Jørgen Tharaldsen Email & Phone Number

Oslo, No

Mentor for various start-up games companies. Typically 30+ hours of ongoing meetings per company. Sparring with them on everything related to "making it" in the games industry. Companies include Loeding (Last Days Of Snow), Bitpet (Bitpet AR game), Pazzing, Billionworlds (strategy games) and Riddlebit (Setback).

Oslo, Norway

Megapop is a games company, current main project is "Life Below", a modern city-builder where you create coral reefs and ocean ecosystems. So, a reef-builder! We are a digital innovation company for a range of business clients. We make any digital dream come true, and our tech, solutions and products are reaching population size scope for some nations . We do our own games, but also Gamification, Games, Apps, and technology for clients. We are uniquely positioned to understand games, and what they can do for society. For our self-published games we focus on premium Steam games, and for our mobile games we have done mid-core strategy and casual games. The goal of the company is to create fun, engaging and lasting gaming experiences, for gamers of all ages. Our last strategy game for mobile was top 10 in 130 countries, top 5 in 70 countries, and Number 1 in 8 countries (we're looking at you Mongolia;). It was 'featured' by Apple eight times, as well as Google, Amazon and Microsoft. We work hard to perform even better in the future. Our first premium game was 'Haxity', the worlds first PvP deckbuilder, which launched to some stunning early access reviews. After that we made "Rob Riches", which was nominated for mobile game of the year at Pocket Gamer, and got six nominations at the annual game award Spillprisen. It launched on PC ,mobiles and Switch. We are about making solid craftmanship and games with great gameplay, we care about our craft.

Oslo, Norway

I wanted to see how good a photographer I was, so I sent in some photos to the National Geographic global competitions for three years. It's just a hobby, but I take on some limited assignments from time to time. Noteworthy mentions: #1 most "Liked" image on National Geographics Facebook page, ever! ( http://on.fb.me/1mG9zhf )Editor’s Choice #1, National Geographic Photo of the Year, 2011Editor’s Choice #2, National Geographic Photo of the Year, 2011Editor’s Choice, National Geographic Travel Photo of the Year, 2012Editor’s Choice, National Geographic Photo of the Year, 2012Editor’s Choice, National Geographic Travel Photo of the Year, 2014Photo of the day, Nationalgeographic.comPhoto featured in a National Geographic article on Oslo, 2012Reddit, Frontpage, most clicked photoPrinted in Daily Mail (UK), Telegraph (UK), Stern View magazine (Ger.), Vi Menn (Norway), Expressen (Sweden)

Oslo Area, Norway

Co-founder and key poster / moderator at Norwegian snowboarders (Norske Snowboardere). We are the leading social community site for the Norwegian snowboarding community (our reach in April 2016 : 400.000+ Norwegians!). We cover past and present, posting all new social videos of value, photographs, news, competition results and politics. We also curate international news about Norwegian snowboarders. If it's done by a Norwegian snowboarder, resort or place, we cover it. We care about the kid coming up, and the latest insane stunt by the grown ups. Not because we make money on it, but because we love the sport. And so do our followers.

Here And There

Speaker, lecturer or panelist for / to / at various companies, conferences, political parties and other stakeholders wanting an insight into virtual worlds and the fabrics of the games industry. Conference talks includes Nordic Game, Dragon*con, Comic-Con, E3, GDC Austin, Spanish GDC Gijon, ECTS, Electrofil, Nvidia Engage, NEM EU Summit, Nvidia summits, Join Game, Microsoft OS launch summits, Malta online games, View Italy, Kiev electro conference, Oulu spring conference in addition to several appearances at games, innovation, technology and media related conferences. Companies and places spoken to includes Norwegian Parliament hearing committees, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Commerce, EU cultural committee, Norwegian Labour party youth conferences, DNB Nor Innovation, Telenor, Abelia, Innovation Norway, Norsk Tipping, Rikstoto, university of Oslo, university of Copenhagen, college university of Gotland, college university of Narvik, Norwegian Film Institute, NITH, NTNU, Seed Forum and The Norwegian Film school. The appearances have covered a range of topics in some 15 countries.

Norway

Part of a three person election committee which works on finding, suggesting and organizing the board composition for 'Virke Norwegian Producers Association Film, TV, Games'. The Producers Association organize 90% of the professional companies delivering content to the Movie, TV and Games industries of Norway. The organization has operated for 80+ years, and the goal is to better the framework and conditions for the creative industries of the country.

