Power Hour: Engaging the Consumer 

Shuji Utsumi offers more than a decade of experience in the interactive entertainment industry, ranging from product development, new business development and brand development to distribution and operations. He has played a key role in launching several successful titles, including the original Crash Bandicoot (SCEA), Sakura Wars (Sega), the original Kingdom Hearts (Disney Interactive) and the Lumines series (Q Entertainment).

Utsumi’s career in the interactive entertainment industry began in 1993 as one of the founding members of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA).   As the company prepared itself for the launch of the PlayStation console, Utsumi held the Vice President of Product Licensing and Director of 3rd party relations position and demonstrated initiative from the very beginning specifically in the areas of account management and publisher relationship management. Quickly distinguishing himself as a leader, in less than three years, he took his experience to Sega America where he held the Sega Enterprises Executive Director position.  There, he proved his ability to oversee various departments including product development and new business development while meeting and exceeding corporate goals and challenges.  From there, Utsumi took on a new challenge with Disney Interactive, as their Managing Director for the Asia Pacific territory. 

In 2003, he co-founded Q Entertainment Inc. with game producer Tetsuya Mizuguchi, whom he worked with during his tenure at Sega.  Q Entertainment creates, produces, and provides consulting services for digital entertainment content across multiple game consoles, PC, broadband and mobile units.   It is best known for the critically acclaimed music and luminary action puzzle game, Lumines, which has now grown into a worldwide franchise made available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PC and mobile units. 

Utsumi is a Hitotsubashi University and a Wharton MBA graduate.