New game dev studio: Wingnut Interactive

Submitted by Scrow on
Forum
Industry and Education

LINK

Microsoft Partners with Peter Jackson

Microsoft has announced a landmark partnership between Academy Award-winning writer, director, and producer Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Fran Walsh, and Microsoft Game Studios to create two new interactive entertainment series exclusively for Xbox 360? and Xbox Live?.

The first series will be a collaborative effort with Bungie Studios to co-create the next great chapter in the Halo universe. The second series will be an entirely original property targeted at bringing new audiences into the captivating world of interactive entertainment.

In addition, Microsoft Game Studios will partner with Jackson and Walsh to establish Wingnut Interactive, a studio dedicated to the creation of world-class interactive entertainment.

Expanding Interactive Entertainment

Xbox 360 continues to expand the interactive entertainment landscape, enabling industry superstars to take beloved franchises in exciting new directions. Microsoft Game Studios announced its partnership with Jackson to herald in a new age of interactive entertainment that can only be realized on Xbox 360 and Xbox Live.

The goal of this partnership is to create new stories and redefine the way they are told. The first part of this long-term relationship is for Jackson, Walsh and team to bring to life two new interactive entertainment experiences exclusively for the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live.

The first project is to co-write, co-design and co-produce a completely new and original chapter in the Halo universe in collaboration with Bungie Studios. The second project is an entirely original property from the team in New Zealand that will not only bring a whole new interactive story to life, but will also captivate new audiences that have yet to discover the power of interactive entertainment.

Wingnut Interactive

In addition, in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios, Jackson and Walsh are creating Wingnut Interactive. The two will create a world-class interactive entertainment studio that fuses the strength of Microsoft?s technology and interactive entertainment experience with the creative and imaginative excellence of the Wingnut Interactive team.

?Microsoft has built an amazing living canvas with Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, which allows the storytellers of our time to express themselves in a new medium. They have fundamentally changed how people think about games,? Jackson said. ?My vision, together with Microsoft Game Studios, is to push the boundaries of game development and the future of interactive entertainment. From a movie-maker?s point of view, it is clear to me that the Xbox 360 platform is the stage where storytellers can work their craft in the same way they do today with movies and books but taking it further with interactivity.?

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I'm assuming this will set up shop in New Zealand somewhere.Scrow2006-09-28 04:02:30

Submitted by Jackydablunt on Fri, 29/09/06 - 10:39 AMPermalink

Well I reckon it would be feature creep central, but Wingnut would be a hell of an awesome place to work

Submitted by souri on Fri, 29/09/06 - 11:36 AMPermalink

I've just made an update to the news item, the new studio will indeed be in New Zealand...

[QUOTE]Wingnut Interactive will be based in New Zealand, Henson said. But he would not elaborate on the business terms of the deal.[/QUOTE]

- News.com.comSouri2006-09-29 01:36:39

Submitted by Jackydablunt on Fri, 29/09/06 - 12:39 PMPermalink

"Braindead the game!"

Was that another name for Bad Taste? cause I'd LOVE to play that, blowing up sheep with RPGs, hell yeah

Submitted by rezn0r on Fri, 29/09/06 - 1:39 PMPermalink

Braindead is the Peter Jackson zombie movie with the Kung Fu Catholic Priest with the heavy NZ Accent (Iiii Kick Aaaarsse for the LOOOORD!!!")

Youtube Link

Best Peter Jackson movie you'll see. :)

Scott.

Submitted by Mario on Fri, 29/09/06 - 5:04 PMPermalink

[QUOTE=Souri] I've just made an update to the news item, the new studio will indeed be in New Zealand...[/QUOTE]

Jackson has confirmed the studio will be based in Wellington.

Submitted by josh on Fri, 29/09/06 - 7:42 PMPermalink

This is fantastic news! Hopefully, that bring in a boost to NZs game industry.

Submitted by Jackydablunt on Mon, 02/10/06 - 4:49 AMPermalink

"Braindead is the Peter Jackson zombie movie with the Kung Fu Catholic Priest with the heavy NZ Accent (Iiii Kick Aaaarsse for the LOOOORD!!!") Best Peter Jackson movie you'll see. :)"

............. Ok I'm sold, just that scene was enough for me

Submitted by animal on Mon, 16/10/06 - 6:53 AMPermalink

Does any one know the contact details for Wingnut Interactive yet?
I'd like to get in contact with them, and try to apply for work there.

Submitted by Johnn on Mon, 16/10/06 - 7:23 AMPermalink

LOL! I just googled to see if wingnut interactive have a website up and the number 1 listing is Sumea!

no Wingnut site though - we will have to wait and see what sort of hiring they are going to do.

edit: and I predict Chris Johnson will be sent an offer to purchace his domain name in the near future too! (www.wingnut.com) lucky bugger JohnN2006-10-15 21:27:49

Submitted by Neffy on Mon, 16/10/06 - 9:47 AMPermalink

Ohh gogo NZ

It all sounds very exciting :D

Submitted by souri on Mon, 16/10/06 - 5:29 PMPermalink

www.wingnutinteractive.com seems to be parked at the moment.

I've found that if you search for any of the local developers on google, Sumea shows up at least on the first page of the search. Sometimes it's even 1st, or 2nd placed. It's all the more reason for developers to regularly update their info in the Sumea wiki, since it's one of the top places where people find out about their company.

