Matt Costello
     
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  Coming Attractions                                            
 

G-Force lands in July

The innovative 3-D game G-Force will be released on the opening day of the Disney/Bruckheimer film, July 24.

The live action and CGI film stars Nicolas Cage, Tracy Morgan, Penelope Cruz and Sam Rockwell as the team’s leader, Darwin. In G-Force some amazing guinea pigs take on missions that seem – well -- impossible. Matt wrote the full story and script for the videogame, developed by Eurocom.

Catch the game trailer here:
» http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-09-g-force/50219

 
 
 

First Press Previews of Just Cause 2

Just Cause 2 is not due for release until 2010. But already the game is garnering exciting early previews. GamePro said, "This game could be one of 2009's biggest action hits." And Eurogamer had this to say after playing a game demo: “What we've been shown so far is unexpectedly thrilling.”

Written by Matt and Neil Richards, JC2 features the further improbable adventures of agent Rico Rodriguez who has to overthrow the evil dictator of Panau, Baby Panay, and confront his former boss, Tom Sheldon.

For the full ‘previews’ check out:
» http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/209522/just-cause-2-preview-xbox-360/
» http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/just-cause-2-preview

And for the game trailer, see:
» http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-09-just-cause-2/49807

 
 
 
 

The $100,000 Rebus Contest and the Search for Amelia Earhart

 

 
 

From out of the blue, a few months ago an email arrived concerning Matt’s 1988 book, The Greatest Puzzles of All Time. That email mentioned one chapter in the book which told the tale about the remarkable depression-era rebus contest run by Old Gold cigarettes which became a massive phenomenon, with a first prize of $100,000...about $1.5 million today.

Then came a surprise. The writer of the email, Cannon Alsobrook, said that his grandfather – one of the prize winners -- also happened to be one of the pilots who searched the Pacific for Amelia Earhart.

And suddenly it seemed that it might make for an interesting magazine article. Millions of people solving rebuses, the depression still holding on, that massive prize -- and the mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance. As Cannon wrote: "These naval cadets who eventually won the whole contest, were, for at least part of the time of the contest, tied to another major event in American history."

The article – with some further surprises –will be the lead feature in Games Magazine's September issue.

 
 
 
 

Maelstrom To Go

Maelstrom, the second novel by Matt based on the best-selling and award-winning game Doom 3, has been out for a few months. But now you can also get downloadable versions of Maelstrom, as well as first book, Worlds on Fire. here:

» http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/cgi-bin/item/parent-9781416553854/Doom-3-Maelstrom-eBook.html

 
 
 
 

b’Tween 2009 and Develop 2009

Matt will be one of the keynotes at this year’s b’Tween Conference to be held in Liverpool on June 10th and 11th, an exciting and diverse community and marketplace for interactive ideas. The title of that keynote is ‘Play -- and the Convergence of Game and Story.’

Learn more at:
» http://btween.co.uk/


 
 
 
 

Matt is also scheduled to be on a panel at the major game conference Develop in Brighton, UK, July 14th-16th. The panel of experienced writers, designers and developers will be devoted to the challenges and creative process of developing games from other media, such as film and TV.

For more:
» http://www.develop-conference.com/