Former Ninty exec Merrick goes mobile

Former Nintendo marketing executive Jim Merrick has joined mobile game provider Mobliss as president and CEO. Merrick will oversee all Mobliss operations, including game licensing and development, mobile messaging, and Mobliss' SMS voting platform. In January, Merrick left his post with Nintendo's European organization, capping a 12-year stint with the game maker. Merrick joins Seattle-based Mobliss, a subsidiary of Index Corp., effective immediately. Index Corp. is a successful Japan-based mobile-game and entertainment-application company. Among Mobliss's game suite include mobile versions of Family Feud, The Price Is Right Cliffhangers, Wild West Blackjack, and mobile access to the daily New York Times crossword puzzle. Mobliss also develops custom-designed mobile applications and provides marketing services for third-party mobile developers and publishers.