Elan Lee

Infobox Writer
name = Elan Lee


caption = Elan Lee designing Tombstone Hold 'Em (2005) with a golf ball attached to his head
birthdate = birth date and age|1975|01|26
birthplace = Los Angeles, California, United States
deathdate =
deathplace =
occupation = Alternate Reality Game Designer
influences =
influenced =

Elan Lee (born 1975) is a game designer who is widely regarded (along with Jordan Weisman and Sean Stewart) as one of the creators of the genre of Alternate Reality Games.

Biography

Lee started his career as a character designer at Industrial Light and Magic, where he worked on several motion pictures. In 1998 he became lead game designer at Microsoft Game Studios, designing and directing games for the PC and Xbox.

In 2003 he co-founded 42 Entertainment, a design company in the new field of the Alternate Reality Games (ARGs). 42 has created multiple ARGs, including "The Beast", to promote the Steven Spielberg film A.I., "I Love Bees" to promote the Xbox game Halo 2, and "Year Zero", to promote the Nine Inch Nails album "Year Zero".

In 2006, he founded [http://www.edoclaundry.com edoc laundry] , a company designed to produce ARGs using clothes as the primary platform. Consumers decipher the codes hidden within the garments and input the results into the game's main website to reveal pieces of a story about the murder of a band manager.

In 2007, he founded [http://www.fourthwallstudios.com Fourth Wall Studios] , an entertainment studio aiming to develop and publish a wide range of entertainment experiences, from single-player adventures that blend with reality, to massive real-time experiences that play out all over the world.

Credits

* "Year Zero" (with 42 Entertainment): Designer (2007)
* [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"] (with 42 Entertainment): Lead Designer (2007)
* [http://www.42entertainment.com/poker.html "Last Call Poker"] (with 42 Entertainment): Lead Designer (2005)
*"I Love Bees" (with 42 Entertainment): Lead Designer (2004)
*"The Beast": Lead Designer (2001)

Acclaim

2008

*Cannes Lions Grand Prix Award (Viral Marketing) [ [http://www.canneslions.com/winners/cyber/win_1_1_01026.htm 2008 Cannes Lions Grand Prix Winners] ] for "Year Zero"
*Cannes Lions Silver Award (Integrated Campaign) [ [http://www.canneslions.com/winners/cyber/win_3_2_01024.htm 2008 Cannes Lions Silver Award Winners] ] for "Year Zero"
*Webby Peoples Voice Award (Branded Content) [ [http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?media_id=98 2008 Webby Award Winners] ] for "Year Zero"
*Webby Peoples Voice Award (Integrated Campaigns) [ [http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?media_id=98 2008 Webby Award Winners] ] for "Year Zero"
*Clio Award (Bronze) [ [http://www.clioawards.com/winners/index.cfm?medium_id=8&award_id=4&search=1 2008 Clio Award Winners] ] for "Year Zero"

2007

*W3 Best in Show Award (Games and Gaming: Campaign) [ [http://www.w3award.com/webapp/winners/show/best/2 2007 W3 Winners] ] for [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"]
*W3 Gold Award (Games and Gaming: Campaign) [ [http://www.w3award.com/webapp/winners/show/gold/2 2007 W3 Winners] ] for [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"]
*W3 Gold Award (Events: Campaign) [ [http://www.w3award.com/webapp/winners/show/gold/2 2007 W3 Winners] ] for [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"]
*W3 Silver Award (Entertainment: Viral) [ [http://www.w3award.com/webapp/winners/show/silver/2 2007 W3 Winners] ] for [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"]
*W3 Silver Award (General Interests Variety: Game or Application) [ [http://www.w3award.com/webapp/winners/show/silver/2 2007 W3 Winners] ] for [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"]
*W3 Silver Award (Social Networking: Game or Application) [ [http://www.w3award.com/webapp/winners/show/silver/2 2007 W3 Winners] ] for [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"]
*W3 Silver Award (Games and Gaming: Game or Application) [ [http://www.w3award.com/webapp/winners/show/silver/2 2007 W3 Winners] ] for [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"]
*W3 Silver Award (Entertainment: Campaign) [ [http://www.w3award.com/webapp/winners/show/silver/2 2007 W3 Winners] ] for [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"]
*W3 Silver Award (Strange and Unusual: Site) [ [http://www.w3award.com/webapp/winners/show/silver/2 2007 W3 Winners] ] for [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"]
*W3 Silver Award (Marketing: Site) [ [http://www.w3award.com/webapp/winners/show/silver/2 2007 W3 Winners] ] for [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"]
*W3 Silver Award (Best Visual Appeal: Site) [ [http://www.w3award.com/webapp/winners/show/silver/2 2007 W3 Winners] ] for [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"]
*Davey Award [ [http://www.daveyawards.com/winners/list/?event=3&category=8&award=G 2007 Davey Award Winners] ] for [http://www.42entertainment.com/vpg.html "The Vanishing Point"]

2005

*"I Love Bees" received an Innovation Award from the International Game Developers Association
*"I Love Bees" received a Games-related Webby.

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1195288/ IMDB]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bctGWwTXXz8 Ignite Talk]

Notable Interviews

* [http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20061206/ruberg_01.shtml Gamasutra: Elan Lee's Alternate Reality]
* [http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/14/joystiq-interviews-elan-lee-of-42-entertainment/ Joystick Interviews Elan Lee of 42 Entertainment]

References