The ability to recall insignificant information (90s cartoon theme songs, commercial jingles, childhood friends’ home phone numbers, etc.) while simultaneously forgetting what I had for lunch the prior day.
What is your favorite video game? Why?
Such a tough question! However, for the memories and time spent, I might have to go with Left 4 Dead 1 & 2 (is two games cheating?) – it was an almost nightly session for a few years with a core group of friends and between the tense moments, non-stop jokes, and our “no man left behind” win policy, it created some of the most enjoyable gaming moments I’ve ever had. While other games in my youth set me on the path and I’ve played some tremendous games in recent years, I’ve got to give Left 4 Dead the favorite crown.
What is your role at IDG?
I work as an analyst on the Consulting side of the business, helping clients (publishers, developers, and many others) with industry insights for decision-making and help them navigate the more nuanced strategic questions they might have. These topics can range across the board, big and small, and it’s always a joy to help find solutions to what otherwise may have felt like an unanswerable question.
What is your background/experience in the games industry?
Before starting with IDG, I spent nearly 10 years on the publisher side of the industry working in a few different areas (analytics, sales, operations, and others) and helped launch numerous titles that I’m incredibly proud to have been a part of. Aside from that, I’m a lifelong games hobbyist, playing games since I could hold my first NES controller and following industry news through magazines, websites, podcasts – you name it. It’s a fascinating and dynamic industry, and it always amazes me to see the experiences people have been able to create.
“IDG is one of our go-to partners for tackling some of the biggest challenges we face in our industry. They are objective, independent experts, and they have been a trusted advisor and resource for Activision for over 20 years. We work with IDG across multiple areas and levels, and we greatly value the partnership.”
Activision
“IDG is one of the most insightful and forward-thinking research firms in our industry. Their unique ability to expertly analyze trends that capture paradigm shifts in emerging technologies, business models and consumerism is what has made them such a valued longstanding partner of our organization.”
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
“Intelligence is about answering two very important questions; why and what next? Over the last 5 years we’ve partnered with Yoshio and the IDG team, we’ve worked together in high level strategy products to local tactical engagements helping fuel the growth for Wargaming and enabling my team to focus on implementing the how. IDG has consistently delivered insight around trends driving the industry, competitive intensity in exploratory markets, and easy to understand data visualizations unpacking complex metrics in bite size form.”
Wargaming
“Milestone has been working with IDG for many years, and the level of collaboration could not be higher. The support provided by the company has played a role of great value over time: their quarterly reports are a fundamental tool to analyze trends, preferences and users’ tastes and they provide very good support for our strategic decisions. In addition to periodic analysis, Milestone also works with IDG for ad hoc evaluations, always managing to have precise, rapid and extremely useful answers for our business. IDG has even been an incredible supporter for us in looking for a partner in the US, and they followed up with us step-by-step with enthusiasm and dedication. We will be always grateful to Anton, Yoshio and the whole IDG team.”