Bernie Is Back In Town

Written by Matt Swider on January 22, 2001

Bernie Is Back In Town: This time, he's not going to leave before any big launch either!

Initially, some of our readers may not recognize his face or even name, however every person out there is aware of his great achievements. After 20 years of dealing with the videogame industry, Bernie Stolar continues his involvement in the market after it was announced today that he has taken the position of President and Chief Operating Officer at BAM! Entertainment. At BAM! Entertainment, Mr. Stolar is listed as being responsible for directing North American business operations, marketing, and worldwide product development.

Bernie's history is quite interesting making him Сquite the character' and a favorite videogame celebrity here at Gaming Target. In our report last July on Fathers of the U.S. Gaming Industry, Bernie was the first mentioned and we gave him the following description:

Our Bernie Stolar Profile
ФI think this once President and COO of Sega of America and Executive Vice President of SCEA, doesn't get the respect he deserves. The man is a genius in the field of launching a gaming console. He was one of the masterminds behind the most successful systems in history, the Playstation. So how did Sony repay him for is hard work? They fired him right before the consoles launch. Stolar went on to become the driving force behind, in my opinion, the best console ever conceived, the Sega Dreamcast. Bernie was the one man who pushed for each system to include a 56k modem out of the box, so everyone who bought a Dreamcast was forced to have access to the Internet, without having to purchase an extra piece of hardware. Once again, Bernie was fired right before the system launched. You'd think they'd at least let him enjoy his accomplishments and success.Ф
-Fathers of the U.S. Gaming Industry, July 4, 2001

After his dismissal at Sega of America, Bernie was found working as President of Mattel Interactive, until this morning's announcement of his new position at BAM!.

"I am thrilled to join BAM!, a company that is positioned for long-term success," said Bernard Stolar, President and COO, BAM! Entertainment. "BAM! offers an executive management team with a sound understanding of the interactive entertainment industry, powerful licenses, quality games, and titles across all major platforms."

"With Bernie's appointment, BAM! has achieved another significant milestone in building a leading interactive entertainment company," said Ray Musci, CEO, BAM! Entertainment. "Bernie's in-depth knowledge of all phases of company operations will enhance our strategic initiatives, broaden our product offerings and help increase shareholder value."

Being the man behind the successful launches of Playstation and Dreamcast, we hope to see the same quality work from Bernie at BAM! Entertainment.