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competitions during the game's beta phase. The project, estimated at $ 3 million, also included the establishment of a dedicated video production team with costly equipment. Red 5 employees described Kern as being prone to extended absences and having an "erratic, impulsive, and very disruptive"
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In 2013, Kern was removed from his position as CEO by the Red 5 board of directors. He referred to his time at the company as his own "
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Kern faced allegations of overspending on promotional campaigns for
Firefall. Notably, he devised a marketing strategy involving a
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In August 2023, Kern attracted attention when he posted a critical tweet regarding the start menu of the then-upcoming
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896:"Entertainment insider says ESG funding is why woke entertainment keeps getting made despite losing audiences"
375:. This tweet sparked reactions from various individuals, including Bethesda's head of publishing, Pete Hines.
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alongside three other former
Blizzard employees. He played a significant role in the development of the game
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Kern founded the studio MEK Entertainment in 2014. The company raised $ 1 million in seed funding for an
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in 2012, Kern initiated a lobbying group named League4Gamers. In 2015, he expressed support for the
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682:"League For Gamers Founder Mark Kern Explains Why SOPA and PIPA Are Bad for the Videogame Industry"
663:"Mark Kern didn't just quit WoW Classic: He accused his old Firefall studio of Chinese corruption"
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394:", telling Fox News that there is a "coordinated effort to insert diversity politics into games".
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877:"More games now include diverse characters, so losers are trying to start 'Gamergate 2'"
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390:(DEI) initiatives effects on video game developers. In March 2024, he railed against "
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830:"Starfield Leaked Start Screen Discourse Addressed by Bethesda's Head of Publishing"
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After online backlash and criticism of the
Canadian narrative development studio
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811:"After layoffs and a PR disaster, some Blizzard employees are dreading BlizzCon"
500:"Former World of Warcraft Team Lead to take Vanilla server petition to Blizzard"
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552:"The rise and fall of Mark Kern: how one man may have doomed Firefall and The9"
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California
Department of Fair Employment and Housing v. Activision Blizzard
734:"League For Gamers Fights Against Video Game Warning Label Bill H.R. 4204"
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and indicated a desire to revive League4Gamers as part of this campaign.
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Kern has become an outspoken critic of the company and criticized such
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petition to convince
Blizzard to consider reviving vanilla servers for
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455:"Diablo 2 Producer: 'Blizzard Doesn't Understand Gamers Anymore'"
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792:"Vanilla WoW petition hits 200K signatures, invokes Mark Kern"
765:"That is F()&#$ %king it! I AM NOW #GAMERGATE !!!!!"
858:"Sweet Baby Inc. Doesn't Do What Some Gamers Think It Does"
585:"Red 5 Studios Employees Speak Out Against Dismissed CEO"
187:. He moved to the United States to attend college at the
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in 1997, initially serving as an
Associate Producer for
163:. Kern has been involved in online activism against the
142:
during the development and promotion of the video game
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In 2005, Kern co-founded the game development company
701:"SOPA Drama Creates ESA Rival, the League For Gamers"
641:"Mark Kern starts new studio, raises $ 1M for VR MMO"
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608:"Red 5 Board Votes Out Co-Founder Mark Kern As CEO"
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138:from 1997 to 2005 and was a co-founder and CEO of
134:, is a former video game executive. He worked for
474:"Red 5 Studios' Mark Kern and Scott Youngblood"
264:Controversies and departure from Red 5 Studios
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230:. His roles expanded to include Producer of
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526:"Interview with Mark Kern (Red 5 Studios)"
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1473:Microsoft and unions § United States
203:and was a co-founder of the university's
195:in 1992. He went on to earn a J.D. from
639:Olivetti, Justin (September 22, 2014).
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260:and became CEO of the company in 2008.
1499:Boston University School of Law alumni
1274:StarCraft II World Championship Series
362:and called for a boycott of Blizzard.
303:In 2019, Kern sought crowdfunding for
809:Hussain, Suhauna (October 31, 2019).
583:Lemon, Marshall (December 20, 2013).
346:In 2016, Kern became involved in the
205:Journal of Science and Technology Law
7:
620:from the original on August 22, 2019
606:Hornshaw, Phil (December 20, 2013).
699:Parrish, Kevin (January 18, 2012).
680:Gaudiosi, John (January 18, 2012).
498:Williatham, Atle (April 18, 2016).
315:Online activism and recent activity
894:Hall, Alexander (March 11, 2024).
875:Shankar, Bradly (March 16, 2024).
856:Mercante, Alyssa (March 6, 2024).
744:from the original on March 3, 2016
713:from the original on June 25, 2015
242:. Kern departed Blizzard in 2005.
14:
828:Wood, Anthony (August 21, 2023).
564:from the original on May 28, 2021
199:in 1995, where he specialized in
1184:The Death and Return of Superman
732:Usher, William (April 3, 2012).
