Nathon Gunn

Nathon Gunn (November 4, 1973) is a new media entrepreneur and founder of Social Game Universe, a Toronto-based social games developer. He also co-founded the multimedia studio Bitcasters, helped start Citytv and MuchMusic Interactive, and supervised and implemented internet strategy for the former Canadian Prime Minister, Paul Martin.

In 2009, his philanthropic game History Game Canada^[1], won a MacArthur Foundation award for Innovation in Participatory Learning. He also has won awards for various commercial and artistic endeavors such as short films and major-label music videos, including PromaxBDA Awards for Games and On Air Promotions for his work with the Family Channel and MuchMusic Video Awards for Our Lady Peace’s “In Repair” (Spiritual Machines).

Gunn currently serves as CEO of Social Game Universe, which has soft-launched two social games on Facebook – Hollywood Tycoon and Avastar – and has created a new ad banner platform, IGAPI ^[2], that leverage social media and game mechanics.

Early life and background

Gunn was born in Melville, Saskatchewan and has lived in several cities around the world, including Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Victoria, B.C.; New Delhi, India (where he attended the American Embassy School); Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Sydney, Australia; Toronto, Ontario; and New York. He currently divides his time between Los Angeles and Toronto.

Career

Gunn began programming at an early age, earning a degree in computer animation and film from Ryerson University, while simultaneously working full time at CHUM Ltd., producing, directing, shooting and editing for Citytv, MuchMusic, Bravo, and Fashion Television.^[3]

As a producer, Gunn helped launch CHUM’s interactive division, including the creation of three web sites, a CD-ROM distribution label, two original CD-ROM projects, AOL partner sites and some of the first web-television events, such as Sega Sunday and Bill Gates at Bravo! Gunn then created some of the first usernet and web-based event coverage at the Toronto International Film Festival and for Jeanne Beker’s Fashion Television Diaries.

Gunn created the first backstage webcasts for the Grammy Awards in 1994 and the New York Music Festival in 1996. He also co-developed the first e-CDs for BMG USA.^[4]

Gunn has produced and directed videos for acclaimed Canadian artists including Our Lady Peace, Temperance, Ron Sexsmith, Patricia O'Callaghan, Mia Sheard and the Rheostatics.

In 1996, he co-founded Bitcasters, a multimedia studio. The company’s first project was an interactive video game for MuchMusic, and Gunn went on to develop BDA and Emma, award-winning educational games for the Charles Bronfman Foundation, The Walt Disney Company and Family Channel.^[5]

In 1997, Nathon helped found the new media division of Miramax, co-authoring a plan for an online film studio, Miramax Digital, where he assembled a management team to execute it on behalf of The Walt Disney Company.

In 2009, Gunn founded Social Game Universe in Toronto, Canada.

Social Game Universe

Social Game Universe is a Toronto-based social games company backed by Eli Cohl, Michael Cohl, Moses Znaimer, Gary Slaight, Ron Dembo, Howard Gorman, Bruce Hooey and Clive Smith. Social Game Universe has created two social games for Facebook, Hollywood Tycoon and Avastar. In late 2010, Social Game Universe launched IGAPI, an ad banner platform that leverages social media and game mechanics.

External links

• Social Game Universe corporate site
• IGAPI site
• Hollywood Tycoon
• Avastar

References

1. ^ Straight.com August 2007
2. ^ VentureBeat November 2010
3. ^ http://www.banffcentre.ca/faculty/faculty-member/588/nathon-gunn.mvc
4. ^ http://www.ice08.com/speakers/ngunn
5. ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/toronto-new-media-firm-recasts-its-future/article93922/print/

Persondata
Name	Gunn, Nathon
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Date of birth	1973-11-04
Place of birth	Melville, Seskatchewan
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