Chris Swain
Encyclopedia
Chris Swain is an American game designer, entrepreneur, and professor. He is the founder and CEO of Talkie, a venture-funded game developer creating a transmedia social games. He is a professor in the USC School of Cinematic Arts
’ Interactive Media Division.
Talkie's first game is Ecotopia, Play the Game Save the Planet, Ecotopia is a cinematic, story-driven game with real-world tie-ins that allow users to not only play the game, but also make a real difference in their homes and communities.
At USC Chris was co-founder of the Electronic Arts Game Innovation Lab and currently directs the USC Games Institute, a collaboration between the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Viterbi School of Engineering, and Annenberg School for Communications. Chris is co-author of the book "Game Design Workshop" which is used at many of the over 700 college game programs around the world. He served as a faculty advisor on the game fl0w which began as an MFA thesis project and was released by Sony Computer Entertainment of America for the PlayStation 3
. In addition he was a faculty advisor to seven student games accepted into the Independent Games Festival including the award-winning Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom.
His USC research projects include:
• The Redistricting Game – funded by the Annenberg Center for Communication
. This is a game that attempts to educate people about the issues surrounding congressional redistricting. In addition it attempts to empower people to take civic action regarding redistricting reform.http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-10-30-serious-skills_x.htm
• Immune Attack – funded by National Science Foundation
. An immersive 3D game set at in the human blood stream at the level of immune cells. The game teaches immunobiology to AP biology students. It was created in collaboration with Brown University
, the USC Gamepipe Lab, and the Federation of American Scientists
.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060921205003.htm
• The New New Deal – funded by the Rockefeller Foundation
. A simulation game based on the writings of Los Angeles Times
economics correspondent Peter Gossellin. The game explores the shifts in the US economy from a new deal economy (in which economic risk was largely shouldered by government and corporations) to an ownership economy (in which risk is shouldered more by individual households).
• Enhanced Learning with Creative Technologies (ELECT-BiLat) – funded by the United States Army
. It’s a PC game that teaches cultural sensitivity and bi-lateral negotiation. This game has a unique conversation engine that allows players to derive meaningful play from conversational actions vs physical actions. The project was produced for USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies
.http://www.afcea.org/signal/articles/templates/Signal_Article_Template.asp?articleid=1259&zoneid=203
Prior to coming to USC Chris was a founding member of the New York design firm R/GA
Interactive. At R/GA he led development of over 150 interactive products for clients that include Microsoft
, Sony
, Disney, Activision
, America Online, Warner Bros.
, PBS
, BBC
, Intel, IBM
, Kodak, Discovery Channel
, Ticketmaster
, and many other companies. Notable projects include: Netwits for the Microsoft Network, Multiplayer Jeopardy! and Multiplayer Wheel of Fortune for Sony Online, Stickerworld for Children's Television Workshop, and Poetry of Structure – the interactive companion to Ken Burns
’ documentary about Frank Lloyd Wright.
Chris was VP of Programming at venture-funded game developer Spiderdance, Inc. Spiderdance’s participatory television projects included webRIOT
http://www.s-t.com/daily/12-99/12-13-99/c04ae084.htm for MTV
and Weakest Link Interactive for NBC
among others.
Chris has served on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Emmy’s) and on the Board of Advisors for the American Film Institute
’s Enhanced Television Workshop, Games for Change
, Annenberg Innovation Lab, Game Education Summit, and other organizations. He started his career in 1991 at Robert Abel’s pioneering interactive software company Synapse Technologies.
His projects have received many awards including Time Magazine’s Best of the Web.
USC School of Cinematic Arts
The USC School of Cinematic Arts, until 2006 named the School of Cinema-Television , is a film school within the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. It is the oldest and largest such school in the United States, established in 1929 as a joint venture with the Academy of...
’ Interactive Media Division.
Talkie's first game is Ecotopia, Play the Game Save the Planet, Ecotopia is a cinematic, story-driven game with real-world tie-ins that allow users to not only play the game, but also make a real difference in their homes and communities.
