:Joseph Staten
{{Short description|American writer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Joseph Staten
| image = Joe Staten (2007).jpg
| caption = Staten at the 2007 Comic-Con International
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| education = Northwestern University (BS)
University of Chicago (MA)
| occupation = Writer, cinematic director
| employer =
}}
Joseph Staten is an American writer best known for his work at video game studios Bungie, Microsoft Studios, and 343 Industries.
At Bungie, Staten served as director of cinematics for the studio's games, including the Halo series; he would write mission scripts and movie dialogue for the titles. He has also been involved in managing the expansion of the Halo franchise to other game studios and producers, including Peter Jackson's Wingnut Interactive. Though not a published author previously, Tor Books approached Staten to write the fifth novel in the Halo franchise, Halo: Contact Harvest. Released in 2007, the novel reached #3 on The New York Times bestseller list in the first week of its release and received positive reviews. Staten rejoined Microsoft Studios as a member of the Microsoft Publishing team. Helping with the publishing of titles like Recore and Microsoft Flight Simulator. In 2018 he joined 343 industries as the creative director on Halo Infinite, and left the company in 2023 to become a creative director at Netflix.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=2023-04-17 |title=Joseph Staten, who helped get Halo Infinite over the finish line, is joining Netflix |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/17/23686693/netflix-joseph-staten-aaa-game-halo-veteran |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=The Verge |language=en}} In October 2024, he and the rest of the employees of Netflix's southern California gaming studio were let go.{{cite news |last1=Totilo |first1=Stephen |title=Scoop: Netflix shuts down 'AAA' Team Blue gaming studio, amid gaming shake-up |url=https://www.gamefile.news/p/netflix-team-blue-socal-studio |access-date=22 October 2024 |work=www.gamefile.news |language=en}}
Early life and education
Joseph Staten was born in San Francisco in 1971.{{Cite web |last=Hassan |first=Saad |date=May 5, 2023 |orig-date=May 5, 2023 |title=Joseph Staten, Former Halo Infinite Developer, Joining Netflix |url=https://www.zleague.gg/theportal/joseph-staten-joining-netflix/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811045412/https://www.zleague.gg/theportal/joseph-staten-joining-netflix/ |archive-date=August 11, 2024 |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=www.zleague.gg |language=en-US}} He is the son of a minister who is a professor of theology and philosophy of religion.{{cite web| last=Perry| first=Douglass| title=The Halo Harvest Interview, Part 1| url=http://www.gametap.com/articles/gamefeatures/the_halo_harvest_interview_part_1-10292007| date=October 29, 2007| publisher=GameTap| access-date=April 22, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420061517/http://www.gametap.com/articles/gamefeatures/the_halo_harvest_interview_part_1-10292007| archive-date=April 20, 2008| url-status=dead}} He entered Northwestern University in 1990 with the aspiration of becoming a professional actor. Realizing he was not leading man material, he switched his focus to other subjects and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in communication and international studies in 1994. Staten also has studied at the University of Chicago, where he received a Master of Arts degree in international relations in 1997.{{cite news|author=Dudley, Brian|date=June 29, 2009|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009395945_brier29.html|title=Developers at Bungie ready to spring new heroes in the 'Halo' universe|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=June 30, 2009}}
After being rejected for employment with the Central Intelligence Agency, Staten dropped the idea of entering the foreign service and instead helped his family at their winery in Sonoma Valley. He pursued a number of jobs before becoming a staff member at game development studio Bungie in 1998 after meeting some of the developers in online Myth matches.{{cite web| title=Meet The Team| url=http://www.bungie.net/Inside/MeetTheTeam.aspx?Person=staten| date=April 1, 2008| publisher=Bungie| access-date=April 22, 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415211420/http://www.bungie.net/Inside/MeetTheTeam.aspx?person=staten| archive-date=April 15, 2008}}
Career
=Bungie=
