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'{{Infobox person | name = Don Mattrick | image = 66-Mattrick.jpg | caption = Mattrick in 2010 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|2|13}} | birth_place = [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]] | occupation = CEO, Zynga | known_for = | spouse = | website = }} '''Don A. Mattrick'''<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/mattrick/ Don A. Mattrick biography]</ref> (born 13 February 1964) is the CEO of social gaming company [[Zynga]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.techstake.org/2013/07/don-mattrick-becomes-new-ceo-of-zynga.html |title= Don Mattrick is the new CEO of Zynga, offered $50mn Salary Package |author= Aditya Dey |publisher= techstake.org |accessdate=6 July 2013}}</ref> as well as a member of its board of directors. Previously, Mattrick was the President of the Interactive Entertainment Business at [[Microsoft]].<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2010/oct10/10-01LeadershipPromosPR.mspx Microsoft Announces New Leadership Promotions]</ref> In this role he was responsible for a collection of consumer businesses including [[Xbox 360]], [[Xbox Live]], [[Xbox One]], [[Kinect]], TV Music and Video services, [[Microsoft 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 15<ref>Don Mattrick [[Corporate Bio]] at Zynga.com</ref> years. At the age of 17, Mattrick founded [[Distinctive Software|Distinctive Software, Inc.]] which was acquired by Electronic Arts in 1991 and subsequently became [[EA Canada]]. ==Distinctive Software, Inc.== {{main|Distinctive Software}} With [[Jeff Sember]], Mattrick co-founded Distinctive Software, Inc. (DSI) in 1982 at the age of 17. He implemented games such as ''[[Test Drive (video game)|Test Drive]]'' for the [[Apple II]], [[Commodore 64]], and PC&nbsp;DOS. DSI became known for racing and sports games until it was acquired by Electronic Arts in 1991.<ref>[http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,152/ DSI & Games Industry History]</ref><ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-11189152.html Electronic Arts Acquires Distinctive Software Inc.]</ref> ==Electronic Arts== Mattrick served in a variety of leadership positions at Electronic Arts and prior to leaving the company in 2005,<ref>[http://www.marketwatch.com/story/electronic-arts-realigns-management MarketWatch, "Electronic Arts realigns management," 9/2/2005 ]</ref> 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 (games)|Harry Potter]]'' and ''[[The Sims]]''. ==Microsoft== {{NPOV language|date=June 2013}} 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.<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2007/jul07/07-17MooreMattrickPR.mspx Don taking over for Peter Moore]</ref> In the six years since Mattrick has overseen the division, the Xbox 360 installed base has grown from 10 million to more than 76 million worldwide, while the Xbox LIVE membership has increased from 6 million to over 48 million.<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2013/Jul13/07-01steveb-mail.aspx Steve Ballmer email to employees on Don Mattrick transition]. Microsoft.com (2013-07-01). Retrieved on 2013-07-14.</ref><ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/investor/EarningsAndFinancials/Earnings/PressReleaseAndWebcast/FY13/Q3/default.aspx Microsoft Earnings Release FY13 Q3]</ref> At the same time Mattrick is recognized{{By whom|date=July 2013}} 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 [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] 2009 on stage with [[Steven Spielberg]].<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2009-06-01-hands-free-microsoft_N.htm Microsoft Unveils Hands-Free Gaming]</ref><ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/mattrick/2009/06-02E3Natal.mspx E3 Expo 2009: Don Mattrick]</ref> 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.<ref>[http://community.guinnessworldrecords.com/_Kinect-Confirmed-As-Fastest-Selling-Consumer-Electronics-Device/blog/3376939/7691.html Kinect Confirmed As Fastest-Selling Consumer Electronics Device]</ref> By early March 2011, the device reached 10 million in device sales.<ref>[http://www.xbox.com/en-US/Press/archive/2011/0308-Ten-Million-Kinects Kinect Sales Surpass Ten Million]</ref> 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 had him reporting directly to the CEO of Microsoft, [[Steve Ballmer]]. In this role he was responsible for a collection of consumer businesses including Xbox 360, [[Xbox LIVE]], [[Kinect]], Music, and Video, 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.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/technology/1108/gallery.smartest_people_tech.fortune/6.html Smartest People in Tech 2011]</ref> In May 2012, Don Mattrick was named one of CNN Money’s top 10 brilliant technology visionaries.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/fortune/1204/gallery.500-tech-visionaries.fortune/9.html CNN Money's 10 Brilliant Technology Visionaries of 2012]</ref> On May 21, 2013, Mattrick unveiled the new [[Xbox One]], the successor to the Xbox 360, an all-in-one entertainment system. He later dismissed criticisms of the system's "always on" internet connection by saying "We have a product for people who aren't able to get some form of connectivity; it's called [[Xbox 360]]."<ref>http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/12/gamers-without-internet-can-stick-with-xbox-360-says-microsoft</ref> Shortly thereafter, on June 19, 2013, Mattrick wrote an update on Xbox Wire to address feedback on Xbox One connectivity requirements and sharing limitations. Mattrick stated, "An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games" and "Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today". These changes may have come at the expense of most of the features that had been heavily promoted as unique and innovative by Microsoft, including Family Game Sharing, Digital loaning and sale of games, and disc-less game play.<ref>http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/update</ref> The changes have been noted as being "ostensibly...a direct reaction to the huge popular backlash against the Xbox One's policies that reverberated through E3."<ref>http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/13/xbox-one-then-and-now</ref> ==Zynga== On July 1, 2013, it was confirmed that Mattrick was leaving [[Microsoft]] to join social game company [[Zynga]] as CEO.<ref>{{cite web|last=Crossley|first=Rob|title=Confirmed: Xbox One boss Don Mattrick 'resigns'|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/417127/confirmed-xbox-one-boss-don-mattrick-resigns/|publisher=Computer and Video Games|accessdate=1 July 2013}}</ref> Wall Street investors applauded Mattrick's appointment<ref>[http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2013/07/02/zyngas-new-chief-gets-thumbs-up-on-wall-street/ Steven Russolillo, "Zynga’s New Chief Gets Thumbs Up on Wall Street," Wall Street Journal's MoneyBeat, 7/2/2013]</ref> and Zynga's shares jumped 10.4 percent on the day the news was made public and another 5.9 percent in after-hours trading following the official announcement.<ref>[[David Lieberman, "Zynga Shares Zoom After It Taps Former Microsoft Entertainment Exec To Be CEO," Deadline New York, 7/1/2013]] </ref> On his first quarterly financial earnings call with Zynga, on July 25, 2013, Mattrick predicted volatility for the company over the coming 6 months to one year, stating a need to "get back to basics" and "take a longer term view on our products and business."<ref>Wall Street Journal, “[[Zynga’s Outlook Troubles Investors]],” 7/25/2013</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{moby developer|id=152}} * [http://investor.zynga.com/committees.cfm?bio=43380 Corporate biography at Zynga Investor Relations Site] * [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/Mattrick/ Corporate biography at Microsoft] * [http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/Beyond+thumb/3787287/story.html National Post, "Beyond the thumb"] * [http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1633502043&play=1 CNBC, "Microsoft 'Kinects' to Gamers"] {{Microsoft Executives}} {{Persondata |NAME=Mattrick, Don A. |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Donnie |SHORT DESCRIPTION=Video game executive |DATE OF BIRTH=February 13, 1964 |PLACE OF BIRTH=Vancouver, Canada |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH= }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mattrick, Don}} [[Category:1964 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Microsoft employees]] [[Category:Canadian video game designers]] [[Category:Electronic Arts employees]] [[Category:People from Vancouver]]'