At USC Chris was co-founder of the Electronic Arts Game Innovation Lab and currently directs the USC Games Institute, a collaboration between the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Viterbi School of Engineering, and Annenberg School for Communications. Chris is co-author of the book "Game Design Workshop" which is used at many of the over 700 college game programs around the world. He served as a faculty advisor on the game fl0w which began as an MFA thesis project and was released by Sony Computer Entertainment of America for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. In addition he was a faculty advisor to seven student games accepted into the Independent Games Festival including the award-winning Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom.
His USC research projects include:
• The Redistricting Game – funded by the Annenberg Center for Communication
Annenberg Center for Communication
The Annenberg Center for Communication at the University of Southern California promotes interdisciplinary research in communications between the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Viterbi School of Engineering, and the separate USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, also funded by...
. This is a game that attempts to educate people about the issues surrounding congressional redistricting. In addition it attempts to empower people to take civic action regarding redistricting reform.http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-10-30-serious-skills_x.htm
• Immune Attack – funded by National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
. An immersive 3D game set at in the human blood stream at the level of immune cells. The game teaches immunobiology to AP biology students. It was created in collaboration with Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, the USC Gamepipe Lab, and the Federation of American Scientists
Federation of American Scientists
The Federation of American Scientists is a nonpartisan, 501 organization intent on using science and scientific analysis to attempt make the world more secure. FAS was founded in 1945 by scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project to develop the first atomic bombs...
.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060921205003.htm
• The New New Deal – funded by the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
. A simulation game based on the writings of Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
economics correspondent Peter Gossellin. The game explores the shifts in the US economy from a new deal economy (in which economic risk was largely shouldered by government and corporations) to an ownership economy (in which risk is shouldered more by individual households).
• Enhanced Learning with Creative Technologies (ELECT-BiLat) – funded by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. It’s a PC game that teaches cultural sensitivity and bi-lateral negotiation. This game has a unique conversation engine that allows players to derive meaningful play from conversational actions vs physical actions. The project was produced for USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies
Institute for Creative Technologies
The Institute for Creative Technologies is a research institute of the University of Southern California located in Playa Vista, California. ICT was established in 1999 with funding from the US Army...
.http://www.afcea.org/signal/articles/templates/Signal_Article_Template.asp?articleid=1259&zoneid=203
Prior to coming to USC Chris was a founding member of the New York design firm R/GA
R/GA
R/GA Media Group Inc. is an advertising agency headquartered in New York — with additional offices in San Francisco, Chicago, London, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Singapore, and Stockholm. The agency is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies , one of four global advertising holding companies...
Interactive. At R/GA he led development of over 150 interactive products for clients that include Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, Disney, Activision
Activision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
, America Online, Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
, PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
, BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, Intel, IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, Kodak, Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
, Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. is an independent American ticket sales and distribution company based in West Hollywood, California, USA, with operations in many countries around the world. In 2010 it merged with Live Nation to become Live Nation Entertainment...
, and many other companies. Notable projects include: Netwits for the Microsoft Network, Multiplayer Jeopardy! and Multiplayer Wheel of Fortune for Sony Online, Stickerworld for Children's Television Workshop, and Poetry of Structure – the interactive companion to Ken Burns
Ken Burns
Kenneth Lauren "Ken" Burns is an American director and producer of documentary films, known for his style of using archival footage and photographs...
’ documentary about Frank Lloyd Wright.
Chris was VP of Programming at venture-funded game developer Spiderdance, Inc. Spiderdance’s participatory television projects included webRIOT
WebRIOT
webRIOT was a game show that debuted on MTV in December 1999. It was hosted by Ahmet Zappa and Masasa served as the announcer. The gameplay consisted of contestants answering multiple-choice music trivia questions while accompanying music videos played. After the question was read, four choices...
http://www.s-t.com/daily/12-99/12-13-99/c04ae084.htm for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and Weakest Link Interactive for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
among others.
Chris has served on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Emmy’s) and on the Board of Advisors for the American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
’s Enhanced Television Workshop, Games for Change
Games for Change
Games for Change is a movement and community of practice dedicated to using digital games for social change. An individual game may also be referred to as a "game for change" if it is produced by this community or shares its ideals...
, Annenberg Innovation Lab, Game Education Summit, and other organizations. He started his career in 1991 at Robert Abel’s pioneering interactive software company Synapse Technologies.
His projects have received many awards including Time Magazine’s Best of the Web.