Margaret Wallace
Encyclopedia
Margaret Wallace is an American entrepreneur, gaming and media professional. In 2009, she co-founded Playmatics with Nicholas Fortugno
in New York, New York. The company focuses on bringing new kinds of immersive experiences to casual gamers. In 2006, she was named one of the hundred most influential women in the game industry.
As an undergraduate, she attended Boston University, where she studied Communication and Philosophy and received a Bachelor of Science with Distinction in 1989. Wallace subsequently studied Communication and Cultural Theory at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, earning an MA in 1996.
, a video game developer founded in 1991 and located in San Francisco, CA. Though it developed other types of video games, PF.Magic was arguably best known for its virtual pet games, such as Dogz
, Catz
, and Oddballz
; Wallace participated in the development of:
soon purchased TLC in 1999 for $3.8 billion, renaming it "Mattel Interactive”.
The copyright
on the Petz, Oddballz and Babyz
titles was eventually acquired by Ubisoft
. Currently, Petz is Ubisoft’s number six top-selling brand, having sold over thirteen million units to date.
For the 2000 Shockwave Tetris game, Wallace worked closely with Blue Planet Software on staying true to the Tetris brand. She also incorporated a techno soundtrack to this version of Tetris, having a techno version of the Tetris theme song composed. She also worked with Astralwerks Records who provided a track from Q-Burns Abstract Message called “Feng Shui” for the game. Beatnik, Inc. was the primary music provider for this version of Tetris. The game had a unique sonified accompaniment that is customized to a player’s individual gameplay and skill level.
, lead designer behind the original Diner Dash
game brand. In October 2007, the company secured an initial round of investment from Redpoint Ventures
. In early 2009, Rebel Monkey announced the launch of casual Massively multiplayer online game
CampFu and the Monkey Wrench gaming platform on which it is built.
CampFu
CampFu is an online virtual world with a summer camp theme. Emphasizing collaborative team play and aimed at the teenaged demographic, CampFu officially launched on March 17, 2009 after a beta stage that began in February of the same year. CampFu is free to play, but users can access premium content by purchasing in-world currency called FuCash and/or a VIP membership subscription. Users can also earn Tickets, which can be exchanged for clothing items, by playing CampFu games. Games currently playable include:
Rebel Monkey Inc. closed permanently after it failed to secure subsequent funding during the economic downturn in Summer 2009.
. The game went on to be recognized for a CableFAX Best of the Web award. Other titles by Playmatics include Disney's The Kingdom Keepers "Race to Save the Magic."
at nextMedia Toronto. She was also a keynote speaker at the ICEC 2006.
Nicholas Fortugno
Nicholas Fortugno is an American game designer and educator. Fortugno is perhaps best known for designing Diner Dash, a top-selling casual game developed by Gamelab, and the award-winning Ayiti: The Cost of Life...
in New York, New York. The company focuses on bringing new kinds of immersive experiences to casual gamers. In 2006, she was named one of the hundred most influential women in the game industry.
Education
While in high school, Wallace participated in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Scholarship, which allows students to study a year abroad in Germany. Under the scholarship, she attended a one-month language and cultural preparation course at The Experiment in International Living (now World Learning) in Brattleboro, Vermont and spent her final year of high school at the Gymnasium Mellendorf in Mellendorf, Lower Saxony, Germany.As an undergraduate, she attended Boston University, where she studied Communication and Philosophy and received a Bachelor of Science with Distinction in 1989. Wallace subsequently studied Communication and Cultural Theory at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, earning an MA in 1996.
Career
After Boston, Wallace moved to San Francisco, California, where she became professionally involved in the Internet and gaming, particularly casual games.PF.Magic
In 1996, Wallace joined PF MagicPF Magic
PF Magic was a video game developer founded in 1991 and located in San Francisco, California. Though it developed other types of video games, it was best known for its virtual pet games, such as Dogz and Catz. The company was able to make extra revenue by selling plush toys under the Petz trademark...
, a video game developer founded in 1991 and located in San Francisco, CA. Though it developed other types of video games, PF.Magic was arguably best known for its virtual pet games, such as Dogz
Petz
Petz is a series of games dating back to 1995, in which the player can adopt, raise, care for and breed their own virtual pets...
, Catz
Petz
Petz is a series of games dating back to 1995, in which the player can adopt, raise, care for and breed their own virtual pets...
, and Oddballz
Oddballz
Oddballz is a virtual pet game created by PF Magic in 1996 as an alternative to their Dogz and Catz titles. It comes with a free Starter Kit demo for the players' friends, that includes a screensaver, the Oddballz Web Fun Pack of clipart, and seven of the thirteen available official breedz.The game...
; Wallace participated in the development of:
- Catz II: Your Virtual Petz (1997)
- Dogz 2: Your Virtual Petz (1997)
- Oddballz: Your Wacky Computer Petz (1996)
- The Petz Web Fun Pack
Mindscape
After Mindscape, Inc.’s acquisition of PF.Magic in early 1998, Wallace continued employment with the company’s online content group. The Learning Company (TLC) acquired Mindscape, Inc. in March 1998 for $150 million. MattelMattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
soon purchased TLC in 1999 for $3.8 billion, renaming it "Mattel Interactive”.
The copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
on the Petz, Oddballz and Babyz
Babyz
Babyz is a computer game in which one can play with and take care of a group of babies who live in a virtual house on the computer. The game was released in 1999 by The Learning Company, developed by members of PF Magic working there at the time....
titles was eventually acquired by Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
. Currently, Petz is Ubisoft’s number six top-selling brand, having sold over thirteen million units to date.
