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As an artist and actor, Don Marinelli seems an unlikely participant in the digital revolution.
But Marinelli, 63, has embraced technology by developing a keen appreciation for the post-millennial generation of digital natives — the digitally savvy teens born in a world in which everything is Internet-based.
“Unless you change, you die,” Marinelli said. “That doesn’t mean I love all the changes that I’m seeing … but I’ve always wanted to remain relevant, and I’ve always been interested in what are the children doing. I look at the digital natives, and I see in many of them the kind of youthful dynamic I thought we had when we were hippies.”
Marinelli , who cofounded Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center, recently was appointed director of innovation for 535media, a Pittsburgh-based digital media company affiliated with Trib Total Media.
“Don’s experience in digital innovation and contacts within the industry will be integral to our growth moving forward,” said Jennifer Bertetto, 535media president and CEO.
One of Marinelli’s first projects is the launch of Inven Global , the English version of Inven, a South Korean site focused on the growing competitive gaming industry.
InvenGlobal.com launched in January.
Marinelli said competitive gaming tournaments and matches have emerged as a popular activity in South Korea. Teams of players compete in games such as League of Legends and Defense of the Ancients, he said.
Inven Global, which launched in January, is seeking to attract millions of gamers in the United States. The market for so-called eSports — short for electronic sports — is valued at $747 million, according to market research firm SuperData. The firm projects revenue from eSports will reach $1.4 billion by 2019.
“My job is to introduce Inven Global’s people to the movers and shakers here in the English-speaking world,” Marinelli said.
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