Don Mattrick
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| Don Mattrick | |
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 Mattrick in 2010 |
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| Born | February 13, 1964 Vancouver, Canada |
| Occupation | President of Interactive Entertainment Business, Microsoft Corporation |
Don A. Mattrick[1] (born 13 February 1964 in Vancouver, British Columbia) was raised in Vancouver, Canada. He is currently the President of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft.[2] In this role he is responsible for a collection of consumer businesses including Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Kinect, TV Music and Video services, Mediaroom, as well as PC and mobile interactive entertainment. Prior to joining Microsoft in 2007, Mattrick served as the President of Worldwide Studios for Electronic Arts, where he worked for 25 years. At the age of 17, Mattrick founded Distinctive Software, Inc. which was acquired by Electronic Arts in 1991 and subsequently became EA Canada. He is married with two children.
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Distinctive Software, Inc. [edit]
Mattrick founded DSI in 1982 at the age of 17 by personally developing games like Evolution[3] and Test Drive for the Apple II, Commodore 64, and PC-DOS. Throughout the 1980s DSI became best known for racing and sports games and was acquired by EA in 1991.[4][5]
Electronic Arts [edit]
Mattrick served in a variety of leadership positions at Electronic Arts and prior to his retirement in 2006, served as the President of Worldwide Studios for Electronic Arts where he oversaw EA's global studios and research and development in several major sites, including Redwood Shores, Calif. (Silicon Valley), EALA in Los Angeles, EA Tiburon in Florida, EA Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Montreal, and EA UK in Chertsey, England. Mattrick was best known at EA for having helped bring to life such celebrated game franchises as Need for Speed, Harry Potter and The Sims.
Microsoft [edit]
Following his retirement from Electronic Arts in February 2007, Mattrick was asked by Robbie Bach to serve as an external advisor to the Entertainment and Devices Division. In July 2007, Mattrick then officially joined Microsoft as a Senior Vice President overseeing the Xbox 360 and PC gaming businesses.[6] In the three years since Mattrick has overseen the division, the Xbox 360 installed base has grown from 10 million to more than 50 million worldwide, while the Xbox LIVE membership has increased from 6 million to over 30 million.[7] At the same time Mattrick is recognized for moving the interactive business from an operating loss into a sustained and profitable business for the company.
Mattrick is also largely credited for his work in bringing Kinect for Xbox 360 to life. Mattrick unveiled Kinect under the code-name of “Project Natal” at E3 2009 on stage with Steven Spielberg.[8][9] Kinect which is a “controller-free gaming and entertainment experience” for Xbox 360 launched in November 2010 worldwide and sold over 8 million units in the first 60 days, making it the fastest-selling consumer electronic device, according to Guinness World Records.[10] By early March 2011, the device reached 10 million in device sales.[11] The product has been seen as highly innovative and has won numerous awards including being named one of the top inventions of the year from Time Magazine.
In October 2010, Mattrick was promoted to President of the Interactive Entertainment Business, a role that has him reporting directly to the CEO of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer. In this role he is responsible for a collection of consumer businesses including Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, Kinect, Zune Music and Video, Mediaroom, as well as PC and mobile interactive entertainment.
Fortune Magazine in August 2011 named Don Mattrick one of the “Smartest People in Tech 2011” largely highlighting his ability to turn around the Xbox business and drive new consumer innovations like Kinect.[12] In May 2012, Don Mattrick was named one of CNN Money’s top 10 brilliant technology visionaries.[13]
References [edit]
- ^ Don A. Mattrick biography
- ^ Microsoft Announces New Leadership Promotions
- ^ Evolution
- ^ DSI & Games Industry History
- ^ Electronic Arts Acquires Distinctive Software Inc.
- ^ Don taking over for Peter Moore
- ^ 2010: The Biggest Year in Xbox History
- ^ Microsoft Unveils Hands-Free Gaming
- ^ E3 Expo 2009: Don Mattrick
- ^ Kinect Confirmed As Fastest-Selling Consumer Electronics Device
- ^ Kinect Sales Surpass Ten Million
- ^ Smartest People in Tech 2011
- ^ CNN Money's 10 Brilliant Technology Visionaries of 2012
External links [edit]
- Don Mattrick at MobyGames
- Corporate biography at Microsoft
- National Post, "Beyond the thumb"
- CNBC, "Microsoft 'Kinects' to Gamers"
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