Kootra, whose real name is Jordan Mathewson, was born on April 24, 1991, in Montana. Shortly after his birth, his family relocated to Scotland, where he spent five years of his early childhood. The family then moved back to the United States, settling in Colorado. Prior to his career on YouTube, Mathewson worked as an assistant greenskeeper at a local golf course in Colorado. Although the job provided stability, he found it unfulfilling and began exploring his passion for digital content creation.
Seeking a creative outlet, Mathewson launched his YouTube channel under the name "Kootra." He initially gained popularity by creating machinima videos using Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. These videos depicted choreographed in-game scenes arranged to tell cinematic stories. Leveraging gameplay as a storytelling medium allowed him to combine his interests in video games, filmmaking, and visual effects.
In addition to his Call of Duty machinimas, Kootra produced Halo-themed content, such as the videos titled "Warthog Training" and "Suppressor." His dedication to improving content quality led him to adopt the Unreal Development Kit (UDK), using the Unreal Engine to enhance the cinematic and technical aspects of his productions. This marked a significant evolution in his creative expertise, as he integrated video editing and 3D modeling into his workflow.
As his YouTube presence expanded, Kootra became known not only for machinimas but also for his gaming commentary. He garnered a loyal audience through his playthroughs and live commentary videos of popular titles such as Left 4 Dead and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. His relaxed tone and humor, combined with his technical skill, positioned him as a standout content creator in the gaming community.
