Video Game Industry Veteran Launches New Company and Kickstarter

SAN FRANCISCO - March 13, 2014 - PRLog -- The O.Z. is a new IP inspired by the characters of the original Wizard of Oz. But this is a world full of action and chaos, set in the near-future following a cataclysmic event that devastates a large portion of the U.S. Midwest.

ProtoRobo was founded earlier this year by Scott Baumann, a 16-year veteran of the video game industry who has also worked in comics. The company, which creates original action, sci-fi and fantasy properties to form the basis of franchises across multiple mediums – including comics, video games, movies and more – just launched its first Kickstarter project this week. It’s a character concept design art book showcasing the visual development of all of the main characters of The O.Z.

This is an opportunity for the community to see the IP creation process from the ground up. By contributing to this important phase in the development of this franchise, they’ll not only get a rare, advanced preview of the characters from this world, but they’ll be helping to pave the way for the next Kickstarter project: a 4-part graphic novel series that will tell the first story of The O.Z.…


Dorothy is a young woman who has grown up in The O.Z. (Obliterated Zone), and is desperately searching for a sense of "family", for "belonging." She presents herself to Auntie M (who is the leader of a small, morally bankrupt clan) as a would-be assassin, and is tasked by her to eliminate The Wizard in Emerald City — which is a kind of "green zone" within The O.Z.

Along her journey, Dorothy encounters and recruits former genetic and cybernetic "patients" of The Wizard to help her in her mission. But first, she has to breach the walls of Emerald City — where she encounters The Wizard's personal body guards, the Witches. And this time, there's 4 of them!


To view the project and get involved, check out the Kickstarter page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/protorobo/the-oz-cre...

The funding period for this project ends in the early morning (Pacific Time) on April 15, 2014.

Scott, who is also ProtoRobo’s Managing Creative Director, has worked for a number of top video game companies including Electronic Arts, Sony PlayStation and Capcom. Prior to that he worked in the comic book industry on a number of titles for DC and Image Comics.

While at Electronic Arts, he was able to bring his passion for both comics and video games together by founding and launching the EA Comics imprint in 2009.

Now with ProtoRobo, Scott finally has the opportunity to fully develop original IP concepts that he's been waiting for years to show the public.