That reminds me, I should make an entry in the database for Wingnut Interactive. Souri2006-10-16 07:29:57

Posted by Scrow on
Forum
Industry and Education

LINK

Microsoft Partners with Peter Jackson

Microsoft has announced a landmark partnership between Academy Award-winning writer, director, and producer Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Fran Walsh, and Microsoft Game Studios to create two new interactive entertainment series exclusively for Xbox 360? and Xbox Live?.

The first series will be a collaborative effort with Bungie Studios to co-create the next great chapter in the Halo universe. The second series will be an entirely original property targeted at bringing new audiences into the captivating world of interactive entertainment.

In addition, Microsoft Game Studios will partner with Jackson and Walsh to establish Wingnut Interactive, a studio dedicated to the creation of world-class interactive entertainment.

Expanding Interactive Entertainment

Xbox 360 continues to expand the interactive entertainment landscape, enabling industry superstars to take beloved franchises in exciting new directions. Microsoft Game Studios announced its partnership with Jackson to herald in a new age of interactive entertainment that can only be realized on Xbox 360 and Xbox Live.

The goal of this partnership is to create new stories and redefine the way they are told. The first part of this long-term relationship is for Jackson, Walsh and team to bring to life two new interactive entertainment experiences exclusively for the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live.

The first project is to co-write, co-design and co-produce a completely new and original chapter in the Halo universe in collaboration with Bungie Studios. The second project is an entirely original property from the team in New Zealand that will not only bring a whole new interactive story to life, but will also captivate new audiences that have yet to discover the power of interactive entertainment.

Wingnut Interactive

In addition, in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios, Jackson and Walsh are creating Wingnut Interactive. The two will create a world-class interactive entertainment studio that fuses the strength of Microsoft?s technology and interactive entertainment experience with the creative and imaginative excellence of the Wingnut Interactive team.

?Microsoft has built an amazing living canvas with Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, which allows the storytellers of our time to express themselves in a new medium. They have fundamentally changed how people think about games,? Jackson said. ?My vision, together with Microsoft Game Studios, is to push the boundaries of game development and the future of interactive entertainment. From a movie-maker?s point of view, it is clear to me that the Xbox 360 platform is the stage where storytellers can work their craft in the same way they do today with movies and books but taking it further with interactivity.?

----------------------------------------------------------

I'm assuming this will set up shop in New Zealand somewhere.Scrow2006-09-28 04:02:30

Submitted by Jackydablunt on Fri, 29/09/06 - 10:39 AMPermalink

Well I reckon it would be feature creep central, but Wingnut would be a hell of an awesome place to work

Submitted by souri on Fri, 29/09/06 - 11:36 AMPermalink

I've just made an update to the news item, the new studio will indeed be in New Zealand...

[QUOTE]Wingnut Interactive will be based in New Zealand, Henson said. But he would not elaborate on the business terms of the deal.[/QUOTE]

- News.com.comSouri2006-09-29 01:36:39

Submitted by Jackydablunt on Fri, 29/09/06 - 12:39 PMPermalink

"Braindead the game!"

Was that another name for Bad Taste? cause I'd LOVE to play that, blowing up sheep with RPGs, hell yeah

Submitted by rezn0r on Fri, 29/09/06 - 1:39 PMPermalink

Braindead is the Peter Jackson zombie movie with the Kung Fu Catholic Priest with the heavy NZ Accent (Iiii Kick Aaaarsse for the LOOOORD!!!")

Youtube Link

Best Peter Jackson movie you'll see. :)

Scott.

Submitted by Mario on Fri, 29/09/06 - 5:04 PMPermalink

[QUOTE=Souri] I've just made an update to the news item, the new studio will indeed be in New Zealand...[/QUOTE]

Jackson has confirmed the studio will be based in Wellington.

Submitted by josh on Fri, 29/09/06 - 7:42 PMPermalink

This is fantastic news! Hopefully, that bring in a boost to NZs game industry.

Submitted by Jackydablunt on Mon, 02/10/06 - 4:49 AMPermalink

"Braindead is the Peter Jackson zombie movie with the Kung Fu Catholic Priest with the heavy NZ Accent (Iiii Kick Aaaarsse for the LOOOORD!!!") Best Peter Jackson movie you'll see. :)"

............. Ok I'm sold, just that scene was enough for me

Submitted by animal on Mon, 16/10/06 - 6:53 AMPermalink

Does any one know the contact details for Wingnut Interactive yet?
I'd like to get in contact with them, and try to apply for work there.

Submitted by Johnn on Mon, 16/10/06 - 7:23 AMPermalink

LOL! I just googled to see if wingnut interactive have a website up and the number 1 listing is Sumea!

no Wingnut site though - we will have to wait and see what sort of hiring they are going to do.

edit: and I predict Chris Johnson will be sent an offer to purchace his domain name in the near future too! (www.wingnut.com) lucky bugger JohnN2006-10-15 21:27:49

Submitted by Neffy on Mon, 16/10/06 - 9:47 AMPermalink

Ohh gogo NZ

It all sounds very exciting :D

Submitted by souri on Mon, 16/10/06 - 5:29 PMPermalink

www.wingnutinteractive.com seems to be parked at the moment.

I've found that if you search for any of the local developers on google, Sumea shows up at least on the first page of the search. Sometimes it's even 1st, or 2nd placed. It's all the more reason for developers to regularly update their info in the Sumea wiki, since it's one of the top places where people find out about their company.

That reminds me, I should make an entry in the database for Wingnut Interactive. Souri2006-10-16 07:29:57