Mobius Digital
  • Games
    • Outer Wilds - Echoes of the Eye
    • Outer Wilds
    • Beacon 38
    • Terra Chroma
  • News
  • Team
  • Press
  • Support
  • Contact

Masi  Oka  Discusses  Producing  IGF WINNER  Outer Wilds

6/25/2015

 
Masi Oka's name is traditionally linked with the television screen instead of the gaming screen, but the star of Heroes and Hawaii Five-0 has always had been drawn to the world of gaming. "I grew up loving games and am still a big gamer myself," said Oka, a former World of Warcraft guild officer. "I love creating things, and loved the idea of creating something from zero to product in a shorter span of time.  Movies can take many years, sometimes tens of years from conception to finish, while games can be created in a fraction of the time."

Oka in fact worked as a digital artist at George Lucas' famed VFX house Industrial Light & Magic before stepping in front of the camera. Two years ago he decided to create Mobius Digital, a studio dedicated to exploring fun, quirky, innovative games with rich story worlds.

"When I was building my studio, I sought out talent at the USC Interactive Media and Games department demo day," Oka explained. It was there that he saw Outer Wilds for the first time. "It was love at first sight. The only game that really caught my eye and I found that I would want to play was Outer Wilds." 
At the time it seemed like the chance to bring Mobius and Outer Wilds together had passed: creator Alex Beachum had decided to take a designer position at Microsoft. 

Oka hired Loan Verneau, fellow USC alum and creator of 2014 IGF nominee Paralect, to be lead designer at his studio. It so happens that Verneau & Beachum were best friends and co-collaborators in grad school, and when Beachum returned to Los Angeles, he came to work at Mobius.
Picture
Pictured (L to R): Alex Beachum, Masi Oka, and Loan Verneau
Picture
Oka plays Outer Wilds in the Mobius office.
Outer Wilds then went on to win the Grand Prize as well as the Excellence in Design at the 2015 IGF Awards, and an agreement was reached to finish the game at Mobius. 

"Alex and Loan have been with Mobius for our first two title releases and it was just natural to continue the journey." Oka mused. "We have a great vision and roadmap for the project. "
"The biggest shift is staffing a few new members and transitioning into developing on a different platform," Oka continued. "We've been on mobile the whole time, so we're excited about the new challenge." 
Filming takes Oka across the world, but when he's in Los Angeles he plays an active role in the direction of Mobius by giving critical feedback, arranging business deals, and helping shape the creative vision of the studio.  When asked of his role with Outer Wilds, Oka said, "My role will be to support the team and Alex's vision.  I will be involved in giving creative input, but more practically with fundraising, QA and marketing."  


Asked on whether his celebrity would play any role in the production, Oka said, "It's very possible but it'll all be kept under wraps.  We definitely like putting Easter Eggs on all of our content, so you might see something."
Picture
Producer Avimaan Syam & Oka
The first two years have been an adventure for Oka, and he sees a positive future ahead for his team:  "I hope we can grow Mobius into a studio that can shape the future and open up new markets for interactive games and storytelling." 
Picture
Masi & the Mobius Team

Join our mailing list for all the latest news on Outer Wilds!

* indicates required
Sony Cameras link
3/26/2020 07:14:19 pm

It's such a great thing, I want to try it, so how can I try it? Thanks you

Logan Warner link
2/15/2021 04:21:39 am

Niice blog


Comments are closed.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    From the

    strip

    Updates on our games, our process, and the joys of being Mobius Digital.

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Outer Wilds
    Step By Step

    RSS Feed

Follow us on
Fan Content Policy
  • Games
    • Outer Wilds - Echoes of the Eye
    • Outer Wilds
    • Beacon 38
    • Terra Chroma
  • News
  • Team
  • Press
  • Support
  • Contact