Advisor and group member in the Culture industry council. The council is to advise the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Regional Development on culture related aspects. http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/kud/press-centre/press-releases/2013/bransjerad-for-kulturnaringene.html?id=728142

Oslo Area, Norway

Advisor and member in expert group focusing on exploring new venues for real money gambling in Norway. The group is to advise the Ministry of Culture in relation to opportunities on new medias and platforms. The group is led by the Norwegian Gaming Authority. The Gaming Authority supervise and control all private and state operated lotteries in Norway, in addition to gambling and horse racing. A significant portion of their revenue is given directly back to the Norwegian people and children.

The Producers association of Norway, through its members, are responsible for some 90% of all audiovisual production coming out of Norway. It is an expansive organization, having operated for 80 years, and its purpose is to suit the interests of the creative industries of Norway. It is responsible for everything from negotiating wage and overtime limits for creative industries, through to lobbying and aid our government in implementing correct strategies when supporting audiovisual industries.

Giving my small share of input to the excellent Nordic Game conference and programs

Oslo, Norway

Producer and Game Director on the "Game Of Thrones" MMO, made in partnership with Bigpoint, HBO and George R.R. Martin. The game was the #1 MMORPG game out of GDC 2012, as judged by a MMORPG.com editor.

Creative Producer / New ProjectsWorking on Funcom Facebook titles, Free 2 Play titles, as well as Game Director on Board With The World, my dream action sport project. In period also submitted and prepared research applications to Norwegian research council, including real-time virtual replications of reality into virtual reality, real-time merging of TV and games and preparing true virtual replication of world heritage sites

Responsible for product marketing, PR, community, strategic partnerships and government contact for all Funcom games. Part of Funcom management group from 2002 until 2011. Last title before shifting job was Age of Conan. Number 1 on the lists in 17 countries at launch (all countries in world with official sales list), #3 best selling global PC game of yearTitles includes Anarchy Online, Age of Conan, The Secret World, Pets vs. Monsters, Dreamfall, The Longest Journey, Bloodline Champions and others.Wrote and compiled two books; Art of Age of Conan and Art of Dreamfall. Worked directly on the release of six Funcom related CD's, including additional Turbonegro release.In period group introduced several world firsts and being one of the online pioneers; digital distribution in the west, dynamic in-game advertisement, virtual world radio, hybrid Free 2 Play models (with tiered subscription), virtual item approaches, instancing, and others.

Oslo, Norway

Giving my small input to Innovation Norway's governmental support programs for games, trying to ensure Norway can grow this industry for the future benefit of the country. Delegate leader and researcher for the official Norwegian visit to Japan and Korea in March 2010, Some 40 Norwegian gaming companies and employees went. Serving as key presenter and industry host on activities held at the Norwegian Embassies in Japan and Korea,

Oslo Area, Norway

Co-founder, secretary and chairman (at various intervals) of the Games Producers Association of Norway. The goal of the association was to increase the impact and opportunities for the Norwegian game development scene. The organization was successfully merged into the Norwegian Film and TV Producers association in 2009.

Ezmo was a multimillion investment by Fast Search and Transfer. The goal was to create a community / industry driven music streaming solution. The project was closed down in relation to Microsoft purchasing Fast.

Freelance journalist in numerous newspapers, trade magazines, game publications and online sites in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. First regular gaming journalist in the mass media of Norway through weekly column in VG, Norway's premier newspaper. Other assignments includes Playstation Magazine, Nintendo 64 Magazine, PC Player, Nintendo industrial magazine, Faro Journalen, Nordic Hit 40, Dagsavisen, Associated Press (syndicate for 30 local newspapers) and several others.

Oslo

Gateway was initiated to become a global music download service. It was before streaming was even seen as a possible technology. It never launched, but multiple negotiations was started, and agreed, to control long term and legal global rights for digital online management of music, including the entire catalogue of EMI and Warner, who saw no value in digital music at the time.

Founder and manager in 2k+ distribution. Distribution and special global import of film, cool merchandise, games, music, books and collector gear towards retail chains. Whatever film, music, game or merchandise your customer wanted, from almost any key country, we delivered to over 200 Norwegian retail outlets.

Oslo, Norway

Executive buyer Film & Games (and techno;) for all shops in Free Record Shop Norway. Co-responsible for expanding the reach and opening new shops. Eventually 55 stores was opened. Free Record Shop is / was the largest record chain in Europe.