F E L L O W S H IP
Above, lÐr: Sam Houser, Dan Houser, Leslie Benzies, Aaron Garbut. Below: Red Dead Redemption
The company has more than weathered the storm, with the recent success of GTAV simply rubber-stamping its ambitions for the medium. “Gamers are growing up,” Houser told The Sunday Times Culture Magazine in 2013, “though we are still 10–20 years from all people in governance or authority understanding that it’s the same as any other art form and should not be singled out. We’re evolving. These kinds of things don’t happen overnight.” That this evolution in storytelling is matched by immersive gameplay, inspired technical innovations and great commercial success underlines why Rockstar deserves to be presented with this year’s Fellowship. “It is hugely exciting to be able to recognise the amazing contribution made by Rockstar to the industry over the past 16 years,” says Harvey Elliott, chair of the BAFTA Games Committee. “The creativity and passion exhibited by the Rockstar teams
THE ACA DE MY FELLOWSHIP
over these years have inspired a generation of game developers to raise the bar in every aspect of development, from design and mechanics, through to storytelling, cinematics and audio immersion. And, in the process, creating games that compete so profoundly on a global stage not just in games, but across all entertainment media.” The story doesn’t end here either. The Rockstar juggernaut will continue to drive the games industry forward. As Houser told trade publication MCV in 2008: “We are only scratching at the surface of games’ potential as a creative medium.” Six years on and with new technology continuing to push the art form ever forwards, it’s hard to disagree this isn’t still the case.
“The creativity and passion exhibited by Rockstar over these years have inspired a generation of game developers to raise the bar.”
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