Peter Moore verlässt MS und geht zu EA Sports

[Superfrog]

MOOREGATON


Er war kompetent, unterhaltsam, sympathisch und eine coole Sau. Die Kombination gibt's in dieser Positionsregion in der Branche kein zweites Mal. Er wird MS bitter fehlen, sein Nachfolger Don Mattrick sieht aus wie ne Wurst, jedenfalls alles andere als cool.



Bleibt die Frage, ob Moores Abgang wirklich ganz freiwillig war. Ich denke ja, denn zum Zeitpunkt der Garantiegeschichte hatte er schon bei EA unterschrieben (siehe Podcast), der Flop in Japan hat diverse Gründe und die behäbigen Verkaufszahlen im Westen liegen wohl eher am Preis.

Moores "Abschieds-Podcast" bei Major Nelson:

http://centracomm.cachefly.net/majornelson/2007/PeterMooreGoodbye7-17-2007.mp3

PETER MOORE RESIGNS FROM MICROSOFT

Heading up EA Sports

Microsoft has announced the resignation of Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the company's interactive entertainment business.

Moore will be replaced by Don Mattrick, formerly president of Electronic Arts' worldwide studios, on July 30th. Mattrick had joined the company in February as an external advisor.

"Peter has contributed enormously to the games business since joining Microsoft in 2003 and we are sad to see him go," said Microsoft's Robbie Bach. "Since that time, he presided over the global launch of the Xbox 360, spearheaded a revitalized and rebranded Games for Windows business, and helped steer the console's ascent."

Moore decided to move his family back to Northern California for "personal reasons" and has secured another opportunity in the videogames industry. Although it has not been officially announced, rumor has it that he will be heading up EA Sports.

EA PAYS $1.5 MILLION FOR MOORE

One-time bonus on top of $550,000 annual salary

According to documents filed with the SEC, Electronic Arts is to pay Peter Moore USD 1.5 million in recognition of the compensation value he is foregoing by leaving Microsoft.

Moore’s annual base salary will be USD 550,000, and his discretionary target bonus percentage will be 75 per cent of that salary. He has been granted stock options to purchase 350,000 shares of common stock, as well as 50,000 shares of restricted stock which vest as to 50 per cent of the shares in two years and the remaining 50 percent of the shares in four years.

Microsoft announced today that Peter Moore is resigning from his position, effective July 30. Shortly thereafter, Electronic Arts announced that Moore has been hired as president of the EA Sports label.

To move Moore and his family, EA is paying an estimated USD 333,000 to assist with relocation-related expenses. If Moore voluntarily leaves EA within the next two years, he has agreed to repay the USD 1.5 million bonus.

Moore will also participate in the compensation and benefit programs generally available to EA’s executive officers.

"The people at EA Sports have created one of the strongest brands in the entertainment industry and John Riccitiello is building an organisation which will extend the company’s leadership to new platforms and new audiences all over the world," Moore said.

"I couldn’t be more excited about joining EA and moving my family back to the San Francisco Bay Area."

Peter Moore, the head of Microsoft's Xbox vidgame biz, unexpectedly ankled Tuesday to take a job at Electronic Arts as head of its lucrative EA sports business.

Replacing him is Don Mattrick, who coincidentally left EA as its head of worldwide studios in February 2006.

Mattrick takes his new post July 30, while Moore starts at EA in September.

In February, Mattrick joined Microsoft as a part-time adviser to Moore. Insiders say there's no indication that Mattrick was hired with the intention of moving him into Moore's spot. Rather, his existing connection to the company along with his long history in the vidgame biz made him a logical choice for the role.

"I had no idea Peter was considering leaving the role he was in," Mattrick told Daily Variety. "I think this is the best job in the industry, so I am a little surprised."

Moore was seemingly not pushed out given that his new job as prexy of EA Sports is one of the most important in the industry. Insiders said that he had already decided to leave before Microsoft announced two weeks ago that it is taking a $1 billion-plus writedown in the wake of the high number of defective Xbox 360s.

