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Houser: Freedom of expression 'easier' in games
Rockstar Games' vice-president of creativity, Dan Houser, was recently interviewed by The Telegraph, a UK newspaper. Houser commented on the state of video games as a respected form of expression, comparing the industry to books and movies. "I think the medium is still very young. It's not a baby, but it's still probably an infant. So everything is growing and evolving as we go along and we're still figuring out how to do stuff." When asked whether he thinks it'll be long before game writers are treated with the same respect as movie or TV writers, however, he responded with, "I hope it's long."Movies and TV and books have become so structured in the way they have to approach things. Not working in that environment gives us enormous freedom. I'd rather keep the freedom and not have the respect." While the narrative freedom for games may be massive, the number of people willing to take advantage of that is sadly small. Video game writing is getting better, thanks to dedicated in-house and freelance writers in the industry, but these are still relatively few and far between.
[Via GI.biz]
Rockstar vets cement long-term deal with Take-Two
For brothers who've become popular creating games starring characters who seek out freedom from society's corporate machine this is a strange move but not unexpected. Take-Two Interactive have announced a new long-term agreement with "key members of the creative team" behind Grand Theft Auto IV, including Sam (pictured) and Dan Houser. Terms of the agreement would see the team locked into an publishing deal with Take-Two until January 31, 2012.The arrangement also includes a new incentive compensation program for the Rockstar Games label and an agreement from Take-Two "to fund the future development of certain new intellectual property to be owned by a newly formed company controlled by key Rockstar Games team members." Our guess? Lemmings Kart Racing. Believe.
Pachter predicts bidding war over Rockstar's Houser brothers
Pachter expects that when their contracts expire this February, Sam and Dan Houser of Rockstar could either depart Take-Two -- robbing the company of the driving force force behind its best-selling series -- or stay on at considerable expense. The analyst explains that a Houser departure would be analogous to EA's Medal of Honor team departing to produce Activision's Call of Duty franchise -- GTA would still live on, but it probably wouldn't be the same sales powerhouse sans the Houser brothers.
