Games For Entertainment & Transmedia
We believe the best games combine creative storytelling with practical, applied design thinking. Playmatics has its roots in the entertainment sector. We’re creators of products and have raised money, created products and launched businesses that involve the world of film, television, games, entertainment and consumer brands.
Our Work in Transmedia and Entertainment
To see our entire portfolio, visit the works page.
David Cronenberg’s Award-Winning Body/Mind/Change
Body Mind Change is an ARG (Alternate Reality Game). Winner of the prestigious MUSE Award.
Platform(s): Web
Partners: Canadian Film Commission, Northern Army, Lance Weiler
Playmatics Role:
Game and interaction design, narrative design.
Absolut deadmau5
“Absolut unveils a new chapter in Absolut Nights. Introducing Absolut deadmau5, an interactive VR experience. Go on an unforgettable night out with deadmau5, from his studio to the club, featuring exclusive music from the artist.
To learn more about Absolut deadmau5 or to get a limited edition VR headset, please visit Absolutdeadmau5.com
You must be of legal drinking age to use this app. Remain seated when using the app. Stop use if you experience any discomfort.”
With Forever Beta.
AMC’s Award-Winning Breaking Bad: The Interrogation
Players assume the role of DEA Agent Hank Schrader. The indomitable Hank is investigating a fire that took place in a church. A shifty man named Hadley Berkitz, who volunteers at the church, knows something but he’s not talking. This game takes players inside Hank’s DEA interrogation room and asks players to try to get Hadley to say what he knows. The entire game is composed of complex dialogue trees and players must skillfully get Hank to put just the right amount of pressure on Hadley to get him to tell the truth.
Winner CableFAX Award Digital Program Award 2011. Nominated for SXSW Interactive Amusement category.
Platform(s): Web, iOS, Android
Partners: AMC Television
Playmatics Role:
Design, development and interactive narrative construction.
AMC’s Breaking Bad: The Cost of Doing Business
An official AMC Television game. The streets of Albuquerque are a dangerous place. Just ask Jesse Pinkman. He’s certainly run into his fair share of criminals since partnering with Walt, and he usually walks away from those encounters bruised and battered. Think you could help him do better? Here’s your chance to find out, playing as Jesse in this original Breaking Bad graphic novel game. Think you can make it past shady lawyers, drug-addled prostitutes and dangerous thugs without getting killed? Play Breaking Bad – The Cost of Doing Business and put your criminal wherewithal to the test.
Platform(s): Web, iOS, Android
Partners: AMC Television
Playmatics Role:
Design, development and interactive narrative construction.
Red Bull: Focus
A fun and lively puzzle game — unique — and featuring music by Pharrell Williams.
Platform(s): iOS, Android
Partners: Red Bull
Playmatics Role:
Design and development.
Sonoanatomy: Columbia University Medical
A medical educational game teaching residents in anesthesology how to use sonograms to deliver nerve blocks.
Platform(s): Web
Partners: Columbia University Medical
Playmatics Role:
Design and development.
AMC’s The Walking Dead: Dead Reckoning
When Rick wakes from a coma, he finds his wife Lori and his partner Shane gone and the police station basically abandoned. (Sure, former deputy Leon Bassett is still around but he’s a zombie now.) Where are Shane and Lori? How did Leon end up like that? Get to the root of the matter with this interactive teaser of The Walking Dead: Dead Reckoning, AMC’s online game which lets you play the role of Shane Walsh during civilization’s final days. Who’s a threat? Who needs to be saved? Who must be sacrificed for the greater good?
Platform(s): Web, iOS, Android
Partners: AMC Television
Playmatics Role:
Design, development and interactive narrative construction.
Nightscape at Longwood Gardens
Platform:
Real-World
with Klip Collective
Playmatics Role:
Game design services.
With Klip Collective
LEGO On Patrol
LEGO City is busy. The police are looking for thieves, the fire brigade is on the move, the ambulance is off on rescue, the cargo train is fully loaded, Play On Patrol for some platform-hopping good fun.
Platform(s): Web
Partners: LEGO
Playmatics Role:
Design and development.
Play On Patrol now. Please note that you will need to activate Flash on your browser.
Disney Interactive
Prototype of time management game for an unreleased Disney title.
Playmatics Role:Prototype design and development.
Running of the Stocks
A protest game about the 2008 financial crisis themed around the running of the bulls.
Platform(s): Real-world
Playmatics Role:
Design and development.
Come Out and Play Festival
An annual festival in New York, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco dedicated to new street games.
Platform(s): Real-world
Partner(s): Greg Trefry, ESI (Peter Vigeant, Debra Everett-Lane), Catherine Herdlick, Mattia Romeo, Peter Lee
Playmatics Role:
Co-founder
Kill Him and You Will Be Famous
Be the master, or kill the master. You know that scene in the kung fu movie where the master takes on 50 thugs one at a time? This is the street game version of that.
Platform(s):Real-world
Playmatics Role:
Design and Full Development
The American Museum of Natural History — MicroRangers
MicroRangers is a new mobile game at the Museum that shrinks you down to microscopic size and sends you into exhibits to combat threats to biodiversity. Nine MicroCrises await—real-world scenarios involving microorganisms— starting in the 1st floor Hall of Biodiversity. For advanced game players, marshall your resources to take on the 6th Extinction. Armed with the mobile app and a free Communicator Coin, augmented characters – both microbes and scientists – will send you on missions and help you along the way. Have fun while you learn how even the smallest things can make a big difference.
MicroRangers employs a range of technologies to: geolocate you within the Museum, offer augmented animated characters to guide you, and provide mini-games that bring the dioramas to life.
Platform(s): iOS, Android
Partners: American Museum of Natural History, Geomedia
Playmatics Role:
Game design
Humanoid Asteroid
A dance/game mashup of the arcade classic Asteroids. Designed in collaboration with Sam Strick.
Platform(s): Real-world
Playmatics Role:
Design and Full Development
Disney’s Kingdom Keepers: Race to Save the Magic
Kingdom Keepers: Race to Save the Magic is a brand new type of gaming experience that expands on the Kingdom Keepers brand in thrilling directions – exciting fans in the run-up to the next book launch and recruiting a whole new generation of young adults to enter the electrifying world of Kingdom Keepers. The game combines the following elements from several successful gaming genres: alternate reality games, “choose your own adventure” books, hidden object games, spot-the-difference games.
Platform(s): Web
Partners: Disney Publishing
Playmatics Role:
Concept, design, game development, script writing + working with on-site video production.
Sherlock
These workshops explore collaborative creativity and storytelling through the frame of Sherlock Holmes and using the affordances of the Internet of Things.
Platform(s): Storytelling
Partners: Lance Weiler, Digital Storytelling Lab (Columbia University), Lincoln Center
Playmatics Role:
Co-Founder
Higher than the Stars
An IoT enabled game for 12 people that simulates the use of night for early identity exploration, or more simply, sneaking out of your house at 13 to make out.
Platform(s): Real-world
Playmatics Role:
Concept, development, design. In progress.
Measure for Marriage
A live-action role-playing event at which a real marriage proposal took place.
Platform(s):
Real-world
