Marvel Snap’s Matt Wyble Announced As Endnote for MDEV
Madison, WI - October 3, 2024 – The Wisconsin Games Alliance is thrilled to announce that Matt Wyble, Chief Operating Officer at Second Dinner and former Commercial Leader for Overwatch at Blizzard Entertainment, will deliver the closing keynote address at MDEV 2024—the 6th edition of this premier event for games industry professionals. The event will take place on November 8th, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Matt Wyble, COO of Second Dinner
Wyble’s keynote will focus on the interdisciplinary nature of game development, exploring how various skills and roles—including design, engineering, art, marketing, and product management—come together to create magical gaming experiences. His insights will be invaluable for professionals looking to enhance collaboration and innovation in game development.
“I’m excited to be part of MDEV this year,” said Wyble. “As the Midwest gaming industry grows, MDEV stands out as the premier event where our community comes together to share ideas, learn, and find inspiration. It’s a unique opportunity to celebrate the creativity and growth happening around us.”
"We couldn't be more excited to have Matt Wyble share his extensive expertise and experience from working at Blizzard on Hearthstone and Overwatch to Second Dinner on MARVEL SNAP,” said Ben Kvalo, President of WGA, Co-Executive Chair of MDEV, and Founder of Midwest Games. “There is so much talent right here in Wisconsin that has led and contributed to some of the largest games in the world. Matt is a perfect example of that here in Madison."
MDEV has experienced tremendous growth recently, doubling attendance last year, with early ticket sales indicating another record-breaking event this year. The conference began in 2017 as a celebration of the local video game development industry and continues to establish Wisconsin and the Midwest as a thriving hub for game development and business. The two-day event will feature speakers, panels, and workshops across four tracks, providing a wealth of learning opportunities for attendees. Developers will have the chance to showcase their games, and artists can present and sell their work in the Artist Alley. Additionally, pre-MDEV social events and a Virtual Ticket option will be available for those unable to attend in person.
As the Midwest's games industry continues to grow exponentially, MDEV seeks to be the central meeting point for the region's community, drawing participants from regional hubs such as Chicago, Minneapolis, Ann Arbor, Indianapolis, Columbus, and Cincinnati.
For more information, or to purchase your tickets visit www.mdevconf.com
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ABOUT MATT WYBLE
Passionate about crafting great games that matter, Matt Wyble is the Chief Operating Officer at Second Dinner—the indie game developer behind Marvel Snap, the 2022 Mobile Game of the Year. At Second Dinner, he leads live games, publishing, technology, and corporate functions, and served as the founding General Manager of Marvel Snap. He also runs Wyble & Co., an advisory and investment firm focused on the video game industry, mentors early-stage companies, and speaks at industry events.
Previously, Matt was the original Commercial Leader for Overwatch at Blizzard Entertainment. Before that, he held various leadership roles at Blizzard, where he helped build and scale Hearthstone, led several World of Warcraft initiatives, and served on the product strategy team. He's especially proud of his 40,000 games played in Hearthstone and his six top-100 Legend finishes.
Matt splits his time between Madison, WI, and Orange County, CA, where Second Dinner is based. A native of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, he finds both places relatively warm. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family, playing video games, tinkering with home automation, and running in the UW Arboretum.
Matt holds a JD from Harvard Law School, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan. He began his career in corporate strategy at McKinsey & Co. and Nike. He's a member of the State Bar of California. These facts are mostly irrelevant to his current work, but at least they made his mom proud.
ABOUT WISCONSIN GAMES ALLIANCE
A local network of game studios, independent developers, faculty, investors, and regional economic agencies with the shared mission of promoting Wisconsin as a premier site for game development.
The Wisconsin Games Alliance (WGA) is dedicated to advancing the games and related industries in Wisconsin and the broader Midwest and beyond. They believe that game development and enjoyment is for everyone. For more information, please visit www.WisconsinGamesAlliance.com.
ABOUT WISCONSIN’S GAME INDUSTRY
Madison’s developer scene has been bolstered in recent years with brands, like EA’s Respawn Studio and Epic Games, joining the mix. This along with Microsoft’s acquisition of two studios in Madison, Activision’s Raven Software and Bethesda Softworks Roundhouse Studios, along with the growth of Lost Boys Interactive, under the Embracer Group, and Krafton’s PUBG studio has seen Wisconsin become a developer hub. Homegrown game studios like Guild Software, PerBlue, Filament Games, Flippfly, and Pyramid Lake Games have further grown opportunities in the space.
Wisconsin has also seen its first two Video Game Publishers open their doors in Midwest Games, from former Netflix exec Ben Kvalo, and Bigmode, from famous Video Game YouTuber, Jason Gastrow aka videogamedunkey, and fellow YouTuber and spouse, Leah Bee.
