Michael Pole

Developer BIO

Michael is an accomplished studio executive and entrepreneur with diverse skill set developed during his 20+ years in entertainment and interactive game development.

Michael most recently served as the Executive Vice President, Worldwide Product Development for Vivendi Universal Games. Michael spearheaded the deal that resulted in the successful sale of Fox Interactive to Vivendi Universal games.

Michael has held similar positions with two of the industries most successful companies; Activision and Electronic Arts. Michael’s background also includes 10 years developing television and animation programming for CBS, NBC and ABC Entertainment.

4/2003 – 4/2005 Vivendi Universal Games, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Studios – Manage VUG’s worldwide development efforts on a global basis. Responsible for all internal and external development, content and developer negotiations as well as the day-to-day management and operations for the studios. Responsible for all products developed by VUG’s worldwide studios including; The Simpsons Hit and Run, Scarface, The Hulk, Crash Twinsanity, Spyro the Dragon; A Hero’s Tale, Robots, Leisure Suit Larry, Cronicles of Riddick, Van Helsing, Empire Earth 2, SWAT 4 and Men of Valor.

10/2000 – 4/2003 Fox Interactive, Executive Vice President Product Development - Led content and contract negotiations, built internal production teams and oversaw product development for leading franchises. In March 2003, was integral in spearheading an exclusive publishing agreement in which VU Games acquired the product portfolio of Fox Interactive.

4/2000 – 9/2000 Activision, Executive Vice President Worldwide Studios - Managed company’s internal and external development studios in North America, Europe and Japan. Played a key role in studio negotiations with hardware manufacturers, developers, talent and content providers.

4/1993 – 4/2000 Electronic Arts, Senior Vice President of Product Development – Supervised team of 200+ and was responsible for all product development at EA’s Redwood Shores studio which included; Andretti Racing, Jane’s Flight Simulation, NASCAR 1998, 1999 and 2000, NASCAR Rumble, Knockout Kings, Tiger Woods Golf, NCAA College Basketball & Hot Wheels Racing. Was responsible launching two of EA’s leading sports franchises, NASCAR 98 and Knockout Kings, which remain best-sellers in the industry.

Websites

There are no related websites on file for this developer. If you know of any related websites for the person, please consider contributing them.

Games Credited

Cold Winter (2005), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Empire Earth II (2005), Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (2005), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Predator: Concrete Jungle (2005), Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Robots (2005), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
SWAT 4 (2005), Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
The Bard's Tale (2004), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (2004), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage (2004), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Crash Twinsanity (2004), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Fight Club (2004), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Ground Control II: Operation Exodus (2004), Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Spyro: A Hero's Tail (2004), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy (2004), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Thunderbirds (2004), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Tribes: Vengeance (2004), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Van Helsing (2004), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
The X-Files: Resist or Serve (2004), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Battlestar Galactica (2003), Universal Interactive Inc.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds (2003), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Contract J.A.C.K. (2003), Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Crash Nitro Kart (2003), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (2003), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
The Hobbit (2003), Sierra Entertainment, Inc., Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Homeworld 2 (2003), Sierra Entertainment, Inc., Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Hunter: The Reckoning - Redeemer (2003), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring (2003), Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Metal Arms: Glitch in the System (2003), Sierra Entertainment, Inc., Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
The Simpsons: Hit & Run (2003), Fox Interactive, Inc., Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
Aliens Versus Predator 2: Primal Hunt (2002), Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza (2002), Fox Interactive, Inc., Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Die Hard: Vendetta (2002), NDA Productions
James Cameron's Dark Angel (2002), Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Minority Report: Everybody Runs (2002), Activision Publishing, Inc.
No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way (2002), Fox Interactive, Inc., Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Aliens Versus Predator 2 (2001), Fox Interactive, Inc., Sierra On-Line, Inc.
The Simpsons: Road Rage (2001), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Blade (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
Call to Power II (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
Disney/Pixar's Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
Disney/Pixar's Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
Disney's the Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
Quake III: Arena (2000), SEGA Corporation
Road Champs: BXS Stunt Biking (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
Soldier of Fortune (Gold Edition) (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
Spider-Man (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
Star Trek: Invasion (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
Star Wars: Demolition (2000), LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
Wizards & Warriors (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
X-Men: Mutant Wars (2000), Activision Publishing, Inc.
Castrol Honda Superbike World Champions (1999), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Hot Wheels: Turbo Racing (1999), Electronic Arts, Inc.
NASCAR 2000 (1999), Electronic Arts, Inc.
NASCAR Road Racing (1999), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Knockout Kings (1998), Electronic Arts, Inc.
NASCAR 99 (1998), Electronic Arts, Inc.
NASCAR 98 (1997), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Andretti Racing (1996), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Fire Fight (1996), Electronic Arts, Inc.
OverBlood (1996), Riverhill Software Inc.
Extreme Pinball (1995), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Shape Shifter (1992), Turbo Technologies, Inc.