However, it's likely that the 360's hardware problems, as well as surprisingly strong competition from the Nintendo Wii, played a role in Moore's decision to leave for a less stressful post as head of the industry-leading sports games biz.

Job is a logical one for Moore, who marketed athletic shoes for Reebok before moving to Sega in 1999. He was tapped to head marketing for Microsoft's vidgame business in 2003 and took over the unit in 2005. Exec also said he wanted to move his family back to the San Francisco Bay Area from Redmond, Wash.

His appointment fills the last remaining top spot at EA since new CEO John Riccitiello divided the company into four divisions. He also named another well respected outsider, former Activision exec Kathy Vrabeck, to lead EA Casual Entertainment.

"Peter Moore's proven record of leadership in games and sports makes him a terrific fit for heading up EA Sports," Riccitiello said in a statement. "As a partner at Microsoft and earlier, as a competitor, we've learned to respect his vision and leadership."

Mattrick takes over as Microsoft is trying to put its hardware problems behind it and focus on a strong slate of games for the 360 this holiday season, most notably "Halo 3." It is attempting to vanquish Sony as the leading brand among hard-core gamers while also reaching out to the expanded audience of casual gamers who have, thus far, flocked primarily to Nintendo's Wii and DS.

"My first order of business is to execute on the plans already created for the holiday, and then afterward, I'll spend time with the senior leadership team to figure out ways we can hopefully accelerate our leadership position," Mattrick said of his priorities.

Beyond pure gaming, Microsoft is also trying to use its vidgame console as a digital entertainment hub. The 360 can already download TV shows and movie from numerous networks and studios. Other media capabilities are in the works.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117968719.html?categoryid=1009&cs=1

 

[Superfrog]

Über Mattrick:

Microsoft's new gaming czar

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

VANCOUVER — As the onetime boy wonder of Vancouver's now thriving video game sector, Don Mattrick made his name by building a game development company that seemed to grow as fast as the Ferraris he likes to drive, piling up sales and employees until it was acquired by one of the biggest players in the business.

Now, after a lengthy stint in management with Redwood City, Calif.-based Electronic Arts Inc., Mr. Mattrick is gearing up to race on another track: the hyper-competitive world of game consoles, in which he'll be championing Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox against Sony Corp.'s PlayStation and Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s Wii.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft tapped him Tuesday to become senior vice-president of its interactive entertainment business. He will replace Peter Moore, who Microsoft said Tuesday is resigning for personal reasons that include his family's desire to move back to California. Coincidentally, Mr. Moore will take a job at Electronic Arts, where Mr. Mattrick worked in management roles from 1991 until 2006. Mr. Mattrick has been working in an advisory capacity for Microsoft since February of this year. The high-level change comes two weeks after Microsoft said it would take a charge of up to $1.15-billion (U.S.) in relation to technical problems with its Xbox 360 game consoles.

Mr. Mattrick said the transition will put him at the hub of a company and industry sizzling with technological and creative heat.

“In the early days, it was just a concept,” says Mr. Mattrick, who launched what would become Distinctive Software Inc. in the basement of his parents' home in Burnaby in 1982. “Now it's a multibillion-dollar industry and touching consumers around the globe and becoming mainstream culture.

“So it's grown, and it's wonderful to participate and it's particularly exciting to participate with the industry leader.”

Microsoft has done a “fabulous job” with its Xbox 360 console, Mr. Mattrick said, having shipped nearly 12 million units since the unit was introduced in 2005, with about seven million of those connected to a live service that allow users to compete with other players and download new products.

Microsoft and Sony have been caught off guard by the success of Nintendo's Wii, which players are flocking to for its interactive features that let gamers swing, box and balance in real time and that are attracting new kinds of players, such as families and senior citizens.

As senior vice-president for Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, Mr. Mattrick, 43, will oversee Xbox and Windows game development. He will assume his new role on July 30. Mr. Mattrick said he would be involved in everything from high-level strategy on new console design to new game titles.

Mr. Mattrick's appointment is another marker of Microsoft's growing presence in the Lower Mainland. Mr. Mattrick, who lives in Vancouver, said he will be based in Vancouver but travel often to Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington. He followed a similar routine when he worked with Electronic Arts. Microsoft earlier this month said it would open a development centre in Vancouver as part of its program to recruit employees worldwide.

