Musician’s artful escape into gaming

Geelong musician Johnny Galvatron has escaped from a life of rock and roll and created a new and colourful world.

The frontman of The Galvatrons formed video game studio Beethoven & Dinosaur to conceive and develop The Artful Escape, which was released worldwide for PC, XBox One and XBox Series X/S in September.

The game was initially supported by a $20,000 grant from Epic Games, and Beethoven & Dinosaur showed a demo of The Artful Escape at PAX in Melbourne, where it was spotted by publisher Annapurna Interactive and funded in full.

“I’d been touring the world for a few years in a rock band. Hated it,” Galvatron explained.

“Decided to lock myself away for five years. Wrote a novel. Showed it to no one.

“Then I dabbled with the idea of making a small iPad app, something like Sword and Sworcery.

“Then it spiralled out of control and I ended up making a massive game with a large team funded out of Hollywood and working with talents and stars I only would have dreamed of previously.”

In The Artful Escape, players take control of Francis Vendetti, who is battling with the legacy of a dead folk legend and the cosmic wanderings of his own imagination on the eve of his first performance.

Francis, a teenage guitar prodigy, sets out on a psychedelic, multidimensional journey to inspire his stage persona.

Galvatron worked alongside long-time musical collaborator Josh Abrahams and guitarist Eden Altman on the game and “just lived in the studio” making the soundtrack.

“There’s another musical artist from Geelong in the game – Luke Legs! He lives down the coast and I first saw him play when I was in year 10 and his band played at the Belmont High School fun run. He’s another exceptional talent we were lucky enough to get in the game,” he said.

“It was a stunningly fulfilling creative experience.

“I wanted to make something that was the opposite of my time in the music industry, something magical and fantastical, instead of RSLs and no-tell motels. I don’t like touring.”

The game’s voice cast is worthy of a Hollywood film, and features Lena Headley (from Game of Thrones), Mark Strong (from Sherlock Holmes and the Kingsman films), Carl Weathers (from The Mandalorian), Jason Schwartzman (a long-time collaborator with Wes Anderson) and Michael Johnson (from Teen Wolf).

“It was amazing to find that the actor’s goal, even talent as brilliant and acclaimed as this, was to try to give me what I wanted as the creator,” Galvatron said.

“It was something I’ll remember forever, working with the voice talent on the game.

“Carl Weathers helped me with some of the dialogue for his character, Lightman. I described the musical stars his character was based on and he gave me the right lingo, the right lexicon for the character, time and place. ”

Galvatron said the critical response to The Artful Escape had been “pretty mind-blowing”.

“Forbes called it the most beautiful indie of the year, NME gave it five stars, lots of nines and 10s. Incredible response.

“It’s on Xbox Game Pass, which has been a huge boost to the popularity of the game.

“I’m kinda floored by how many people have played it and the overwhelming response we’ve received from players.”