{{Short description|American game developer (born 1982)}} {{Infobox person | name = Star St.Germain | image = Star St.Germain at the 2023 Game Developers Conference.png | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|10|1}} | birth_place = Massachusetts, U.S. | occupation = Game developer, artist, designer, illustrator, musician | known_for = [[HoloVista]], [[Comic Book Tattoo]], Bureau of Multiversal Arbitration | education = [[Massachusetts College of Art and Design]] }}
'''Star St.Germain''' is an American game developer, artist, designer, illustrator, and musician based in San Francisco, California.<ref name = "Commarts">{{cite journal|last=|first=|title=My Style Is: Star St.Germain|journal=Computer Arts Magazine|issue=233|page=16|year=2014|issn=}}</ref> She is recognized for her work on the mixed reality game ''[[HoloVista]]'', which won the [[Apple Design Award]]<ref name="TechCrunchAppleDesign">{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/10/apple-announces-its-2021-apple-design-award-winners/ |author=Sarah Perez |title=Apple Announces Its 2021 Apple Design Award Winners |date=June 10, 2021 |website=TechCrunch |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> and the [[Webby Awards|Webby People's Choice Award]].<ref name="AnimationMagWebby">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2021/05/25th-webby-awards-animation-winners/ |author=Mercedes Milligan |title=25th Webby Awards Animation Winners |date=May 18, 2021 |magazine=Animation Magazine |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref>
==Early life and career== Star St.Germain was born on October 1, 1982, in Massachusetts. She completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the [[Massachusetts College of Art and Design]] (MassArt) in Boston, after initially double-majoring in musical theater and scene design at another institution.<ref name="ETAOPodcast">{{cite web |url=https://etao.blog/2022/01/25/podcast-127/ |author=Drew Messinger-Michaels |title=Reality-Adjacency, with Star St.Germain |date=January 25, 2022 |website=Everybody's Talking All at Once |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> At MassArt, she specialized in the Studio for Interrelated Media,<ref name="MassArtSIM">{{cite web |url=https://massartsim.org/about/alumni/ |title=SIM Alumni |website=The Studio for Interrelated Media at Massachusetts College of Art and Design |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> studying various art forms including performance art, music, drawing, painting, animation, and video.<ref name="NewsaramaStar">{{cite web |url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=126441 |author=Chris Arrant |title=Up & Coming: Star St.Germain |date=August 23, 2007 |website=Newsarama |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904232105/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=126441 |access-date=September 1, 2023|archive-date=2007-09-04 }}</ref>
==Comics== St.Germain has been active in the comics industry as a writer, artist, colorist, and letterer. She has contributed to works published by [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]], [[Image Comics|Image]], and [[IDW Publishing]].<ref name="ComicGeeksStar">{{cite web |url=https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/people/20069/star-st-germain/comics |title=Star St.Germain |website=League of Comic Geeks |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> Among her notable contributions are ''[[Strange Tales]]'',<ref name="DeerBrainsInterview">{{cite web |url=http://deerbrains.blogspot.com/2010/02/interview-with-starstgermain.html |title=Interview with Star St.Germain |date=February 21, 2010 |website=Deer Brains |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> ''[[Girl Comics]]'',<ref name="ComicGeeksStar"></ref> and ''Womanthology: Heroic''. She worked on ''[[Comic Book Tattoo]]'',<ref name="LaughingSquidComic">{{cite web |url=https://laughingsquid.com/comic-book-tattoo-tales-inspired-by-tori-amos/ |author=Aaron Muszalski |title=Comic Book Tattoo – Tales Inspired by Tori Amos |date=July 26, 2008 |website=Laughing Squid |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> an anthology graphic novel based on the songs of [[Tori Amos]] that won both an [[Eisner Award|Eisner]] and a [[Harvey Award|Harvey]] Award.