661:Royce, Bree (October 11, 2019).
550:Custer, C. (December 29, 2013).
388:diversity, equity, and inclusion
288:MEK Entertainment and later work
183:, Taiwan, where he attended the
434:Boston University School of Law
197:Boston University School of Law
161:Boston University School of Law
65:Boston University School of Law
1514:University of Rochester alumni
1099:Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
790:Royce, Bree (April 22, 2016).
524:Edery, David (March 1, 2015).
472:Remo, Chris (April 18, 2007).
1:
1509:Blizzard Entertainment people
775:on June 17, 2015 – via
763:Kern, Mark (June 17, 2015).
307:, a "spiritual successor" to
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1106:Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
1092:Warcraft: Orcs & Humans
430:"1994-1995 Editorial Board"
358:in 2019, Kern quit playing
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151:Kern is a graduate of the
1191:Justice League Task Force
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167:(SOPA) and in support of
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175:Early life and education
189:University of Rochester
153:University of Rochester
70:University of Rochester
1416:Blitzchung controversy
1259:Korea StarCraft League
937:Blizzard Entertainment
356:Blitzchung controversy
333:Stop Online Piracy Act
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222:Blizzard Entertainment
216:Blizzard Entertainment
185:Taipei American School
179:Mark Kern was born in
165:Stop Online Piracy Act
136:Blizzard Entertainment
98:Blizzard Entertainment
796:Massively Overpowered
667:Massively Overpowered
595:on December 21, 2013.
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201:intellectual property
1494:Video game designers
1468:ABK Workers Alliance
191:, earning a B.A. in
1205:Heroes of the Storm
1170:Rock n' Roll Racing
947:Activision Blizzard
898:. Fox News Digital.
331:In response to the
16:Video game designer
1524:People from Taipei
1198:The Lost Vikings 2
686:Hollywood Reporter
367:Bethesda Softworks
341:Gamergate movement
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277:leadership style.
236:and Team Lead for
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1458:Xbox Game Studios
1122:World of Warcraft
815:Los Angeles Times
771:). Archived from
360:World of Warcraft
352:World of Warcraft
323:Kern speaking at
239:World of Warcraft
193:cognitive science
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115:World of Warcraft
37:Mark Kern in 2011
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1163:The Lost Vikings
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354:. Following the
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159:degree from the
130:, also known as
128:Mark Edward Kern
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1519:1960s births
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1350:Chris Metzen
1345:Sam Lantinga
1339:
1310:David Brevik
1282:Warcraft III
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1267:StarCraft II
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839:. Retrieved
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773:the original
758:
746:. Retrieved
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715:. Retrieved
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622:. Retrieved
611:
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593:the original
589:The Escapist
588:
578:
566:. Retrieved
557:Tech in Asia
555:
530:. Retrieved
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157:Juris Doctor
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1448:Proletariat
1390:Alyssa Wong
1385:Matt Uelmen
1380:Greg Street
1335:Jeff Kaplan
1284:competition
1269:competition
1254:competition
1177:Blackthorne
1147:Other games
1129:Hearthstone
1032:Overwatch 2
980:Resurrected
881:MobileSyrup
738:CinemaBlend
706:Tom's Guide
528:(Interview)
412:"Mark Kern"
294:Oculus Rift
105:(2005-2013)
100:(1997-2005)
94:Employer(s)
77:Occupations
1488:Categories
1411:Battle.net
1375:Bill Roper
1244:Contenders
1156:RPM Racing
1061:Remastered
989:Diablo III
841:August 23,
568:August 21,
398:References
348:Nostalrius
1370:Rob Pardo
1340:Mark Kern
1252:StarCraft
1234:World Cup
1229:Overwatch
1054:StarCraft
1044:StarCraft
1025:Overwatch
1015:Overwatch
1003:Diablo IV
973:Diablo II
613:GameFront
509:March 24,
483:March 24,
478:ShackNews
439:March 24,
372:Starfield
233:Diablo II
227:Starcraft
169:Gamergate
61:Education
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645:Engadget
618:Archived
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532:March 1,
504:GameZone
392:wokeness
309:Firefall
270:Firefall
257:Firefall
145:Firefall
119:Firefall
55:, Taiwan
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1222:Esports
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777:Twitter
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416:The Org
1293:People
1239:League
966:Diablo
956:Diablo
862:Kotaku
305:Em-8er
211:Career
181:Taipei
132:Grummz
53:Taipei
769:Tweet
369:game
843:2023
750:2015
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626:2015
570:2023
534:2015
511:2024
485:2024
441:2024
327:2011
72:(BA)
67:(JD)
49:1968
43:Born
835:IGN
459:IGN
384:ESG
325:GDC
298:MMO
284:".
274:LAN
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