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GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. It is currently controlled by News Corporation, the 92.3% shareholder of its parent company, IGN - which was bought for $650 million on September 8, 2005. GameSpy includes coverage for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube, Wii, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, N-Gage, Wireless, PC, and Retrogaming. GameSpy also publishes the biweekly podcast called the GameSpy Debriefings.

Origins[link]

The 1996 release of id Software's Quake furthered the concept of gamers creating and releasing "mods" or modifications of games for use by gamers. Mark Surfas saw the need for hosting and distribution of these mods and created PlanetQuake.com - a Quake-related hosting and news site. The massive success of mods such as ThreeWave Capture the Flag catapulted PlanetQuake to huge traffic and a central position in the burgeoning gaming website scene.

Quake also marked the beginning of the Internet multiplayer real-time action game scene. However, finding a Quake server on the Internet proved difficult. Gamers could only share IP addresses of known servers between themselves or post them on gaming websites. To solve this problem, a team of three programmers (consisting of Jack "morbid" Mathews, Tim Cook, and Joe Powell) formed Spy Software and created QSpy (or QuakeSpy). This allowed the listing and searching of Quake servers available across the internet.

Surfas licensed QSpy and became the official distributor and marketer while retaining the original programming team. QSpy became QuakeSpy and went on to be bundled with id's QuakeWorld update - an unprecedented move by a top tier developer and huge validation for QuakeSpy. With the release of the Quake Engine-based game Hexen II, QuakeSpy added this game to its capabilities and was renamed GameSpy3D.

Present operations[link]

The Planet Network (also known as the GameSpy Network) is a network of video game-related websites operated by GameSpy. It includes the genre-specific sites, 3DActionPlanet, RPGPlanet, SportPlanet and StrategyPlanet, as well as sites dealing with specific video game titles (e.g., Planet Quake, Planet Half-Life, Planet Fallout and Planet Unreal). In the past it included platform-specific sites (e.g., Planet PS2, Planet Xbox, Planet Nintendo and Planet Dreamcast), but these were consolidated into GameSpy.com; only Classic Gaming remains separate. ForumPlanet and FilePlanet are services offered by GameSpy, and are not part of the Planet Network.

Currently, the company's websites include the gaming portal, GameSpy.com, created in 1999; the Planet Network, a collection of "Planet" websites devoted to popular video games (such as Planet Quake, Planet Half-Life and Planet Unreal) as well as the genre-related websites, 3DActionPlanet, RPGPlanet, SportPlanet and StrategyPlanet; ForumPlanet, the network's extensive message board system; and FilePlanet, arguably one of the largest video game file download site on the Web^{[citation needed]}. GameSpy also offers online matchmaking and community software, such as GameSpy Arcade and GameSpy3D, as well as software development kits (SDKs), middleware and back-end online services for game developers and publishers.

GameSpy Arcade is the company's flagship matchmaking software, allowing users to find servers for different online video games (whether they be free or purchased) and connect the user to game servers of that game. GameSpy also publishes the Roger Wilco voice chat software, primarily meant for communication and co-ordination in team-oriented games, where users join a server to chat with other users on the server using voice communication. This software rivals the other major voice chat software Ventrilo and Teamspeak.

The company's "Powered by GameSpy" technology has enabled online functionality in over 300 PC and PlayStation 2 games. In 2005 GameSpy added the PlayStation Portable, and Nintendo DS to its stable supported platforms. In March 2007, GameSpy added the Wii as another supported platform and will help get some of its games online.

In March 2004, IGN Entertainment and GameSpy Industries merged, and was briefly known as IGN/GameSpy before formalizing their corporate name as IGN Entertainment.

GameSpy was an affiliate of N.e.W. gaming until a break up in 2004.

As of August 2010, GameSpy has still ceased to publish for the general public on the internet, statistics on the number of servers, players and games actually engaged at any one time. They have ceased to do so since about 2008 or possibly longer.^{[citation needed]}

Corporate history[link]

In 1996, Quake is released, as one of the first 3D multiplayer action games to allow play over the internet. In 1996, Jack Mathews, Tim Cook, and Joe Powell form Spy Software and create QSpy to allow easy searching of internet-based multiplayer Quake game servers. The software was soon updated to include games other than Quake, and renamed from QSpy to GameSpy. In 1997, Corporate strategist Mark Surfas licensed GameSpy 3D from Spy Software, and creates GameSpy Industries. In 1999, GameSpy receives angel investment funding from entrepreneur David Berkus. The company also releases MP3Spy.com (later renamed RadioSpy.com), a software browser allowing people to browse and connect to online radio feeds, such as those using Nullsoft's SHOUTcast. GameSpy receives $3 million in additional funding from the Yucaipa Companies, an investment group headed by Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz and Southern California supermarket billionaire Ronald Burkle. GameSpy quickly reached profitability. In 2000, GameSpy receives additional investment funding from the Ziff-Davis publishing division ZDNet.com and from Guillemot Corp. GameSpy shuts down its RadioSpy division, backing away from an online music market dominated by peer-to-peer applications such as Napster and Gnutella. GameSpy releases GameSpy Arcade. In December 2000, GameSpy purchases Roger Wilco, MPlayer.com and various assets from HearMe, Inc. While the MPlayer service is shut down, the RogerWilco technology is improved and incorporated into GameSpy Arcade. In 2001, GameSpy's corporate technology business grows to include SDKs and middleware for video game consoles, such as Sony's PlayStation 2, Sega's Dreamcast and Microsoft's Xbox. GameSpy was acquired by IGN Entertainment in March 2004.

