GROWING WORLDS: TURNING YOUR STORIES INTO GAMES

Presented by AFTRS LAMP, Australia Council’s Story of the Future and Film Victoria

So what makes a great game and what skills do creators of these experiences need in order to develop compelling commercially viable content for the future? A seminar, interview and workshop for story-tellers interested in adapting their work for games.

When: Saturday 1st March, 2pm – 5pm Where: Screen Pit, ACMI, Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne Cost: $45, to Register Call: 03 9602 8300 during business hours to reserve your place. Payments must be received by 29 Feb prior to the event

The recent emergence of games as a storytelling platform is extending the familiar narrative family of books, plays, film and television. The next generation of games will rely on story, narrative and character development to immerse users inside the experience and allow them to live the story. Come and hear award-winning novelist, TV and games writer Matt Costello talk about the key ingredients of planning, writing, designing and structuring a compelling game, referring to the types of stories and characters best adapted from other media. The interview session will also include a look at role-playing game environments inside social virtual worlds, production methodologies, user-generated games and a market overview. Matt will be joined by speakers including Kurt Busch from Krome Studios who will provide an overview of the games development business and contextualise new creative opportunities in this area. Attendees will have the opportunity to workshop stories and games in a rapid development session. This is a must-attend seminar and workshop for creative writers, producers and broadcasters of every flavour who are considering turning their stories into console, online or casual games.

MATT COSTELLO – Writer and Games Designer, Polar Productions – Matt Costello’s innovative work includes ground-breaking and award-winning novels, games, and television. Matt Costello is based in New York, London and LA and has written ground-breaking and award-winning novels, games, and television. Matt has scripted dozens of best-selling games and of one Time Magazine said, “The story is delivered with unusual art.” He wrote the groundbreaking Pirates of the Caribbean 3 game across all platforms and has been commissioned to do the fourth in the series. Since writing the critically acclaimed classic game The 7th Guest, he has scripted dozens of best-selling games such as Shellshock-Nam ’67 (Guerrilla Games and Eidos), Bad Boys 2 (Empire) and 2005’s Doom 3 winner of an unprecedented five awards at E3 including the Game Critics Award: Best of E3. Just Cause, co-written for Eidos, debuted as the #1 game for Xbox 360 in the UK. Named ‘Best Adventure Game’ at the 2006 E3, it premiered on the US best-seller lists as the #2 Xbox 360 game.