Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser has created a new game studio called Absurd Ventures, and it's living up to its name. This past week the Absurd Ventures studio website came online, and along with it a duo of odd images that seemingly make no sense.
One asks the question "so you want to be an intimacy coordinator?" While the other simply says "the robots are depressed." Strange, sure. But nowhere near the level of absurdity as the studio's introduction trailer. Which feels like it sits somewhere between the weirdness of Stanley Kubrick's 'A Clockwork Orange' and a mashup of MKUltra interrogation footage. In fact, the studio's introduction video is precisely the same style of footage that the main character in A Clockwork Orange is forced to watch after being arrested and submitted for behavioral modification therapy.
That's not to say there's any sort of connection there at all. It just gives off a similar vibe. And likely is intended to be that way. The studio's tagline "Storytelling. Philanthropy. Ultraviolence." even potentially features a reference of sorts to the film. As the film's main character often expresses that he enjoys "a little of the old ultraviolence."
Interestingly, the video doesn't really say much about what the studio plans to do. But it does appear that Absurd Ventures has described its goals elsewhere. The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley mentions a press release that lays out Absurd Ventures' broad plans. Which include "building narrative worlds." Additionally, the studio will focus on creating characters to fill these worlds and write stories for them to tell.
Absurd also says these creations will span a diverse variety of genres. But they also won't be limited to just video games. Whatever the studio makes, it appears it will be tied to other mediums. Such as graphic novels, other interactive content, animation and live-action content, books, and even scripted podcasts. Most of these things can also briefly be seen on the Absurd Ventures website feed. Just under the large 'Feed' header, you can see the page cycling through the words "graphic novels, video games, television, animation, audio books, and moral degeneracy."
Whatever Absurd Ventures is currently working on, Houser definitely seems to have a clear vision for it. Even if it might be absurd.
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