MATT COSTELLO: Bridging the Next Generation Gap between Storytelling and Gameplay
DATE: Monday, January 28, 2008
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Calgary Technologies, 3553 31st St NW, Calgary
Join Matt as he provides a highly interactive presentation that explores -- from one long-time practitioner’s point of view -- some key ways that ‘story’ is built. He will expose key story elements creators and audiences should be looking at even as interactivity transforms the traditional media landscape. Then, through real exercises, we’ll look at how gameplay changes significantly when ‘story’ is introduced, and vice-versa; the goal to show that story and interactivity are best ‘built’ together.
This presentation is made possible through our strategic partnership with The Banff New Media Institute and Level Up.
Producers and writers need to explore and develop a personal philosophy of interactivity to drive what you include (and don’t) in a specific interactive experience. The session will explore concretely how ‘story’ changes the nature, importance, and meaning of any and all gameplay and interactivity. We’ll see how what was once merely fun, now can turn deadly serious…suddenly becoming crucial with the addition of key story elements.
Not really a lecture, this presentation will use the audience to bring home points in a visceral way. A take-away sheet will be available to summarize what happened in the session—and what it all means for the future.
ABOUT MATT
Matt Costello’s innovative work includes ground-breaking and award-winning novels, games, and television.
He wrote the critically acclaimed game The 7th Guest, which helped launch the CD-ROM era. Since then, Costello has scripted dozens of best-selling games such as Shellshock-Nam ‘67 (Guerrilla Games and Eidos), Bad Boys 2Doom 3 (Empire) and 2005’s of which Time Magazine said, “To play Doom 3 is to feel your skin prickle with atavistic fear. The story is delivered with unusual art.” Current and recent games have included Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End for Disney, Just Cause and Just Cause 2 for Eidos, and Rage, a new IP for ID Software.
Costello has also created many award-winning games for children, including the landmark Aladdin’s Mathquest with math expert Marilyn Burns for Disney, as well as A Cartoon History of the Universe (Putnam) and two games based on the hit PBS show Cyberchase.
Penguin published his latest novel, Nowhere, in May of 2007. His acclaimed horror novel Beneath Still Waters was filmed by Lions Gate and Filmax for world-wide release. His novel, Out of Time, has been optioned by Electric Entertainment (The Patriot, Independence Day). He also wrote Island of the Skull (Pocket Books), an original prequel to Peter Jackson’s King Kong.
Matt’s children’s series The Kids of Einstein Elementary, published by Scholastic, blends math and adventure. The first two books, The Last Dinosaur and The Titanic Cat, were released in 2005. Other works for children include Magic Everywhere (Random House) and books on puzzles and games.
For the Disney Channel, Matt Costello co-created ZoogDisney, the groundbreaking on-air/online weekend programming bloc. He has scripted episodes of the hit children’s series, Cyberchase (PBS), and episodes of the innovative Priz JeunesseMicrosoap award-wining Disney/BBC series, written with Neil Richards. With Paul Wilson, Costello created The Sci-Fi Channel’s first original program, FTL News, which ran for over six years. He is currently creating a new animated series and MMOG for the BBC which will make on-air and online...one world.
Matt has also been an interactive and creative consultant for many clients, including James Cameron’s Titanic, the BBC and television and game companies around the world. He has given speeches on games and narrative recently for The Edinburgh Interactive Festival, Sagasnet, The Banff Centre, AFTRS (Australia), GDC and the government of Singapore. Costello also continues to be a consultant and teacher on Gifted and Talented issues for New York schools.
http://www.mattcostello.com
