Trion appointments
Kevin Beardslee and Peter Egan to work on TV/game crossover project.
New York and Redwood City, CA – November, 20 2008 – SCI FI, a top cable entertainment and lifestyle brand, and Trion World Network (Trion), the publisher and developer of connected games and entertainment, have announced the hiring of two key industry veterans in the co-development of a dynamic, connected video game and television show. Kevin Beardslee joins Trion to serve as Senior Development Director for the project at Trion’s San Diego development studio. Acclaimed television writer Peter Egan has been tapped to write the pilot episode.
The groundbreaking partnership of Trion’s unique creative vision and SCI FI’s entertainment expertise will transcend the standard television and gaming experience by simultaneously co-developing a game and cable television property. The Trion – SCI FI partnership is a never-before-seen synergy between entertainment mediums creating a single rich, fictional universe of story telling. This will be the second original IP Trion has created.
This innovative collaboration falls under the aegis of SCI FI Ventures, SCI FI’s portfolio of media and non-media businesses that extend beyond the television screen and leverage the SCI FI brand affinity. The business and creative collaboration model will result in the first-ever truly immersive cross-media entertainment experience that allows the audience to actively participate in the developing storyline that will grow simultaneously in both video game and television form.
“SCI FI is committed to bringing together quality entertainment with state-of-the-art technology to deliver an unparalleled consumer experience,” said Dave Howe, President, SCI FI Channel. “We are thrilled with the caliber of talent and creativity that Kevin and Peter will deliver to the game and to the TV show.”
“We are making terrific progress with the joint Trion – SCI FI project and are proud to announce the addition of these two new key hires,” said Lars Buttler, founder and CEO of Trion World Network. “Kevin and Peter both represent the pinnacle of their respective fields in game design and television writing, and their vast experience and creativity are powerful additions to our already talented project teams.”
As one of the premiere video game developers in the industry, Kevin Beardslee has over 15 years experience in game design, with over a decade spent crafting popular and innovative Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMO). Most notably, Kevin served as a key member of Blizzard Entertainment’s core development team for the internationally best-selling MMO World of Warcraft before later founding Carbine Studios, a division of NCsoft North America, where he created and oversaw the development of an unannounced MMO. Kevin now brings his creative vision and vast MMO development experience to Trion where he will act as the Senior Development Director for the co-developed SCI FI – Trion MMO video game.
Peter Egan’s television experience includes Playmakers (ESPN) and Over There (FX Network). For NBC Entertainment, Peter served as a writer on several series including Medium and Medical Investigation. Peter also served as writer and story editor on the SCI FI series, The Dresden Files.
About Trion World Network
Trion World Network, Inc. is the publisher and developer of games and original entertainment for the connected world. Trion provides groundbreaking new capabilities and content to revolutionize global entertainment by combining the best elements of online, gaming, and traditional media. Headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., and with development and technology studios in Austin, TX, and San Diego, Trion combines unrivaled experience and vision in the online entertainment industry with a world-class team of Internet and gaming veterans. Privately held, Trion investors include Act II Capital, Time Warner, Peacock Equity - the joint venture between GE Commercial Finance's Media, Communications & Entertainment business and NBC Universal - Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments (BDMI) - a wholly owned subsidiary of Bertelsmann AG, a leading international media company-, Rustic Canyon, DCM and Trinity Ventures. For more information, please visit www.trionworld.com
SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site ( www.scifi.com) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 93 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.
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