entertainment, Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries.
Age of Empires is a registered trademark of Microsoft Game Studios.