March 17, 2009Mike Goslin joins Hangout Industries as Vice President Product Development

Former Disney Online VP and Co-Creator of Pirates of the Caribbean Online and ToonTown Online Heads Up Product Development

Hangout Industries (www.hangout.net) today announced the appointment of Mike Goslin as Vice President Product Development. Goslin joins Hangout from Disney Online where he most recently served as vice president, virtual world design and development. At Hangout, Goslin will lead design, development and operations of the company's online entertainment product. Goslin will report to CEO Pano Anthos.

"I recognized the opportunity at Hangout to build a new form of online entertainment, one that combines the viral power of existing social networks with the rich immersion of online games and virtual worlds,” said Mike Goslin. “Hangout represents a new level in brand-driven entertainment and I am thrilled to contribute to and deliver on that vision."

One of the most influential and successful technologists in the online games and virtual worlds industries, Goslin has more than 12 years of experience bringing high-profile, worldwide brands and franchises to life online and in theme parks. Goslin comes to Hangout from The Walt Disney Company where he was the driving force behind the development of online virtual worlds, games and communities for the company, including top-selling Pirates of the Caribbean Online and Toontown Online. As Disney’s vice president virtual world design and development, he also led strategy and product development for community and social networking applications.

Hangout has been built from the ground up to be a great experience for non-technical users. Hangout runs on both PCs and Macs, supports all major operating systems and doesn't require special graphics cards. Users can not only customize their room but they can even build and modify objects in their rooms including completely altering the shape and style of furniture, and many other objects in a Hangout room. Hangout leverages cross platform, browser-based and Web 2.0 technologies that plug-in to larger social networks (Facebook, MySpace, etc) and Web content so that users never have to leave their profile pages to interact in their Hangout rooms.

"The progression of Hangout to a true entertainment experience from a technology platform is about to be realized,” said Pano Anthos, CEO, Hangout Industries. “Mike is one of the most respected, effective and proven forces in the virtual worlds and games space. His combined talents as a natural story-teller, visionary and technologist make him the perfect candidate to bring Hangout to the forefront in the evolution of casual online entertainment."

During his tenure at Disney, Goslin was also vice president of Disney’s VR Studio where he managed the company’s virtual reality division and oversaw a highly talented team of 50+ programmers, artists and animators. He joined in 1996 and was instrumental in building the VR Studio into a leading theme park development studio and later reinventing the group as a studio for the design, development and operation of massively multiplayer online games.

Goslin’s products are recognized worldwide and have received numerous awards and accolades including the 2005 WiredKids Safe Gaming Award, 2005 Webby Awards “Webby Worthy Selection”, 2004 Game Industry News Family Game of the Year, 2003 Computer Gaming World MMORPG of the Year, 2003 Webby Awards People’s Voice Award, The New York Times Top 10 Games of the Year 2003, and 2002 Outstanding Attraction from the Themed Entertainment Association.

About Hangout Industries

Based in Boston, MA and founded in 2007, Hangout Industries is developing Hangout.net, the world’s first casual and immersive 3D social networking experience that leverages cross-platform, browser-based and Web 2.0 technologies while being seamlessly integrated into Facebook and MySpace. Allowing teens and young adults to create and customize their own virtual rooms featuring real brand-name products, Hangout.net provides a safe, secure, immersive and entertaining online environment for friends to hang out and have fun together. Hangout won "Best Use of Technology" from the MITX Interactive 2008 Annual Awards and was a 2008 TechCrunch50 finalist. Hangout is backed by funding from digital media-savvy venture capital firms Highland Capital Partners and Polaris Ventures. For more information, visit www.hangout.net.

Press Contact
Andrea Schneider for Hangout
alsnyc@Remove Me.yahoo.com
917-769-6060 Mobile