Doug Rappaport, an international award-winning producer of video games and toy development, production, and publishing, is leaving California where he worked for 17 years with such industry leaders as Electronic Arts, Konami, and Treyarch, to join the staff of Best Boy Entertainment as Head of Interactive Development.

According to Robert Evans, Best Boy’s Vice President of Distribution, Marketing, and Interactive: ‘Hiring Doug is quite a coup for Best Boy and our province. He could have chosen to work any place in the world. That he chose here speaks volumes about his belief in the future of our industry. He is a major-league hire, and we are delighted to have him.’

Says Rappaport: ‘Best Boy has assembled a superb team, and I’m anxious to be part of it. I am convinced we can compete internationally and help grow a robust interactive industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. And I believe the lifestyle here offers a very attractive place to foster talent.’

Rappaport has over 30 triple A titles under his belt, each of which has sold more than 1 million units. He is credited on more than 50 game titles and toys for PC, PSX, N64, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, mobile and downloadable, as well as media like the Kindle. Titles include Spiderman: The Movie Game, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08, NCAA 07, Madden 06, Star Trek IV, and Fallout 1 and 2.

Rappaport was the co-winner of Best Commentary Writing in a Sports Game for NFL 2K5 and is co-patent inventor of recording studio mode in Rock Revolution.

Best Boy Entertainment is one of Canada’s fastest growing film, television, and interactive media companies.