Staten's former role at Bungie was director of cinematics and was responsible for the in-game movies for Bungie's Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and Halo 3.{{cite web| last=Lu| first=Cathy| title=Halo's Big Grunt| url=http://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/summer2006/feature/halo.html| date=July 1, 2006| publisher=Northwestern Magazine| access-date=April 22, 2008}}{{cite web| author=O'Connor, Frank| title=Halo: Contact Harvest| url=http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12430| date=May 10, 2007| work=Bungie| access-date=April 22, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822160103/http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12430| archive-date=August 22, 2011| url-status=dead}} Work on the games at "crunch time" involved 80-hour weeks and stretches without sleep maxing out at 72 hours. Staten worked alongside three other staff writers at Bungie, each with their own separate role: Frank O'Connor developed Halo 3{{'}}s combat dialogue, Rob McLees focused on Halo canon and working with licensing partners, and Staten developed the cinematics and missions scripts.{{cite web|author=Croal, N'Gai|date=January 15, 2008|url=http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/archive/2008/01/15/the-joseph-staten-interview-part-i.aspx|title=The Joseph Staten Interview, Part I|work=Newsweek|access-date=July 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010072854/http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/archive/2008/01/15/the-joseph-staten-interview-part-i.aspx|archive-date=October 10, 2008|url-status=dead}} Staten said in an interview that he considered it challenging to write for the games, as "first person shooters [are] all about writing 'between the bullets'"—relating plot information to the players in between action sequences. "You need to be efficient and clever to give players the story—the context—they need. But you don't want to push too hard or they'll reject it." During his work on the games he read science fiction works by Iain Banks, Robert A. Heinlein, and Vernor Vinge. In addition to his writing contributions, Staten lends his voice to small aliens known as Grunts in all three video games.{{cite web|author1=Bolton, Bill |author2=Chris Micieli, Mark Turcotte |date=November 6, 2009 |url=http://www.avaultpodcast.com/ |title=Podcast Episode #54 - Joseph Staten |publisher=Adrenaline Vault |access-date=November 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031075632/http://www.avaultpodcast.com/ |archive-date=October 31, 2009}}—interview segment from 0:11:00–0:28:00.
Though previous Halo novels had been written by professional writers like Eric Nylund and William C. Dietz, publisher Tor Books chose Staten to write the fifth Halo novelization, Halo: Contact Harvest.{{cite web| last=Johnson| first=Stephen| title=EXCLUSIVE: Joseph Staten Interview| url=http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/680487/EXCLUSIVE_Joseph_Staten_Interview.html| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103015202/http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/680487/EXCLUSIVE_Joseph_Staten_Interview.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=January 3, 2013| date=October 31, 2007| publisher=G4 TV| access-date=April 22, 2008}} Editor Eric Raab noted in the book's press release that "who better to tell the tale" of humanity's encounter with the antagonistic alien Covenant than Staten, who had "intimate knowledge" of the series' story.{{cite news|author=Tor Books|author-link=Tor Books|date=November 4, 2007|title=Tor Books Debuts Halo: Contact Harvest Today|publisher=PR Newswire|page=1}} The novel is an ensemble piece, with the action being narrated from both human and alien viewpoints; the work of Staten's favorite science-fiction authors helped teach him the importance of honing a "strong, consistent voice".{{cite web|author1=O'Connor, Frank|author2=Joseph Staten|date=May 10, 2007|url=http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12430|title=Top Story: Halo: Contact Harvest|publisher=Bungie|access-date=January 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822160103/http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12430|archive-date=August 22, 2011|url-status=dead}} Staten found that writing compelling action involved slowing things down, paradoxically the opposite of the fast-paced gameplay of a Halo title. He considered the book the perfect way to elaborate on the Halo story without stripping it down for a video game,{{cite video |people=Joffe-Walt, Chana; Staten, Joseph |date=January 8, 2008 |title=Best-Selling Book Shows Halo Game's Wide Appeal |url= https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17938562|format=Flash |publisher=National Public Radio |access-date=January 13, 2008}} and flesh out the character of Avery Johnson more than the games had allowed.
File:Ray Muzykaj Joseph Staten Geoff Keighley GDC 2010 - Day 2.jpg.]]
