Bernie Stolar

Bernard "Bernie" Stolar is an American businessman who worked in the video game industry for several important companies. His career started at Atari where he worked initially in the coin-op arcade division and eventually moved over to the home division in charge of platforms like Atari Lynx. He served as President of the company. He also founded Pacific Novelty, an arcade cabinet manufacturer that produced four games: Shark Attack, Thief, NATO Defense, and The Amazing Adventures of Mr. F. Lea.

Before the North American release of the PlayStation home console, Stolar became the first executive vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment America where he was in charge of business development and all content on the PlayStation platform.

The PlayStation sold well during its first holiday season in the U.S., and Stolar, after leaving Sony, accepted an offer to become executive vice president in charge of product development and third-party relations at Sega of America.[1] After the Saturn's failure in North America, Stolar and Sega began concepts for a new console, one which would eventually become the Dreamcast.

Stolar is also remembered for stating at the 1997 E3, two years after the Saturn's release, that "the Saturn is not our future".

Insider reports suggest that Stolar overruled his Japanese superiors by pricing the Dreamcast for launch at $199. Reportedly, Sega wanted to set the price at $249 to generate profits immediately. The launch of the Dreamcast was the most successful commercial console launch in the history of gaming selling over US$300mln of hardware and software in its first week of launch. Stolar's decisions eventually led to his dismissal from Sega.

In December 1999, Stolar joined Mattel as President.

In late 2005, Stolar became an advisor and director at Adscape Media, an in-game advertising company. His support contributed to securing venture capital in early 2006, establishing key relationships with game producers, and the company's eventual acquisition by Google in early 2007. Stolar served as Google's Game Evangelist from the sale of the company until he left for GetFugu, Inc. in early April, 2009.

On October 5, 2006, Oasys Mobile, Inc. announced that Stolar would assume the role of Lead Director.

On April 6, 2009, GetFugu, Inc. named Stolar Chief Executive Officer.[2] Stolar officially remained in this position for just under a year. In an SEC filing dated April 2, 2010, GetFugu revealed that Stolar, along with three other top executives, had resigned.[3]

He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles where he was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity.[4]

On April 15, 2014, it was revealed that Stolar was the Chairman of ZOOM and Jordan Freeman Group, creators of ZOOM Platform. [5] In the same press release, their original title Mr. Travel was announced, along with conversions of the original MegaRace Trilogy to mobile and tablet devices as well as a MegaRace reboot for PCs, game consoles, mobile, and tablet devices. [6] In reference to the projects in the press release, Stolar had the following to say: “Jordan Freeman and his team are building franchises that will be played on all platforms; these games will prove to be the most fun and entertaining of any new franchises.” [7]

References

  1. ↑ "Sega of America appoints Shoichiro Irimajiri chairman/chief executive officer". M2PressWIRE (M2 Communications, Ltd.). July 16, 1996. (Subscription required.)
  2. ↑ "GetFugu Names Google Game Evangelist Bernie Stolar as CEO". Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  3. ↑ "GetFugu, Inc. (Form: 8-K, Received: 04/02/2010 16:13:07)". Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  4. ↑ Membership Directory, 2010 Pi Lambda Phi Inc.
  5. ↑ http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140415005472/en/ZOOM-Announces-Releases-%E2%80%9CMr.-Travel%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%9CMegaRace-MobileReboot%E2%80%9D#.U04RXVcUmmk
  6. ↑ http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140415005472/en/ZOOM-Announces-Releases-%E2%80%9CMr.-Travel%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%9CMegaRace-MobileReboot%E2%80%9D#.U04RXVcUmmk
  7. ↑ “Jordan Freeman and his team are building franchises that will be played on all platforms; these games will prove to be the most fun and entertaining of any new franchises.”

External links