Shockwave.com
In 1999, Wallace joined Shockwave.com—then operating under its early name, Shockrave.com. There she produced some of the company’s most popular titles, including Shockwave Tetris, Blix, Shockwave Jigsaw Puzzles, and content for Photo Greetings and Jigsaw Puzzle Maker.For the 2000 Shockwave Tetris game, Wallace worked closely with Blue Planet Software on staying true to the Tetris brand. She also incorporated a techno soundtrack to this version of Tetris, having a techno version of the Tetris theme song composed. She also worked with Astralwerks Records who provided a track from Q-Burns Abstract Message called “Feng Shui” for the game. Beatnik, Inc. was the primary music provider for this version of Tetris. The game had a unique sonified accompaniment that is customized to a player’s individual gameplay and skill level.
Skunk Studios
In 2001, Wallace went on to Co-Found and become Chief Executive Officer of Skunk Studios. Formed by all former employees of Shockwave.com, Skunk Studios was one of the first to call itself a casual game company. Skunk Studios is best known for titles including:- Varmintz
- QBeez
- QBeez 2
- Gutterball
- Gutterball 2
- Tennis Titans
- Mah Jong Adventures
- Spelvin
- Word Up
Rebel Monkey
In 2007, Wallace cofounded and become Chief Executive Officer of Rebel Monkey Inc., a New York City-based entertainment company focused on providing new kinds of real-time immersive play for casual gamers. The company was cofounded with Nicholas FortugnoNicholas Fortugno
Nicholas Fortugno is an American game designer and educator. Fortugno is perhaps best known for designing Diner Dash, a top-selling casual game developed by Gamelab, and the award-winning Ayiti: The Cost of Life...
, lead designer behind the original Diner Dash
Diner Dash
Diner Dash is a strategy video game and time management game initially developed by New York City-based American game development studio GameLab and published by San Francisco-based PlayFirst. It is now owned and published by PlayFirst...
game brand. In October 2007, the company secured an initial round of investment from Redpoint Ventures
Redpoint Ventures
Redpoint Ventures is a prominent venture capital firm focused on investments in early stage technology companies. The firm's partners include Allen Beasley, Jeff Brody, Satish Dharmaraj, Tom Dyal, Tim Haley, Brad Jones, Nety Krishna, Chris Moore, Lars Pedersen, Scott Raney, John Walecka, Geoff...
. In early 2009, Rebel Monkey announced the launch of casual Massively multiplayer online game
Massively multiplayer online game
A massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
CampFu and the Monkey Wrench gaming platform on which it is built.
CampFu
CampFu is an online virtual world with a summer camp theme. Emphasizing collaborative team play and aimed at the teenaged demographic, CampFu officially launched on March 17, 2009 after a beta stage that began in February of the same year. CampFu is free to play, but users can access premium content by purchasing in-world currency called FuCash and/or a VIP membership subscription. Users can also earn Tickets, which can be exchanged for clothing items, by playing CampFu games. Games currently playable include:
- Veg-Out
- WordMob
- Fungeez
- Critter Smackdown
Rebel Monkey Inc. closed permanently after it failed to secure subsequent funding during the economic downturn in Summer 2009.
Playmatics
In September 2009, Wallace and Nick Fortugno started a new company focused on game design and development called Playmatics, LLC. In 2010, Playmatics created the Fortugno-designed interactive comic "The Interrogation" for the television series Breaking BadBreaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
. The game went on to be recognized for a CableFAX Best of the Web award. Other titles by Playmatics include Disney's The Kingdom Keepers "Race to Save the Magic."
Shadow Government, Inc.
In 2011, Wallace and Fortugno co-founded Shadow Government, Inc along with Philippe Trawnika. Shadow Government, Inc. is dedicated to bringing new forms of social gaming based on gamifying real countries, systems, and worldwide events.Public Speaking
Wallace is a frequent speaker on the state of the industry, business and casual and online games at conferences such as the Game Developers Conference/San Francisco, GC Developers Conference (Leipzig), Casual Connect, The Austin Game Conference, and the LA and NY Games Conference. She delivered a keynote on gamificationGamification
Gamification is the use of game design techniques and mechanics to solve problems and engage audiences. Typically gamification applies to non-game applications and processes , in order to encourage people to adopt them...
at nextMedia Toronto. She was also a keynote speaker at the ICEC 2006.
In Print
- Co-Editor, IGDA Casual Games White Paper 2006
- Data Collection, The Social and Cultural Aspects of VCR Use
- Interviewee, Creating Casual Games for Profit and Fun
Memberships and Affiliations
- Member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences
- Steering Committee member for the International Game Developers Association Casual Game Special Interest Group (2005–2008)
- Adjunct Faculty of Parsons the New School of Design
- Screen Burn Advisory Committee
External links
- Playmatics
- Shadow Government, Inc.
- Rebel Monkey, Inc.
- CampFu
- Rebel Monkey raises $1M Investment
- More details on Rebel Monkey project as it hires CTO
- GamasutraGamasutraGamasutra is a website founded in 1997 for video game developers. It is owned and operated by UBM TechWeb , a division of United Business Media, and acts as the online sister publication to the print magazine Game Developer...
's coverage of Wallace's talk at the Austin Game Developers' Conference 2008—"If You Build It, Will They Come?" - Margaret Wallace interviewed in Gamasutra
- Interview with Margaret Wallace in Business Week
- Radio Interview with Margaret Wallace for National Association for Women in Technology
- Radio Interview with Margaret Wallace on Shift Radio
- Interview in Edge Online
- Interview with Margaret Wallace in Edge Online