MBBP Client Quoted in Boston Magazine Article 01/04/2012
Posted by Morse Barnes-Brown Pendleton in Client News.Tags: boston magazine, MassDiGI, video game industry
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In December, Boston Magazine published an article highlighting the role of Massachusetts in the video gaming industry – noting that Massachusetts, as the fifth largest employer of video game developers in the country, is a launching pad for successful gaming companies. Tim Loew, the executive director of our client, Massachusetts Digital Games Institute at Becker College, was quoted discussing the Commonwealth’s industry focuses: “Eds and meds and games, that’s Massachusetts!”
For the full article, please visit Boston Magazine.
NE Games SIG to Host Reducing Risk in the Games Business Event 10/17/2011
Posted by Morse Barnes-Brown Pendleton in Client News.Tags: Microsoft NERD Center, NE Games SIG, video game industry
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On Tuesday, November 1st, the New England Games SIG is hosting Reducing Risk in the Games Business, an event in which a panel of game industry veterans will discuss their approach to business strategy and explain what is different about how they are doing business to help manage risk. The night will be moderated by Walter Somol, Director of Tech Community Outreach at Microsoft New England Research & Development Center, while the panelists will include: Scott Triola, Founder & Principal of 5X5 Advisors and former COO of Blue Fang Games; Dave McCool, President & CEO of Muzzy Lane Software; Nabeel Hyatt, General Manager of Zynga Boston; and other industry executives. The event will be held at Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge and will run from 6:00 – 9:00PM.
MBBP partner Mike Cavaretta is Founder and Chair of the NE Games SIG.
Learn more by visiting the New England Games SIG. To register, click here.
Mike Cavaretta Quoted in Boston.com Article 10/05/2011
Posted by Morse Barnes-Brown Pendleton in Client News.Tags: Becker College, MassDiGI, video game industry
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The Massachusetts Digital Games Institute of Becker College has received a $500,000 federal grant to aid in jump-starting companies and training workers in the video game industry. The institute and Becker College will now partner with seven private video game and interactive media developers that will provide resources and personnel to support the institute’s initiatives. MBBP Attorney Mike Cavaretta discussed the benefits of the institute and how it will raise awareness of Massachusetts’ ability to support a “thriving gaming economy”. He continued on to say:
One of the ways California is ahead of us in the digital games industry is in venture capital. Having a working group that focuses on capital in the digital game industry will be helpful to educate and bring a level of comfort to investors in the industry.
Please read the full article for more information. For questions on the video game industry, please contact Mike Cavaretta.
Mass Seeks Tax Credits for Video Game Makers Through New Legislation 01/21/2011
Posted by Morse Barnes-Brown Pendleton in Attorney News, Events, Legal Developments.Tags: NE Games SIG, video game industry
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The Boston Herald recently published an article discussing the legislation being proposed that would provide to Massachusetts video game companies tax credits and other incentives tied to job creation or production goals. Proponents of the bill believe the video game industry has the potential to become a critical part of the Commonwealth’s economy, much like the biotechnology industry has over the past 25 years. MBBP Attorney and Chairman of the NE Games SIG Mike Cavaretta contributed extensively to the creation of the video game industry legislation, which was filed January 21st.
On January 25th, the NE Games SIG will be holding a panel discussion about the legislation which will feature its sponsor, Rep. Vincent Pedone, as well as Eric Nakajima from the state’s office of economic development, Dr. Ian Davis from Rockstar New England, Ken Surdan from Turbine, and Mike Tinney from CCP Games, and will be moderated by Rodney Brown of Mass High Tech. For details and to register click here.
For more information on how MBBP can help your company, please visit our website or contact Mike Cavaretta.
Becker College Hosts MASS Impact Event on Massachusetts Game Industry Policy 12/21/2010
Posted by Morse Barnes-Brown Pendleton in Attorney News, Events.Tags: Becker College, MASS Impact, video game industry
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Please join MBBP Attorney Michael Cavaretta on December 21st at Becker College for MASS Impact 2.0: The Game Plan – Massachusetts Video Game Industry Policy. This event is meant to help create an “innovative first-in-the-nation, comprehensive state-wide policy plan” that supports the video game and digital media development and design industry with the purpose of fostering economic development and job creation in Massachusetts. The discussion will run from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM followed by a Holiday Party.