==Music and performance== St.Germain is a musician who plays the electric cello.<ref name="Commarts"></ref> In 2003, she represented Boston at the [[National Poetry Slam]].<ref name="BostonPoetrySlam">{{cite web |url=http://bostonpoetryslam.com/find-a-poet/teams |title=Slam Teams |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> While residing in Los Angeles, she took up roles in acting and modeling. During 2006–2007, St.Germain collaborated with photographer [[David LaChapelle]].<ref name="DeerBrainsInterview"> </ref> She also appeared in music videos for [[Maroon 5]] ("Won't Go Home Without You"){{CN|date=October 2023}} and [[Beirut (band)|Beirut]] ("Elephant Gun").<ref name="BeiruitVideo">{{Cite web |title=Beirut - Elephant Gun (Official Video) |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SWSz_PAfgNc |website=Youtube |publisher=4AD}}</ref> In 2009, she founded the band ''This Can't End Well'', where she contributed as a lead songwriter, singer, guitarist, cellist, and electronic drummer.<ref name="DeerBrainsInterview"></ref> She was featured on the 2020 [[Negativland]] album ''The World Will Decide''.<ref name="DangerousMindsAnythingElse">{{cite web |url=https://dangerousminds.net/comments/anything_else_negativland_asks_what_is_reality_a_dm_video_premiere |title='Anything Else': Negativland Asks 'What Is Reality?' |author=Richard Metzger |date=February 10, 2022 |website=Dangerous Minds |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref>
==Game development== In 2016, St.Germain co-founded mixed reality game studio Aconite together with [[Nadya Lev]].<ref name="ForbesAconite">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessedamiani/2019/11/20/aconite-comes-out-of-stealth-and-announces-first-game-holovista-a-stunning-mobile-mixed-reality-experience/?sh=65d60592315f |author=Jesse Damiani |title=Aconite Comes Out of Stealth and Announces First Game: 'HoloVista,' a Stunning Mobile Mixed Reality Experience |date=November 20, 2019 |website=Forbes |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> Aconite's initial prototype, ''Limberlost'', was designed as a location-based augmented reality game playable in bookstores or libraries worldwide.{{CN|date=October 2023}}
In 2020, Aconite released ''[[HoloVista]]'' for iOS platforms.<ref name="MetaCriticHoloVista">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/holovista |title=HoloVista for iPhone/iPad |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> The game received attention for its innovative gameplay mechanics,<ref name="TheVergeHoloVista">{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/17/21223481/holovista-surreal-mixed-reality-game-iphone |author=Alexis Ong |title=Welcome to HoloVista: A Surreal Game That Explores Our Relationship with Technology |date=April 17, 2020 |website=The Verge |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> visual style,<ref name="NMEHoloVista">{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/holovista-review-an-intoxicating-journey-to-another-world-2786981 |author=Jason Coles |title='HoloVista' Review: An Intoxicating Journey to Another World |date=October 19, 2020 |website=NME |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> and narrative.<ref name="InverseHoloVista">{{cite web |url=https://www.inverse.com/input/gaming/holovista-a-game-about-the-ouroboros-of-social-media |author=Jonathan Peltz |title='Holovista,' a Game About the Ouroboros of Social Media |date=October 25, 2020 |website=Inverse |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref><ref name="EurogamerHoloVista">{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/holovista-review-a-dark-and-dazzling-critique-of-social-media |author=Emad Ahmed |title=HoloVista Review - A Dark and Dazzling Critique of Social Media |date=October 16, 2020 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> The gameplay involves exploring 360-degree panoramic scenes, taking photographs, and solving puzzles.<ref name="FastCompanyHoloVista">{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90666864/holovista-innovation-by-design-2021 |author=Wilson, Mark |title=HoloVista is the Most Exciting Mobile Game You're Not Playing (Yet) |date=September 21, 2021 |website=Fast Company |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> The game received generally favorable reviews according to review aggregator [[Metacritic]] and won several awards, including the [[Apple Design Award]],<ref name="TechCrunchAppleDesign"></ref> [[Indiecade]] Best Narrative Award,<ref name="IndieCade2021Winners">{{cite web |url=https://anywhere.indiecade.com/2021-award-winners/ |title=Congratulations 2021 IndieCade Award Winners |website=IndieCade |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> and [[Pocket Gamer]]'s Most Innovative Game of the Year.<ref name="PocketGamerAwards2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/76062/revealed-all-the-winners-at-the-pocket-gamer-awards-2021/ |title=Revealed: All the Winners at the Pocket Gamer Awards 2021 |date=March 16, 2021 |website=Pocket Gamer |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> St.Germain's background in theatrical set design and comics influenced her art direction for the game's environmental design.<ref name="ForbesAconite"></ref> She has cited the concept of the [[memory palace]]<ref name="TheVergeHoloVista"/> the book ''[[House of Leaves]]'', and the artwork of [[J. H. Williams III]] as inspirations for the game's environments.<ref name="THRHoloVista">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/the-independent-gamer-examine-character-and-art-in-mixed-reality-experience-holovista-4062332/ |author=Trilby Beresford |title=The Independent Gamer: Examine Character and Art in Mixed Reality Experience 'HoloVista' |date=October 10, 2020 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref>
In 2022, Aconite released the ''Bureau of Multiversal Arbitration'', a multiplayer Discord game utilizing generative AI to facilitate collaborative storytelling.<ref name="TheGuardianMultiverse">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/nov/29/techscape-multiverse-ai-art-artificial-intelligence |author=Alex Hern |title=Enter the Multiverse – The Chat-Room Game Made of AI Art |date=November 29, 2022 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> The game was distinguished for being the first of its kind<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mssv.net/2023/01/28/generative-ai-in-game-development-threat-or-menace/ |title=Generative AI in Game Development: Threat or Menace? |author=Adrian Hon |date=2023-01-28 |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=MSSV}}</ref> and won the Breakthrough in Storytelling Award from the [[Columbia University School of the Arts]]' Digital Storytelling Lab<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.digitalstorytellinglab.io/ |title=Breakthroughs in Storytelling: The Columbia Digital Dozen |website=Columbia Digital Storytelling Lab |date=November 2022 |access-date=2023-09-01}}</ref> and a nomination at [[A Maze]].<ref name="GameDeveloperAMaze">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-2023-a-maze-award-nominees-are-as-weird-and-wonderful-as-you-d-expect#close-modal |title=The 2023 A MAZE. Award Nominees Are as Weird and Wonderful as You'd Expect |date=March 14, 2023 |website=Game Developer |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:St.Germain, Star}} [[Category:1982 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Massachusetts College of Art and Design alumni]] [[Category:Artists from Massachusetts]] [[Category:21st-century American illustrators]] [[Category:21st-century American musicians]] [[Category:Musicians from Massachusetts]] [[Category:21st-century American poets]] [[Category:Poets from Massachusetts]]