The company he founded, Distinctive Software, operated as a private company from 1982 until its merger with EA in 1991. EA now runs two facilities in Vancouver that together employ more than 1,000 people.

Mr. Mattrick, married with two children, says he spends from 10 to 15 hours a week playing games.

http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070717.wmicrosoft0717/GIStory/

 

[Lecker]

Er hat Angst.

 

[mcpete]

Ausgerechnet zu EA

 

[El Chupanibre]

Who cares?

Dass evtl. die MS Media Briefings weniger unterhaltsam werden, werde ich wohl noch verkraften können.

 

[.RAM]

na, das ist schon ein herber schlag für MS. man kann von morre halten was man will, aber er verpasste MS ein "videospielgesicht".

 

[Superfrog]

Who cares?

Dass evtl. die MS Media Briefings weniger unterhaltsam werden, werde ich wohl noch verkraften können.

Klar geht's auch so weiter, aber er war praktisch Xbox 360. RAM hat schon ganz recht, er hat als oberster PR-Repräsentant der Xbox 360 schon einen sehr guten Job gemacht. Wie gesagt ist er sympathisch und hat erfreulich wenig PR-Müll und Konkurrenzschelte von sich gegeben, das ist in so einer Position alles andere als leicht und auch nicht normal. Bekannte Sprüche zu Problemen wie "Ya know, things break" (angesprochen auf die Ausfallrate vor der Garantieverlängerung) oder "Solid, if not spectacular" (Japan-Performance der 360 nach einem halben Jahr) kamen von ihm natürlich mit einem Augenzwinkern und sind nicht umsonst kultig.

 

[knusperzwieback]

Wie gesagt ist er sympathisch

Oh ja.

Immer wenn ich den Typ gesehen habe, musste ich an den Teufel denken, oder nen schleimigen Versicherungsvertreter/Autoverkäufer.

Er könnte auch in der Neuverfilmung von Ladykiller mitspielen.

Der Nachfolger sieht dagegen ganz normal aus und nicht als ob er deinen Seele stehlen will.

 

[Caesar III]

Der Nachfolger sieht dagegen ganz normal aus

 

[El Chupanibre]

Klar geht's auch so weiter, aber er war praktisch Xbox 360. RAM hat schon ganz recht, er hat als oberster PR-Repräsentant der Xbox 360 schon einen sehr guten Job gemacht.

Ich widerspreche da weder dir, noch .Ram. Aber das ist MS' Problem, nicht meins. Ich habe keine Aktien, bin kein Angestellter und die Xbox habe ich nicht wegen Moores symphatischen Gesichts. Viel schlimmer finde ich als Spiele-Fan die Aussage Aaron Greenbergs, dass es dieses Jahr keine X07 geben wird!

 

[Superfrog]

Viel schlimmer finde ich als Spiele-Fan die Aussage Aaron Greenbergs, dass es dieses Jahr keine X07 geben wird!

Ich auch, aber es gibt in diesem Jahr noch GC, TGS und E3 for all - wo soll man da noch sinnvoll X07 unterbringen? Genug Möglichkeiten für 2008 bzw. neue Ankündigungen gibt es jedenfalls für MS.

 

[El Chupanibre]

btw. war J.Allard das coolere "Videospielgesicht" der Xbox.

 

[Im-Ho-Tep]

Moore is ne coole Sau und hat den Videospiele-PR-Zirkus definitiv bereichert. Er hat find ich auch sehr gut zu M$ gepasst und einen klasse Job gemacht. Aber wer weiss, vielleicht is der Nachfolger ja so ein Kataragi im Nerd-Gewand oder sonst irgendwie´n durchgeknallter Spinner, nur weil der aussieht wie der Neffe von Bill Gates müsste er ja trotzdem irgendwelche Qualitäten haben die ihn für den Posten qualifizieren?

 

[Superfrog]

Microsoft: The Moore Years (A look at the highs, the lows and the legacy)