For more information on the event, please visit Becker College.
To RSVP, call 508-373-9460 or e-mail Mass Impact.
Michael Cavaretta Opinion Article Featured on Telegram.com 12/07/2010
Posted by Morse Barnes-Brown Pendleton in Attorney News.Tags: video game industry, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
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MBBP partner Michael Cavaretta is featured in the opinion section in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette for his op-ed piece titled “Let’s grow video game biz.” Michael discusses the benefits of supporting the growth of the video game industry in Massachusetts, such as revenue for the state and more disposable income spent with local busnesses. He also stresses that he believes that with the right policy in place, Massachusetts has the potential to become “a national, even global, leader in this space.”
To read the full article, please visit Telegram.com.
For more information on the video game industry, please contact Michael.
Michael Cavaretta Quoted in Worcester Telegram & Gazette Article 10/20/2010
Posted by Morse Barnes-Brown Pendleton in Attorney News.Tags: NE Games SIG, video game industry, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
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On October 11th, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette featured an article on the growing video game industry in Massachusetts and the lack of incentives from the state to keep video game professionals and businesses here. MBBP attorney and founding member of the New England Games Special Interest Group, Michael Cavaretta, was asked to comment on the issue:
Massachusetts attained its position without any support from the state. With its educated work force and some effort, Massachusetts could become one of the top two clusters (video game locations) in the nation.
The article features Massachusetts video game companies who discuss their take on the lack of support from the state and what can be done to appease the industry members.
To read the full article, please visit Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
Mike Cavaretta Comments on Massachusetts Video Game Industry Growth in Mass High Tech 06/10/2010
Posted by Morse Barnes-Brown Pendleton in Attorney News.Tags: mass high tech, tax incentive, video game industry
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A recent Mass High Tech article titled “Game sector debates industry obstacles to growth in Massachusetts” discusses the unavailability of tax breaks and other state financial incentives for Massachusetts video game companies. MBBP attorney Mike Cavaretta was featured in this article, where he shared his point of view on the issue and offered his suggestions for supporting the growth of the Massachusetts video game industry.
If other states and other countries and provinces hadn’t already beaten us to the punch, I would say (a state tax credit) would be very helpful. Given that they have beaten us to the punch I would say that at this point it is necessary.
To read more, please visit the full article at Mass High Tech. For more information on the video game industry, please contact Mike Cavaretta.
Michael Cavaretta Makes a 2010 Prediction of the Video Game Industry 01/13/2010
Posted by Morse Barnes-Brown Pendleton in Attorney News.Tags: boston, predicition, video game industry
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Attorney Michael Cavaretta was recently featured in a Boston Business Journal article on Boston’s 2010 economic outlook. Local business leaders gave their predictions of the economy in the upcoming year, and Michael was included with a quote on the (hopefully bright) future of the video game industry:
I predict that video game sales will be up this year over last, helped not just by the continuing sales of this year’s smash hit, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, but also a number of blockbuster releases already announced, and the continued growth of casual and social network games. I also predict that sales of rhythm based games such as Harmonix’s Rock Band will be off this year, but sales of downloadable content (i.e. songs) for such games will continue to grow. Finally, I predict the continued growth of digital distribution. Perhaps OnLive, which is essentially video games being accessible on a cloud computing model, will be released in 2010.
For the full article, please see the Boston Business Journal.
For specific questions please contact Michael Cavaretta.
MBBP to Sponsor Boston GameLoop 2009 08/10/2009
Posted by Morse Barnes-Brown Pendleton in Events.Tags: Boston GameLoop, Microsoft NERD Center, video game industry
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MBBP is sponsoring this one-day “unconference,” or self-organizing conference for game industry professionals. Attendees can plan to offer topics and session ideas on the spot, ideas will be recorded on their wall grid and the grid becomes the day’s schedule! This year’s Boston GameLoop is being held on Saturday, August 15 at the Microsoft New England Research & Development Center (NERD!) in Kendall Square. The schedule is here.
MBBP Technology and IP attorney, Michael J. Cavaretta, who specializes in information and technology businesses, including Internet, videogame and other interactive media companies, software companies, and entertainment and publishing companies will attend the conference.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact GameLoop organizers at bostongameloop@gmail.com.
