Game Guy Determined to Play Up GSN’s Advantages

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Playing video games went from just a fun way to kill time to a career path for Frank Cartwright, who was recently appointed to the newly created position of vice president of online entertainment at GSN.


His interest in video games started when he was entertaining himself both at home and at work.


“I was just a bored software engineer in the banking industry,” Cartwright said.


He left the banking industry in 1995, and took his software development skills to DreamWorks, where he helped create the “Dinotopia” CD-ROM. He has continued to move up the ladder in the gaming world since.


He later found himself working on Disney’s Blast, one of the company’s first Internet gaming initiatives. At his last job as vice president of product development and engineering at the Global Gaming League, he handled all technical development and production, which amounted to over 70 percent of the company’s resources.


At GSN.com, Cartwright is determined to improve the gaming site. Previously it has been used mostly to promote and support the television network, which reaches over 63 million homes. Cartwright, however, feels it can soon be a top destination for online games.


Most of Cartwright’s day is spent attending meetings and going over what content the Web site has and how to best promote it. He believes that the wide array of content is a strong suit of GSN.com.


“We are unique in our agility in relating to today’s topics,” said Cartwright. “With different mini-games we have taken advantage of Paris Hilton going to jail, and we also had a ‘Rosie vs. Trump’ mini-game.”


Currently the Web site allows users to play along live with the cable channel’s game shows, play for cash against other people, try their hand at a daily word search, or enjoy a wide assortment of other flash based games.


Cartwright is a devout Kings hockey fan who had a hard time watching the Ducks win the Stanley Cup. With hockey season over, Cartwright is able to keep busy since GSN.com is quadrupling its portfolio this summer.


“Most of my work is during the summer when I don’t also have to watch the Kings and have that emotional investment,” said Cartwright.


A Marina del Rey resident, Cartwright likes to fish and spend time with his wife, Pamela.



Sean Chalk

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