Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck and Spec Ops: The Line creative director Cory Davis have partnered up to make a new studio called Eyes Out, which is already working on its first game. This unique collaboration aims to bring two very different creatives together with their unique experiences and expertise to make compelling new experiences in gaming. This surprising collaboration is one of many to come out of the industry this year, as more and more creatives from other industries are making the leap into gaming.
Recently, District 9 director Neill Blomkamp announced he was joining Gunzilla, a new developer comprised of industry veterans from studios like Crytek and Ubisoft. Blomkamp is not new to gaming by any means, as he was tapped in the mid-2000s to direct a Halo film which tragically never saw the light of day. Nonetheless, Blomkamp went on to direct District 9 which was nomninated for multiple Oscars including Best Picture. It seems to indicate that gaming is really growing as a noteworthy art form and other creatives would like to express their fantasies in the interactive medium.
Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck is the latest big name to make big moves in the industry, as he's working with Spec Ops: The Line creative director Cory Davis at a new studio called Eyes Out. Finck isn't new to the industry, though, as he's scored games like the acclaimed sci-fi game, Observation. The two will combine their creative prowess on the studio's untitled first game, which is described as a "single-player immersive cosmic horror game with strong environmental storytelling elements". It's unclear just how far along this game is, but Finck had high praise for Davis, which should speak volumes regarding their collaborative creative process.
"Cory is a true and impassioned artist. He’s a visionary leader who draws the highest and best from each person on the team, no matter their position. He’s capable and dedicated and he’s open to forces unspeakable. He’s rare. Weird, even. We connected about films and games and music and all the minutia and it was a really positive charge colliding with him. We have a simpatico work ethic and drive, and we see each other soul to soul. Our play together is inspired"
Given the success of Spec Ops: The Line and the unique sound of Nine Inch Nails' music, this seems like a very exciting collaboration. Both creators clearly have a lot of passion for what they do and their minds seem to work in very inspired ways. It remains to be seen just how their first game will turn out, but it does already sound like it's going to be a weird one given the cosmic horror setting.
Davis' work on Specs Ops: The Line is still looked back on very fondly and is often a reference point for very mature stories in games, which bodes well for the story of the first game from Eyes Out. Finck's work as both the guitarist of Nine Inch Nails and composer of Observation should also lend well to the cosmic horror setting of the studio's first game. That said, it'll likely be a while before fans get to play the mystery game.