One person, Matthew Hornbostel, a 20-yr-old college senior, has created an elaborate PC game, along with dozens of VFX movies, all for free on his website.
April 12, 2007 (Press Release) --
Most modern PC games are the product of dozens, sometimes hundreds, of programmers, sound designers, and artists. "Traveler's Enigma", a new PC game due for release in May 2007, contains large 3d worlds, thousands of lines of programming code, solid sound design, innovative design elements (including a revolutionary help system), and flashy cutscenes - but it is created by just one person - Matthew Hornbostel, 20-year-old Eagle scout and college student. It is an example of the capacity of talented individuals to single-handedly develop quality media without funding, publishers, or conventional advertising, and to disseminate viewpoints that most traditional media would never be willing to touch.
Matthew plans to market the free product to hundreds of thousands of people, along with various other free creations - including over 40 short movies with over 1000 visual effects shots in total. His web business, http://www.hornbostelmedia.com, also sells useful materials for low-budget directors and effects artists, including e-books, DVDs, and stock footage. It is an example of the new logic of modern media - visually impressive production values in a movie or game don't require money, they just require intelligence and effort, and the knowledge required to learn these crafts doesn't come from college courses - it comes from the web.
It is possible to stage car chases, battles with hundreds of soldiers, gunfights, bombing raids, and building destruction in a $600 movie. Matthew knows it is, because he's done it, with the action-comedy "Send in the Clones 4".
The release of "Traveler's Enigma" will be made known to over 200,000 people in an advertising blitz on the day of its release, an ad campaign developed based on opt-in e-mail lists, press releases, print media, and other tactics that allow for a wide announcement at a minimal cost.
Matthew Hornbostel is optimistic about his emerging business, which is already drawing in hundreds of dollars, multiple clients, and thousands of visits - and plans to influence a new generation of independent directors and artists, teaching them how to overturn the corporatization of the entertainment industry and achieve their creative vision on their terms - without help from a studio.
Matthew plans to market the free product to hundreds of thousands of people, along with various other free creations - including over 40 short movies with over 1000 visual effects shots in total. His web business, http://www.hornbostelmedia.com, also sells useful materials for low-budget directors and effects artists, including e-books, DVDs, and stock footage. It is an example of the new logic of modern media - visually impressive production values in a movie or game don't require money, they just require intelligence and effort, and the knowledge required to learn these crafts doesn't come from college courses - it comes from the web.
It is possible to stage car chases, battles with hundreds of soldiers, gunfights, bombing raids, and building destruction in a $600 movie. Matthew knows it is, because he's done it, with the action-comedy "Send in the Clones 4".
The release of "Traveler's Enigma" will be made known to over 200,000 people in an advertising blitz on the day of its release, an ad campaign developed based on opt-in e-mail lists, press releases, print media, and other tactics that allow for a wide announcement at a minimal cost.
Matthew Hornbostel is optimistic about his emerging business, which is already drawing in hundreds of dollars, multiple clients, and thousands of visits - and plans to influence a new generation of independent directors and artists, teaching them how to overturn the corporatization of the entertainment industry and achieve their creative vision on their terms - without help from a studio.
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