Elan Lee
Encyclopedia
Elan Lee is a game designer who is widely regarded (along with Jordan Weisman
and Sean Stewart
) as one of the creators of the genre of Alternate Reality Games
.
, where he worked on several motion pictures. In 1998 he became lead game designer at Microsoft Game Studios
, designing and directing games for the PC and Xbox
. While working for Microsoft he was involved in the development of The Beast
, to promote the Steven Spielberg
film A.I.
In 2003 he co-founded 42 Entertainment
, a design company in the new field of the Alternate Reality Games
(ARGs). 42 has created multiple ARGs, including, I Love Bees to promote the Xbox game Halo 2
, and Year Zero
, to promote the Nine Inch Nails album Year Zero
.
In 2006, he co-founded (with Dawne Weisman) edoc laundry, a company designed to produce ARGs using clothes as the primary platform. Consumers decipher the codes hidden within the garments and input the results into the game's main website to reveal pieces of a story about the murder of a band manager.
In 2007, he founded Fourth Wall Studios, an entertainment studio aiming to develop and publish a wide range of entertainment experiences, from single-player adventures that blend with reality, to massive real-time experiences that play out all over the world.
Jordan Weisman
Jordan Weisman is an American game designer, author, and serial entrepreneur who has founded four major game design companies, each in a different game genre and segment of the industry.-Biography:...
and Sean Stewart
Sean Stewart
Sean Stewart is a U.S.-Canadian science fiction and fantasy author.Born in Lubbock, Texas, Sean Stewart moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1968...
) as one of the creators of the genre of Alternate Reality Games
Alternate reality game
An alternate reality game is an interactive narrative that uses the real world as a platform, often involving multiple media and game elements, to tell a story that may be affected by participants' ideas or actions....
.
Biography
Lee started his career as a character designer at Industrial Light and MagicIndustrial Light and Magic
Industrial Light & Magic is an Academy Award-winning motion picture visual effects company that was founded in May 1975 by George Lucas and is owned by Lucasfilm. Lucas created the company when he discovered that the special effects department at 20th Century Fox was shut down after he was given...
, where he worked on several motion pictures. In 1998 he became lead game designer at Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
, designing and directing games for the PC and Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
. While working for Microsoft he was involved in the development of The Beast
The Beast (game)
The Beast was an alternate reality game created by a team at Microsoft to promote the Steven Spielberg film A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. The Beast, which ran for twelve weeks in the spring and early summer of 2001, is one of the most influential early ARG games.-Defining ARG:An ARG is a game...
, to promote the Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
film A.I.
In 2003 he co-founded 42 Entertainment
42 Entertainment
42 Entertainment is an American company based in Pasadena which specializes in creating and producing alternate reality games . The company was founded in 2003 as an independently-owned, creative content and interactive agency under the name 4orty 2wo Entertainment. The company started with a...
, a design company in the new field of the Alternate Reality Games
Alternate reality game
An alternate reality game is an interactive narrative that uses the real world as a platform, often involving multiple media and game elements, to tell a story that may be affected by participants' ideas or actions....
(ARGs). 42 has created multiple ARGs, including, I Love Bees to promote the Xbox game Halo 2
Halo 2
Halo 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie Studios. Released for the Xbox video game console on November 9, 2004, the game is the second installment in the Halo franchise and the sequel to 2001's critically acclaimed Halo: Combat Evolved...
, and Year Zero
Year Zero (game)
Year Zero is an alternate reality game based on the Nine Inch Nails concept album of the same name, its expected follow-up, and a possible accompanying film or television project...
, to promote the Nine Inch Nails album Year Zero
Year Zero (album)
Year Zero is the fifth studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released on April 17, 2007, by Interscope Records. Frontman Trent Reznor wrote the album's music and lyrics while touring in support of the group's previous release, With Teeth...
.
In 2006, he co-founded (with Dawne Weisman) edoc laundry, a company designed to produce ARGs using clothes as the primary platform. Consumers decipher the codes hidden within the garments and input the results into the game's main website to reveal pieces of a story about the murder of a band manager.
In 2007, he founded Fourth Wall Studios, an entertainment studio aiming to develop and publish a wide range of entertainment experiences, from single-player adventures that blend with reality, to massive real-time experiences that play out all over the world.
