[Xavier]

Jeff Braun - the transcript

http://www.cordweekly.com/cordweekly...4&news_id=1777

what he said:

So what are you up to now?

(Jeff Braun) I like to get involved in things that are sort of innovative. I’m working with a group that created the Oddworld Games. They’ve come up with some really clever new ideas and I’ve been helping them for about a year to bring it to fruition. What it is – the animation tools are getting so good that you can actually have pretty high quality animation and developing a video game that is 1:1 on the graphics. So you’re not just playing the video game of the animation – you are actually on the set of the animation – the objects are exactly the same. I was really intrigued by this – so I don’t know when or how – we’ve been working on it for a few years.

I’ve been really intrigued with this idea of mixed media – there’s an online component and a linear TV component. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, and the tools are now getting to the point where there’re pretty damn good. My understanding is that the new Grand Theft Auto has a pretty good story. The one thing that the gaming industry has done very very poor at is storytelling. I’m intrigued by the idea of doing better at that. So that’s sort of what I’ve been toying with.

How is life since Maxis?

I’m just enjoying the fruits of my labour I guess. I have a passion for the industry, so I never quite left. I like to be involved with smart people in the industry. That’s why I’m working with these Oddworld folks. They are really smart and very creative and I can help them. I like to have that foot in my door at all times. I’ve definitely pulled back since I left electronic arts.

I remember listening to Lorne Lanning on the 1up Yours podcast and he spoke about how the small nature of Oddworld Inhabitants has really allowed them to explore and try new ideas. Sometimes it feels like that it is hard to find innovation and truly fresh ideas – is Inhabitants really pushing boundaries?

They are just really really smart – and a great history and a lot of knowledge. What I’m helping with is the business side of things - not so much on the innovation and creativity side - and how to come out stronger as opposed to weaker. There are a lot of ‘gotchas’ in the game industry, with the publisher relationships and it’s a tricky minefield, so I’ve been trying to help them.

They are one of the most creative groups, and I’ve known them for so long, so it’s really a pleasure to go in and say, “Lets see what we can do here.”

When I left EA it was because I hadn’t seen any innovation in a while. I didn’t for six years from 2000 to 2006. Once I saw the Wii I said, “here’s some new blood and new innovation.” So it’s really exciting with what I’m doing with Oddworld to see if we can somehow pull it off. It’s not easy. That’s the thing that motivates me – to be involved with something that is innovative.