Former LucasArts president now CEO at Dungeon Defenders dev

Darrell Rodriguez, who served as president of LucasArts between 2008 and 2010, will now lead Dungeon Defenders developer Trendy Entertainment as its CEO, the studio has announced. Rodriguez, who most recently served as Chief Creative Officer at casino game creator International Game Technology, said in a press release that he was drawn to the studio due to it being "among the first companies to recognize that digitally distributed releases deserve the same high-quality treatment as traditional retail titles."

"AAA doesn't belong to AAA anymore, and finding fellow video game industry veterans who understand this is an exciting proposition," Rodriguez said.

Trendy's Dungeon Defenders 2, sequel to the studio's 2010 hit Dungeon Defenders, recently dropped its MOBA-inspired mode to focus on the game's unique blend of tower defense and RPG elements. It's expected to launch later this year.

[Image: Trendy Entertainment]

Show full PR text

Dungeon Defenders Developer Picks Ex-LucasArts President
Darrell Rodriguez as New CEO

GAINESVILLE, Fla., April 15, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trendy
Entertainment, creators of the multi-platform tower defense meets
action-RPG hit, Dungeon Defenders, announced today a prominent
transition in leadership, hiring Darrell Rodriguez, a former LucasArts
president and Electronic Arts executive, as Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Rodriguez joins the studio as it prepares to launch the company's
highly anticipated sequel to Dungeon Defenders and a cross-platform
development platform -- playverse -- which will expand the company's
library of intellectual property giving independent game makers the
tools and flexibility they need to bring their own cross-platform
products to market.

"Trendy Entertainment was among the first companies to recognize that
digitally distributed releases deserve the same high-quality treatment
as traditional retail titles," noted Mr. Rodriguez, on what first drew
him to the studio. "AAA doesn't belong to AAA anymore, and finding
fellow video game industry veterans who understand this is an exciting
proposition. Trendy has some of the brightest, most capable developers
in the industry who have created a platform that enables other
independent developers to expand upon and create games they otherwise
could not. I am thrilled to be joining the team to help them realize
their vision."

With nearly twenty years of experience as a leader in interactive and
entertainment media, Darrell Rodriguez has brought his acumen for
efficient, results-driven production and business strategies to some of
the biggest creative enterprises in gaming. As president of LucasArts,
Rodriguez cultivated the growth of its most beloved properties,
spearheading titles like Star Wars: The Old Republic, Star Wars: The
Force Unleashed, the company's most successful game launch in three
decades, as well as fan-favorite The Secret of Monkey Island: Special
Edition. Prior to this, Rodriguez managed development and
administration of titles within the Medal of Honor, Command & Conquer,
SSX, NBA Street, FIFA Street and Marvel franchises as Chief Operating
Officer of EA Los Angeles and Assistant Chief Operating Officer of EA
Canada. He joins Trendy after serving as Chief Creative Officer at
International Game Technology, the world's largest creator of casino
games.

"Determining ways to deliver big-budget experiences that don't break
budgets has been the cornerstone of Darrell's career," explained Trendy
Entertainment's chairman of the board, Augi Lye. "His record speaks to
the importance of crafting deep, varied portfolios in this hits-driven
business -- both in terms of gameplay and distribution. This expertise
will be invaluable to the projects we have planned for our player and
developer communities."

"A central pillar of Trendy's mission is fostering a spirit of
engagement and cooperation with our audience and our peers," Mr.
Rodriguez stressed. "Given our work on playverse, a multifaceted
toolkit designed 'for devs by devs,' our real test going forward will
be not only how well we do for ourselves, but how well we empower other
like-minded developers to unlock their own potential and nurture their
own visions. It's a richer set of responsibilities to take on as an
executive, and I'm looking forward to it."

Dungeon Defenders II is currently in development for PC, Mac & Linux
and is scheduled to soft launch later this year. To join the community
and help influence the game, check out www.DungeonDefenders2.com,
create a forum account, and start commenting! You can also participate
on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DungeonDefenders) or by sending Trendy a
message on Twitter (@TrendyEnt).

About Trendy Entertainment

Trendy Entertainment is an independent video game development studio
based in Gainesville, Florida. Created by veterans of the video game
industry, Trendy Entertainment develops fun and innovative video games
across multiple platforms, including the multi-platform tower defense
meets action-RPG hit, Dungeon Defenders. Trendy Entertainment's mission
is to build, and enable independent developers to build, powerful, fun
games that are enjoyed by the global gamer community.