The GameSpy Debriefings[link]

The GameSpy Debriefings was a roundtable-style discussion between editors of GameSpy and IGN Entertainment on the week's gaming news. GameSpy Debriefings is the 25th most popular podcast under the category “Games and Hobbies” on iTunes (1 May 2011). Infamous for their hosts’ ability to de-rail the conversation from video games into explicit content or in-depth discussions about nerd culture. On July 30th, 2011, The GameSpy Debriefings ended with an episode consisting of all of (and only) the main crew, who have since started up their own podcast The Comedy Button, without GameSpy. The new podcast will be similar in content to the GameSpy Debriefings.

The main crew at the show's denounment of The GameSpy Debriefings consisted of:

• Anthony Gallegos of IGN Entertainment, previously of 1UP.com, Electronic Gaming Monthly, and GameSpy
• Ryan Scott of GameSpy, previously the executive editor for the 1UP.com Network's reviews department, and the reviews editor for both Computer Gaming World and Games for Windows: The Official Magazine
• Scott Bromley, formerly of IGN Entertainment
• Brian Altano, Humor Editor and Graphic Designer for IGN.com/GameSpy

Frequent Guests:

• Arthur Gies, formerly of IGN Entertainment
• Brian Miggels, Humor Editor for IGN Entertainment and GameSpy
• Will Tuttle, Former Editor-In-Chief of GameSpy

External links[link]

• GameSpy
• GameSpy Arena
• GameSpy Arcade
• GameSpy Comrade
• GameSpy SDK (Powered by GameSpy)

Amanda Bynes
Bynes at The Heart's Truth Red Dress Collection Fashion Show (February 13, 2009)
Born	Amanda Laura Bynes (1986-04-03) April 3, 1986 (age 26) Thousand Oaks, California, United States
Occupation	Actress, comedian, singer, fashion designer
Years active	1993–present

Amanda Laura Bynes (born April 3, 1986)^[1] is an American actress, singer, and fashion designer. Bynes appeared in several successful television series, such as All That and The Amanda Show, on Nickelodeon in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s, and in 2002, she starred in the TV series, What I Like About You. She transitioned to a film career, starring in several films aimed at teenage audiences, including What a Girl Wants (2003), Love Wrecked (2005), She's the Man (2006), Hairspray (2007), Sydney White (2007) and Easy A (2010).

She was named one of Teen People's "25 Hottest Stars Under 25" in 2006,^[2] and in 2007, Forbes listed her as the fifth highest paid celebrity under 21, with earnings of $2.5 million.^[3]

Early life[link]

Bynes was born and raised in Thousand Oaks, California, the youngest of three children to Lynn (née Organ), a dental assistant and office manager, and Rick Bynes, a dentist who also practiced stand-up comedy.^[4] Bynes has two older siblings, Tommy (born 1973), a chiropractor, and Jillian (born 1983), who has a B.A. in History from UCLA and has also acted.^[5] Bynes' ancestors immigrated from Ireland, Poland, Russia, and Romania,^[6][7] and her maternal grandparents are from Toronto, Ontario.^[8] Her father is Catholic and her mother is Jewish. Bynes has described herself as Jewish;^[9][10][11] regarding her religious beliefs, Bynes had stated: "As far as religion, I was raised both. I learned about both Judaism and Catholicism. My parents said it was up to me to decide [which faith to adhere to] when I grew up. I'm sort of a spiritual person anyway. I haven't decided yet on a religion. I don't know yet exactly what I believe."^[12]

Career[link]

Acting[link]

In 1993, Bynes attended a comedy camp, and began professionally acting at the age of seven, appearing in a television advertisement for Buncha Crunch candies.^[13] During her childhood, she also appeared on stage in versions of Annie, The Secret Garden, The Music Man, and The Sound of Music.^[14] Bynes became a regular cast member of Nickelodeon's Figure It Out and All That. She was a regular cast member on All That for seasons three through six. She also starred in her own sketch comedy show, The Amanda Show (1999–2002).

