Jon Kimmich
Encyclopedia
Jon Kimmich was a Lead Product Planner for Microsoft
Games Studios during pivotal parts of the Xbox
conception, launch and lifespan. Jon was instrumental in the acquisition of many titles for Microsoft Games Studios publishing for both the PC
and Xbox
platforms. Together with Ed Fries
and Stuart Moulder, Jon was responsible for the acquisition of Bungie Studios, FASA Interactive
, and Digital Anvil
. In addition to acquisitions, Jon secured publishing rights for Microsoft for externally developed games such as Dungeon Siege
by Gas Powered Games
, Rise of Nations
from Big Huge Games
, and MechAssault
by Day 1 Studios
as well as many internally developed games such as Crimson Skies
, MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, Brute Force
and Halo
.
According to The Xbox 360 Uncloaked by Dean Takahashi Jon Kimmich also negotiated deals for Epic's Gears of War
and a new Valve game for the Xbox 360, of which only Gears of War was signed by MGS.
Before joining Microsoft Games Studios, Kimmich held other positions at Microsoft, which included development manager for a new product development group in Microsoft’s Hardware Team, responsible for hardware devices such as the original award-winning Microsoft Natural keyboard. The addition of the Windows-key and application-key, which first appeared on the Microsoft Natural Keyboard in 1994 (and are now standard on most keyboards and laptops designed to support Windows) has been attributed to Jon.
In June 2004, Jon Kimmich left Microsoft to become Producer and Director of Business Development for Day 1 Studios. Since this time Day 1 Studios has developed MechAssault 2, F.E.A.R. for the Xbox 360
and PlayStation 3
, and Fracture
.
Jon Kimmich was also an investor in WizKids
, LLC, a game company founded by Jordan Weisman
(founder of FASA Interactive) in 2000 to develop and sell a line of collectible miniatures.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Games Studios during pivotal parts of the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
conception, launch and lifespan. Jon was instrumental in the acquisition of many titles for Microsoft Games Studios publishing for both the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
and Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
platforms. Together with Ed Fries
Ed Fries
Ed Fries was vice president of game publishing at Microsoft during much of the Xbox's lifecycle. He was a prime evangelist of the platform to game developers and had an important role in the acquisition of developers Bungie Studios, Ensemble Studios and Rare....
and Stuart Moulder, Jon was responsible for the acquisition of Bungie Studios, FASA Interactive
FASA Interactive
FASA Studio was a video game developer that was founded in 1995 by the tabletop game company FASA Corporation, Spectrum HoloByte and Denny Thorley....
, and Digital Anvil
Digital Anvil
Digital Anvil was a computer game company. It was founded in 1996, when Wing Commander creator Chris Roberts left Origin Systems, Inc., along with many other employees....
. In addition to acquisitions, Jon secured publishing rights for Microsoft for externally developed games such as Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Siege is a computer role-playing game developed by Gas Powered Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Chris Taylor showed Dungeon Siege years in production for the first time at E3 2000...
by Gas Powered Games
Gas Powered Games
Gas Powered Games is a video game developer located in Redmond, Washington. The development studio was started in May 1998 by Chris Taylor, creator of Total Annihilation, and several other ex-Cavedog Entertainment employees....
, Rise of Nations
Rise of Nations
Rise of Nations is a real-time strategy computer game, developed by Big Huge Games and published by Microsoft on May 20, 2003. The development of the game was led by veteran Brian Reynolds, of Civilization II and Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. Concepts taken from turn-based strategy games have been...
from Big Huge Games
Big Huge Games
Big Huge Games is a video game developer located in Timonium, Maryland. The company was founded in February 2000 by four veteran game industry developers: Tim Train, David Inscore, Jason Coleman and Brian Reynolds...
, and MechAssault
MechAssault
MechAssault was the first BattleMech video game published for the Xbox. Developed by Day 1 Studios and published by Microsoft, MechAssault was initiated when Denny Thorley of Day 1 Studios approached Jon Kimmich of Microsoft about developing an original BattleTech game built from the ground up to...
by Day 1 Studios
Day 1 Studios
Day 1 Studios is an American game developer that operates in Chicago, Illinois and Hunt Valley, Maryland.They worked in tandem with developer FASA Interactive to create their first two games MechAssault, which Microsoft used to promote their Xbox Live service, and MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf...
as well as many internally developed games such as Crimson Skies
Crimson Skies
Crimson Skies is a media franchise and fictional universe created by Jordan Weisman and Dave McCoy. The series' intellectual property is currently owned by Microsoft Game Studios , although Weisman's new company, Smith & Tinker Inc., has announced that it has licensed the electronic entertainment...
, MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, Brute Force
Brute force
Brute force may refer to any of several problem-solving methods involving the evaluation of multiple possible answer for fitness. The term has also been used as a stage name, book title, etc.In mathematics:...
and Halo
Halo (series)
Halo is a multi-million dollar science fiction video game franchise created by Bungie and now managed by 343 Industries and owned by Microsoft Studios. The series centers on an interstellar war between humanity and a theocratic alliance of aliens known as the Covenant...
.
According to The Xbox 360 Uncloaked by Dean Takahashi Jon Kimmich also negotiated deals for Epic's Gears of War
Gears of War
Gears of War is a military science fiction third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios...
and a new Valve game for the Xbox 360, of which only Gears of War was signed by MGS.
Before joining Microsoft Games Studios, Kimmich held other positions at Microsoft, which included development manager for a new product development group in Microsoft’s Hardware Team, responsible for hardware devices such as the original award-winning Microsoft Natural keyboard. The addition of the Windows-key and application-key, which first appeared on the Microsoft Natural Keyboard in 1994 (and are now standard on most keyboards and laptops designed to support Windows) has been attributed to Jon.
In June 2004, Jon Kimmich left Microsoft to become Producer and Director of Business Development for Day 1 Studios. Since this time Day 1 Studios has developed MechAssault 2, F.E.A.R. for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, and Fracture
Fracture
A fracture is the separation of an object or material into two, or more, pieces under the action of stress.The word fracture is often applied to bones of living creatures , or to crystals or crystalline materials, such as gemstones or metal...
.
Jon Kimmich was also an investor in WizKids
WizKids
WizKids, Inc. is an American New Jersey-based company that first made its mark in the game industry producing collectible miniatures wargames. WizKids was purchased by and is a subsidiary of National Entertainment Collectibles Association. The company was founded in 2000 by Jordan Weisman, a...
, LLC, a game company founded by Jordan Weisman
Jordan Weisman
Jordan Weisman is an American game designer, author, and serial entrepreneur who has founded four major game design companies, each in a different game genre and segment of the industry.-Biography:...
(founder of FASA Interactive) in 2000 to develop and sell a line of collectible miniatures.