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Steve Ackrich and Tim Campbell join Sammy Studios
by Jolex Del Pilar
Monday, November 17, 2003
Two industry veterans bring "new" blood to company.
Sammy Studios Inc., a developer, publisher and global distributor of interactive entertainment content, today announced two videogame industry veterans have joined the company. Steve Ackrich joins as general manager, Sammy Studios-L.A., and Tim Campbell will serve as vice president of business development, Sammy Studios. Both Steve and Tim come from Atari, Inc., where they managed acquisition and development of such successful franchises as Unreal, Terminator, Godzilla, Dungeons & Dragons and The Matrix, among others. They will use their expertise in working with some of the industry’s biggest properties to guide external development for Sammy Studios and head licensing at the company’s one-year old L.A. office.
“I’m thrilled to introduce two professionals with a history of excellence in the videogame industry as the latest additions to our management roster,” said John Rowe, CEO of Sammy Studios, Inc. “Steve and Tim bring to us proven leadership in areas integral to our young company’s growth strategy. It’s also a terrific opportunity for them as they help elevate a new brand in videogames.”
Before joining Sammy Studios, Steve Ackrich was vice president of product development with Atari Inc. He joined the company when it acquired Accolade, Inc., eventually managing development of key properties that helped establish Atari’s L.A. studio as a creator of popular license-based videogame titles. Brands under Steve’s management accounted for approximately $150 million a year in revenues for Atari. Prior to Atari, he served as director of third party licensing for Sega of America during the company’s successful Genesis console period. In his 18 years in the industry Steve has held producing and product management roles for such companies as Activision and Silicon Graphics.
“It’s great to join a company striving for success in this industry and knowing the right formula to achieve it,” said Steve. “Sammy Studios is poised to make a substantial impact on the interactive entertainment industry in the coming years. I look forward to helping them establish an environment that continues to attract the best internal and external development talent, and ultimately make us known as a creator of innovative, hugely successful games.”
Tim Campbell served as director of business development at Atari. He joined the company when it was primarily publishing titles developed in Europe and played an instrumental role in their growth of U.S.-based game development. Tim also supervised licensor relations for Atari’s biggest properties with companies such as Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures and DC Comics. Before Atari, Tim was manager of interactive business development for Fresh Water Spigot, Inc., where he oversaw license acquisitions for clients including Midway, Acclaim and Activision.
“What drew me to Sammy Studios is their broad strategy for growing their games business,” said Tim. “They are continuing to expand their internal development capabilities, foster relations with external developers and reach out to content companies that are interested in having their properties developed into videogames. I’m happy to join a company that is focused on making great products to succeed in the games industry.”
Sammy Studios was founded in spring 2002 as the global videogame development and publishing subsidiary of Sammy Corporation, one of Japan’s most successful amusement and entertainment companies. Sammy Studios oversees growth in Sammy’s game publishing business in North America and Europe, and also represents its first internal game development operation. The company recently launched a state-of-the-art complex in Carlsbad, California, that acts as its main game studio and headquarters. Sammy Studios opened its Los Angeles office to expand internal game development and bring on board a licensing team focused on bringing entertainment properties to videogames. In 2004, Sammy Studios will release the first of its internally developed titles, along with the biggest portfolio of games ever to be published under its brand.
--- Jolex Del Pilar |