Bynes made her film debut in 2002's modest box office success, Big Fat Liar. Her first leading role was in 2003's What a Girl Wants, co-starring with Colin Firth, Oliver James, and Kelly Preston. From 2002 to 2006, Bynes starred alongside Jennie Garth in The WB Television Network's sitcom What I Like About You. Bynes had voice parts in 2003's Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure and 2005's CGI animated comedy, Robots. She co-starred in Arliss as Crystal Dupree. Bynes appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair's July 2003 edition with nine of Hollywood's other young female stars.^[15][16]

Bynes at the premiere of Robots, March 2005

In 2006, Bynes starred in She's the Man, a comedy based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.^[17] Bynes appeared in another romantic comedy, Lovewrecked, which was shot before She's the Man but released after it, showing in cinemas outside of the United States in 2005 and 2006 and debuting in the U.S. on the ABC Family network on January 21, 2007. She also portrays Penny Pingleton in Hairspray. Bynes next starred in another comedy, Sydney White, released on September 21, 2007.^[18][19]

In 2008, Bynes appeared in the Lifetime Television movie Living Proof as the student assistant of Harry Connick, Jr.'s character.^[20] Bynes was also originally set to star as Ryden Malby in the 2009 comedy Post Grad, but was replaced by Alexis Bledel.^[21]

In June 2009, Bynes inked a two picture deal with Screen Gems. The first of the two movies was the 2010 teen comedy Easy A, starring Emma Stone and Lisa Kudrow, and the second was to have been a starring role.^[22] Bynes also planned to reprise her role as Penny Pingleton in the sequel to Hairspray.^[23] However, Hairspray 2 was canceled.

In June 2010, Bynes stated that she planned to retire from acting, announcing on her Twitter page, "I don’t love acting anymore, so I’ve stopped doing it."^[24] A month later, Bynes had an apparent change of heart and "unretired".^[25] At the 2011 MTV Movie Awards, Bynes told People Magazine that she's merely taking "time off." ^[26]

Fashion[link]

In 2007, Bynes signed a five-year deal with Steve & Barry's to create her own fashion line, Dear, consisting of apparel and accessories. The clothing line launched in stores August 16, 2007. The line was cut short when Steve & Barry's filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008 and went out of business completely in January 2009.^[27]

Bynes appeared in lingerie on the cover of the February 2010 issue of Maxim magazine.^[28]

Personal life[link]

Bynes started out at University Elementary, and later graduated from Thousand Oaks High School's independent study program (though she attended La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks for some time). She has expressed a desire to attend New York University in the near future. She briefly moved into an apartment in Hollywood, California, but has since returned to her family home in Thousand Oaks.^[29] Bynes is interested in drawing and fashion design, having commented that she is "the girl whose biggest nightmare would be to lose my makeup bag while traveling."^[16]

In 2007, Bynes spoke out against becoming another wild Hollywood star: "I think I’ll go out as much as I’ve ever gone out... which is not a lot. I like to dance and stuff, but drinking isn’t good for you in every way. It’s not good for your skin; it makes you feel horrible. So, drinking-wise, no".^[30] She restated these ideas in interviews throughout the summer of 2007, telling Access Hollywood: "I like being with my family and friends, and I don't need to be out at the clubs."^[31] In an interview in December 2007, Bynes described how her parents taught her about alcohol.^[32]

Bynes has since stated that she is "reevaluating" how to spend her social time. In the January 2009 issue of Cosmopolitan, she stated: "I used to be known as the girl who was anti the club scene. But I'm finding a balance. I can have a drink and dance if I want. You have to go out to meet people and guys. I'm in that phase where I just want to have fun."

Bynes appeared in lingerie on the cover of the February 2010 issue of Maxim magazine, highlighting her photo spread inside. She stated "I think every shot ... was sexy" and that the new look is "who I am."^[33]

Legal problems[link]

On April 6, 2012, Bynes was arrested and charged with DUI after side-swiping a police car in West Hollywood at 3:00 am. Her bail was set at US$5,000 but she was released without requiring to post bail.^[34] Bynes's father, Rick, told People Magazine on April 9 that Amanda does not drink and that she was arrested because "she was upset and emotional."^[35] Bynes had previously been stopped by the L.A.P.D. for talking on her cellphone while driving on March 7, 2012.

Filmography[link]

Feature films[link]

Television[link]

Discography[link]

Soundtracks

• 2007: Hairspray: Soundtrack to the Motion Picture

Singles or Songs

• 2007: "Without Love" (Hairspray)
• 2007: "You Can't Stop the Beat" (Hairspray)

Awards[link]

Bynes won Blimp awards at the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards four years in a row, from 2000 to 2003 for Favorite Television Actress in 2000 for All That, Favorite Television Actress in 2001 to 2003 for The Amanda Show as well as the following year(A Record Tied with Selena Gomez). In 2003 she also received the award for Favorite Movie Actress for Big Fat Liar and won another award in 2004 for Favorite Movie Actress for What a Girl Wants.^[36] Bynes also was a part of the Hairspray ensemble win at the 2008 Critics' Choice Awards.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Amanda Bynes

• Amanda Bynes at the Internet Movie Database
• Amanda Bynes at AllRovi
• Amanda Bynes on Twitter
• AmandaPlease.com Official website for The Amanda Show