LA’s Richest Man Funds Alternate Reality Studio

Biotech billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong continues to have fun with his sideline investment activities. On the heels of last year’s purchase of Magic Johnson‘s stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, the season ticket holder is now banking an initial $15 million on Fourth Wall Studios, a purveyor of “alternate reality entertainment.”

Dean Takahashi of San Francisco based Venture Beat has the scoop. The money will be used to build a new LA studio dedicated to the creation of titles that seamlessly blend together digital elements with those of the real world.

Fourth Wall focuses on “transmedia” stories, which can stretch across a variety of devices, such as the PC, cell phones, or the real world via augmented reality. One of the best examples of Fourth Wall’s work was the artistic radio drama that it hid within the Halo 3: ODST console video game.

“Right now, there is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to produce the iconic properties that will help define the landscape of entertainment for the 21st century,” co-founder Jim Stewartson said.

Fittingly perhaps, there is no info about Fourth Wall available on the company’s website, just a static logo, phone number, and email address. Full details are hosted, apparently, in some alternate web reality.

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