Chris Waldron has been promoted to the position of vice president, gaming operations for Cartoon Network, it was announced today by Paul Condolora, senior vice president, digital for Turner Broadcasting's Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media group. Waldron is now responsible for overseeing Cartoon Network's game development studio, game production, and overall games strategy for Cartoon Network Digital. Waldron is based in Atlanta and reports directly to Condolora.
"Chris continues to be one of the great leaders of our digital team, overseeing the successful launch of our largest and most ambitious game to date – FusionFall," said Condolora. "His commitment to quality gaming, relationships with game developers and expertise in the industry make him ideally suited to oversee our gaming efforts."
Waldron will continue to serve as executive producer of Cartoon Network New Media's massively multi-player online game (MMOG), Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall, which launched in January 2009 and was recently nominated for a 2009 Webby Award.
Waldron came to Cartoon Network in 2000 and he served as director of technology for Cartoon Network New Media, where he oversaw all technical aspects for the Cartoon Network and Adult Swim web sites. In 2003, his responsibility was expanded to head up Turner's first game development studio. In 2004, one of Waldron's key projects Codename: Kids Next Door – Operation: B.E.S.T., received a 2004 Emmy Award nomination.
Waldron earned both his bachelors and masters of arts in English at the University of Florida.
FusionFall is a re-imagined and futuristic three-dimensional adventure set during an alien invasion of the Cartoon Network universe. Thrust into the role of a cartoon boy or girl, players will team up with other players and Cartoon Network characters to visit more than 60 different playable areas and defend the Cartoon Network universe from an alien invasion of epic proportions. The game is the first AAA browser-based MMOG for kids playable on both Mac and PC, and currently has more than 4 million registered accounts.
Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 97 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families. Nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34. CartoonNetwork.com is an award-winning website that receives approximately 15 million unique users a month.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.