Credits
- Year ZeroYear Zero (game)Year Zero is an alternate reality game based on the Nine Inch Nails concept album of the same name, its expected follow-up, and a possible accompanying film or television project...
(with 42 Entertainment42 Entertainment42 Entertainment is an American company based in Pasadena which specializes in creating and producing alternate reality games . The company was founded in 2003 as an independently-owned, creative content and interactive agency under the name 4orty 2wo Entertainment. The company started with a...
): Designer (2007) - The Vanishing Point (with 42 Entertainment42 Entertainment42 Entertainment is an American company based in Pasadena which specializes in creating and producing alternate reality games . The company was founded in 2003 as an independently-owned, creative content and interactive agency under the name 4orty 2wo Entertainment. The company started with a...
): Lead Designer (2007) - Last Call Poker (with 42 Entertainment42 Entertainment42 Entertainment is an American company based in Pasadena which specializes in creating and producing alternate reality games . The company was founded in 2003 as an independently-owned, creative content and interactive agency under the name 4orty 2wo Entertainment. The company started with a...
): Lead Designer (2005) - I Love Bees (with 42 Entertainment42 Entertainment42 Entertainment is an American company based in Pasadena which specializes in creating and producing alternate reality games . The company was founded in 2003 as an independently-owned, creative content and interactive agency under the name 4orty 2wo Entertainment. The company started with a...
): Lead Designer (2004) - The BeastThe Beast (game)The Beast was an alternate reality game created by a team at Microsoft to promote the Steven Spielberg film A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. The Beast, which ran for twelve weeks in the spring and early summer of 2001, is one of the most influential early ARG games.-Defining ARG:An ARG is a game...
: Lead Designer (2001)
2005
- I Love Bees received an Innovation Award from the International Game Developers AssociationInternational Game Developers AssociationInternational Game Developers Association is the professional society for over 10,000 video and computer game developers worldwide.It is incorporated in the United States as a non-profit organization....
- I Love Bees received a Games-related WebbyWebby AwardsA Webby Award is an international award presented annually by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for excellence on the Internet with categories in websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile....
.
2007
- W3 Best in Show Award (Games and Gaming: Campaign) for The Vanishing Point
- W3 Gold Award (Games and Gaming: Campaign) for The Vanishing Point
- W3 Gold Award (Events: Campaign) for The Vanishing Point
- W3 Silver Award (Entertainment: Viral) for The Vanishing Point
- W3 Silver Award (General Interests Variety: Game or Application) for The Vanishing Point
- W3 Silver Award (Social Networking: Game or Application) for The Vanishing Point
- W3 Silver Award (Games and Gaming: Game or Application) for The Vanishing Point
- W3 Silver Award (Entertainment: Campaign) for The Vanishing Point
- W3 Silver Award (Strange and Unusual: Site) for The Vanishing Point
- W3 Silver Award (Marketing: Site) for The Vanishing Point
- W3 Silver Award (Best Visual Appeal: Site) for The Vanishing Point
- Davey Award for The Vanishing Point
2008
- Cannes Lions Grand Prix Award (Viral Marketing) for Year ZeroYear Zero (game)Year Zero is an alternate reality game based on the Nine Inch Nails concept album of the same name, its expected follow-up, and a possible accompanying film or television project...
- Cannes Lions Silver Award (Integrated Campaign) for Year ZeroYear Zero (game)Year Zero is an alternate reality game based on the Nine Inch Nails concept album of the same name, its expected follow-up, and a possible accompanying film or television project...
- WebbyWebby AwardsA Webby Award is an international award presented annually by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for excellence on the Internet with categories in websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile....
Peoples Voice Award (Branded Content) for Year ZeroYear Zero (game)Year Zero is an alternate reality game based on the Nine Inch Nails concept album of the same name, its expected follow-up, and a possible accompanying film or television project... - WebbyWebby AwardsA Webby Award is an international award presented annually by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for excellence on the Internet with categories in websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile....
Peoples Voice Award (Integrated Campaigns) for Year ZeroYear Zero (game)Year Zero is an alternate reality game based on the Nine Inch Nails concept album of the same name, its expected follow-up, and a possible accompanying film or television project... - Clio Award (Bronze) for Year ZeroYear Zero (game)Year Zero is an alternate reality game based on the Nine Inch Nails concept album of the same name, its expected follow-up, and a possible accompanying film or television project...