GamesBeat, a leading gaming news and events platform, has announced the judges for its seventh annual GamesBeat Visionary Awards. These awards celebrate industry leaders who have made significant contributions to the gaming world by taking innovative and visionary approaches. The judges will decide the winners of two awards: the Visionary Award and the Up-and-Comer award.
The panel of 12 judges includes Leah Hardy, a marketing veteran with experience at TikTok and Meta, who will also be hosting the awards ceremony. Other judges include Ted Price, the President and founder of Insomniac Games, a renowned video game developer known for creating popular franchises like Spyro the Dragon and Marvel’s Spider-Man. Price was the recipient of the Visionary Award in 2019.
Rich Vogel, CEO of T-Minus Zero Entertainment, is another judge on the panel. Vogel has been a driving force in the gaming industry for over 25 years, with successful stints at Sony Online Entertainment Austin, BioWare Austin, and Bethesda Games Studio’s Battlecry. He received the Up-and-Comer Award at last year’s GamesBeat Summit.
Rami Ismail, a Dutch-Egyptian independent games and tool developer, is also among the judges. Ismail has worked on award-winning games like Ridiculous Fishing and Nuclear Throne and has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Game Developers Choice Ambassador Award.
Riana Manuel-Peña, CEO of D&R Media Consulting, brings her expertise in production, marketing, and content creation to the judging panel. With experience working on games like Halo 5 and Ori 1 & 2, Manuel-Peña has a deep understanding of the gaming industry from various perspectives.
Danny Peña, founder of Gamertag Radio, is another esteemed judge. Peña has been a prominent figure in the gaming community since 2001 and has interviewed industry titans like Phil Spencer and Reggie Fils-Aimé. He is known for his unique interview style and has been featured in various media outlets.
Ivan Fernandez-Lobo, founder of Gamelab Barcelona, is a seasoned consultant and investor in the gaming industry. With his extensive experience and expertise, Fernandez-Lobo brings valuable insights to the judging panel.
Don Daglow, a game developer, author, and consultant, is also part of the esteemed panel of judges. Daglow has been involved in the game industry for many years and has worked with notable companies like Electronic Arts and Mattel. His contributions to the industry have been recognized through various awards.
Perrin Kaplan, co-founder of Zebra Partners, is a global strategic marketing and communications executive who has made significant contributions to the gaming industry. She played a crucial role in the success of Nintendo’s Wii and DS consoles.
Elizabeth Olson, a PR and business development consultant with decades of experience in the gaming industry, is another judge. Olson has worked with companies like Telltale Games and Adobe Systems, bringing her expertise to the panel.
Jenna Seiden, SVP of business development at Skydance Interactive, is a seasoned executive with a diverse background in the gaming industry. She has held roles at Niantic, Meta, Beat Games, HTC Vive, and Microsoft Studios.
Chelsea Blasko, COO of Iron Galaxy Studios, brings her extensive experience in the gaming industry to the panel. Blasko has been with Iron Galaxy Studios for over 13 years and is also an advisory board member for Women in Games International.
With such a diverse and knowledgeable panel of judges, the GamesBeat Visionary Awards promise to recognize and honor the visionaries and up-and-coming talents in the gaming industry. The winners will be announced at the GamesBeat Summit 2024 event.
In previous years, notable winners of the Visionary Award include Meggan Scavio, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, and Ted Price, founder of Insomniac Games. The Up-and-Comer award has been presented to individuals like Eve Crevoshay, executive director of Take This, and Dinga Bakaba, studio head and co-director at Arkane Lyon.
The GamesBeat Visionary Awards not only celebrate the accomplishments of these industry leaders but also highlight the innovative and visionary approaches that have shaped the future of gaming. These awards play a crucial role in recognizing the individuals who have pushed boundaries and redefined the gaming landscape.