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Howard Phillips pulls up Chair

Former Nintendo executive appointed studio director of Epic Games subsidiary, Undertow developer.

Since being acquired by Epic Games last May, Utah-based developer Chair Entertainment Group has kept a low profile. While the company's current project remains unannounced, it has returned to headlines with today's announcement that it has appointed industry veteran Howard Phillips as its studio director.

A creative director at Nintendo until leaving the company in 1991, Phillips was one of the first game-industry executives to gain widespread notoriety among gamers. Part of the reason for Phillips' familiarity was his presence in the pages of Nintendo Power as one-half of the magazine's comic strip duo, Howard & Nester. Since leaving Nintendo, Phillips has held a variety of positions with Microsoft, Splash Studios, Absolute Entertainment, THQ, and LucasFilm Games.

As for Chair, the developer is best known for the Unreal Engine 3-powered Xbox Live Arcade shooter Undertow. The studio has also forged close ties with Orson Scott Card, having licensed the gaming adaptation rights to the sci-fi author's classic Ender's Game. Chair also worked with Card on a new property, Empire, which became a New York Times best-seller.

Brendan Sinclair
By Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor

Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.

14 comments
BMWPro77
BMWPro77

Wow. That name is a serious blast from the past! I haven't heard it spoken in ab=bout 17 years.

nintendoboy16
nintendoboy16

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

akuma1069
akuma1069

Whoa...this article took me back. I remember thinking Howard was the best video game player ever in the 80's.

NND1
NND1

I remember this guy, he was with nintendo back in '85 he was the Pres. and this was when Nintendo had quality control with their games. If a game did not cut it Nintendo would not touch it... The first Nintendo Powers were very thin.... Wow that was a long time ago............

Kingnetherdrake
Kingnetherdrake

Ghehe loved the book, I don't know this guy but he seems to be good, I hope they make a nice game :D

siefier25
siefier25

I remember Nintendo Power when Nintendo was publishing the mag. The first edition was the first magazine I ever had. Super Mario Bros 2 was on the cover. And I remember Howard and Nester. I remember Howard Philips better than Mario's Creator(don't know how to spell his name).

kavadias1981
kavadias1981

I think the of this report takes the crown as "Most Boring Title in the History of Titles" title. As for the report itself, who cares.

blackace
blackace

Koi-Neon-X Ah, Howard and Nester in Nintendo Power. Now, I feel really old lol! ******************************************************* I know what you mean. Nintendo Power was one of my first gaming magazines I read. Then game Video Games and Computer Entertainment and Gamepro. Next Generation and DieHard Gamefan were still two of my favorite magazines to date. I still have the first edition of NP, NG and Gamepro.

swmeek
swmeek

No kidding I know how you feel!

Koi-Neon-X
Koi-Neon-X ranger

Ah, Howard and Nester in Nintendo Power. Now, I feel really old lol!

mustained13
mustained13

Good to see Howard still involved with gaming companies.

maverick_76
maverick_76

Have to say that I'm unfamiliar with this guy.

Asagea_888
Asagea_888

I remember Howard Philips! I'm glad to hear of his new position.

jrabbit99
jrabbit99

I really want to see an "Ender's Game" game

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