On release, Contact Harvest reached a top spot of #3 on the New York Times bestseller list,{{cite web|url=http://www.gamedaily.com/games/halo-3/xbox-360/game-news/halo-contact-harvest-becomes-new-york-times-bestseller-in-first-week/5186/18598/ |title=Halo: Contact Harvest Becomes New York Times Bestseller in First Week |date=November 19, 2007 |author=Brightman, James |publisher=Game Daily |access-date=January 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103201210/http://www.gamedaily.com/games/halo-3/xbox-360/game-news/halo-contact-harvest-becomes-new-york-times-bestseller-in-first-week/5186/18598/ |archive-date=January 3, 2008}} where it remained for four weeks.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/index.asp?layout=pwkprofileTitle&iMarketID=7&iReleaseID=370073&view=iReleaseID&text=370073&vchProductTitle=Halo%3A+Contact+Harvest&iContributorID=611730&q=Contact+Harvest |title=Title Profile: Halo: Contact Harvest |magazine=Publishers Weekly |access-date=April 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207172714/http://www.publishersweekly.com/index.asp?layout=pwkprofileTitle&iMarketID=7&iReleaseID=370073&view=iReleaseID&text=370073&vchProductTitle=Halo%3A+Contact+Harvest&iContributorID=611730&q=Contact+Harvest |archive-date=February 7, 2009}} The novel also appeared on the USA Today bestsellers list at the same time.{{cite web|author=Beradini, César |date=November 19, 2007 |url=http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/15135/Halo-Contact-Harvest-Debuts-on-NY-Times-Bestseller-List/ |title=Halo: Contact Harvest Debuts on NY Times Bestseller List |publisher=Team Xbox |access-date=January 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223165912/http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/15135/Halo-Contact-Harvest-Debuts-on-NY-Times-Bestseller-List/ |archive-date=December 23, 2007}} Reviewers noted that despite being an unproven writer, Staten had succeeded in crafting an excellent novel.{{cite web|author=Clausen, Joel|date=December 1, 2007|url=http://www.planetxbox360.com/index.php/articledetails/show/3147/3|title=Book Review: Contact Harvest|publisher=PlanetXbox360|access-date=January 20, 2008}} The novel's success was considered to be evidence that games were breaking into the mainstream, and that the genre was becoming increasingly about the story.
After Contact Harvest{{'}}s release Staten played an important role in the development of offshoots to the Halo franchise. He traveled to New Zealand several times to work with Peter Jackson and Weta Workshop.{{cite news|author=Fritz, Ben|date=October 9, 2005|title=The Jackson brain trust hooks up with 'Halo'|work=Chicago Tribune|page=30}} Staten assisted with the fiction of Ensemble Studios title Halo Wars, and the now-postponed Halo film. In interviews, Staten has explained that the game's protagonist, the Master Chief, would serve as a supporting character rather than who the film would focus on.{{cite web|author=Caron, Frank|date=January 18, 2008|url=https://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2008/01/16/bungie-writing-director-joseph-staten-talks-halo-film|title=Bungie writing director Joseph Staten talks Halo film|publisher=ArsTechnica|access-date=June 29, 2008}} He worked on story development for the Halo 3 expansion, Halo 3: ODST.{{cite video |people=Jarrard, Brian; Luke Smith, Chad Armstrong |date=October 31, 2008 |title=The Bungie Podcast 10/31/08: With Joseph Staten, Martin O'Donnell, and Jim McQuillan |url=http://bpc.bungie.org/Bungie_Podcasts_Halloween_08.zip |format=.MP3 (zipped) |medium=Podcast |publisher=Bungie |location=Washington |access-date=November 2, 2008}} Staten provided the voices for a number of characters as placeholder audio during the representational play testing of the game in December 2008.{{cite web|author=Urk|date=December 19, 2008|url=http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16551|title=Bungie Weekly Update: 12/19/08|publisher=Bungie|access-date=February 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223041216/http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16551|archive-date=December 23, 2008|url-status=dead}} Staten was last working for Bungie as the writer and design director for Destiny.{{cite web|first=Dan |last=Mihoerck|date=June 11, 2013|url=http://www.gamespot.com/e3/destiny-e3-2013-stage-demo-6409881/|title=Destiny - E3 2013 Stage Demo Video|access-date=June 11, 2013}} On September 24, 2013, Bungie announced that Staten had left the company to pursue new creative challenges.{{cite web|author=Dague, David|date=September 24, 2013|url=https://www.bungie.net/7_Its-been-an-honor/en/News/News?aid=11101|title=It's been an honor.|work=Bungie|publisher=Bungie|access-date=September 24, 2013|archive-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927142131/https://www.bungie.net/7_Its-been-an-honor/en/News/News?aid=11101|url-status=dead}}
=Microsoft=
Staten rejoined Microsoft Studios (now known as Xbox Game Studios) as a senior creative director on January 9, 2014.{{cite web|author=Campbell, Colin|date=January 9, 2014|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/1/9/5293310/former-bungie-bigwig-joe-staten-returns-to-microsoft|title=Former Bungie bigwig Joe Staten returns to Microsoft|work=Polygon|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=January 11, 2014}} On March 12, 2015, 343 Industries' official website posted a blog post detailing a list of upcoming Halo novels. One of the novels listed is Halo: Shadow of Intent authored by Joseph Staten and released on December 7, 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-novel-ideas |title=Canon Fodder - Novel Ideas |last=Easterling |first=Jeff |date=March 12, 2015 |website=Halo Waypoint |access-date=March 12, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132342/https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-novel-ideas |archive-date=April 2, 2015}} He is the lead writer for Microsoft's ReCore and Crackdown 3, released on September 13, 2016 and February 15, 2019 respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-exclusive-recore-written-by-destiny-halo-/1100-6433435/|title=Xbox One Exclusive ReCore Written By Destiny, Halo Universe Co-Creator|first=Eddie|last=Makuch|work=GameSpot|date=December 31, 2015|access-date=January 2, 2016}}{{Cite web|date=February 2, 2019|title=Crackdown 3: Interview with Microsoft's Joseph Staten & Jorg Neumann|url=https://geekculture.co/crackdown-3-interview-with-microsofts-joseph-staten-jorg-neumann/|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Geek Culture|language=en-US}}
On August 26, 2020, 343 Industries announced that Staten had joined the team as Campaign Project Lead for Halo Infinite.{{cite web|url=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/familiar-facts|title=FAMILIAR FACTS|first=John|last=Junysek|work=343 Industries|date=August 27, 2020|access-date=August 27, 2020|archive-date=August 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827074443/https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/familiar-facts|url-status=dead}} 343 Industries later announced that Joseph's role had changed to Head of Creative for Halo Infinite.{{cite web|url=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/inside-infinite-march-2021|title=INSIDE INFINITE - MARCH 2021|work=343 Industries|date=March 25, 2021|access-date=March 31, 2021}} Staten left 343 Industries for his former position within the publishing division for Xbox Game Studios in 2023,{{Cite news |date=2023-01-18 |title=Microsoft Cuts Include Game Divisions Behind Halo, Starfield |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-18/microsoft-layoffs-include-gaming-units-behind-halo-starfield |access-date=2023-02-01}} and announced he would be leaving Microsoft entirely later that year.{{cite web|last=Valentine|first=Rebekah|date=April 7, 2023|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/joseph-staten-is-leaving-xbox-microsoft-has-confirmed|title=Joseph Staten Is Leaving Xbox, Microsoft Has Confirmed|website=IGN|access-date=April 9, 2023}}
Staten joined a California studio at Netflix called Team Blue, where he became creative director on what was described as a "AAA multiplatform game and original IP."{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Jay |title=Joseph Staten, who helped get Halo Infinite over the finish line, is joining Netflix |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/17/23686693/netflix-joseph-staten-aaa-game-halo-veteran |access-date=22 October 2024 |work=The Verge |date=17 April 2023 |language=en}} He and the rest of the studio's employees were laid off in October 2024.
Personal life
Staten is married and has two children. On June 18, 2011, he gave the convocation address to the class of 2011 of the Northwestern University School of Communication.{{cite web|author=Errera, Claude|date=June 21, 2011|url=http://halo.bungie.org/news.html?item=33598|title=Anything fun to do alone is more fun with others|publisher=Halo.Bungie.Org|access-date=June 22, 2011}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1365150}}
- [http://halo.bungie.net/Inside/MeetTheTeam.aspx?person=staten Meet the Team] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913021024/http://halo.bungie.net/Inside/MeetTheTeam.aspx?person=staten |date=September 13, 2014}} at Bungie
{{Bungie}}
{{Xbox Game Studios}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Good article}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Staten, Joseph}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century American male writers
Category:21st-century American novelists
Category:American male novelists
Category:American science fiction writers
Category:Northwestern University alumni
Category:Novelists from California
Category:University of Chicago alumni