Mark's Digital Culture!👌

Please read this blog description: This blog is used as a journal (portfolio) for the Digital Culture Module, which I am completing. I will post all research including sources and notes, including my personal opinion on the topics. I will also be using WWE as my main case study, as they are a great example of producing a success storyworld using modern media. I will continue to update this blog as often as possible. I will also be editing previous posts to enhance the quality of the blog. If you are looking for anything in-particular, please use the search bar above or lick on the tags attached with the posts. I have also added dates in the tags, to show a timeline of progression. This journal is in reverse chronological order. Tutor: Krish and Lee.

[marksdigitalculture]

Probably the final post.

This post is regarding my journey of the overall research carried out throughout this module. 

This link here is to the presentation I produced that highlights the journals post, my best findings and worst results, which ones were relevant and irrelevant. The presentation also discusses technical difficulties in the WWE, the basics of pitching and the legal and ethical frameworks.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iHQkJsghdU7Y7UqgckBNSQ_O2D1jTERFdALHmxKVBZs

[marksdigitalculture]

The WWE Network Schedule online!

The WWE Network’s schedule offers brief synopsis’s of all their shows including the original content such as; Camp, Ride Along, Swerved and 24 etc.

WWE, (2016). Browse the WWE Network schedule now!. [online] WWE Network. Available at: http://network.wwe.com/schedule [Accessed 6 May 2016].

WWE, (2016). WWE Beyond The Ring. [online] WWE Network. Available at: http://network.wwe.com/shows/original [Accessed 8 May 2016].

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14 WWE Superstars who starred in Hollywood movies

This post will help show how the WWE studios help grow the WWE’s storyworld.

WWE and Hollywood always had a connection between them when it comes to the similarities they possess. The WWE superstars have to follow and do their regular routine according to the prepared script which many misjudge as fake but in reality the moves and the accidents that happen are all real.

Similarly in the world of motion pictures, actors have to execute their roles as per the script and they too quite often hurt themselves on the sets. Although they are tow totally different lines of work, these similar traits in both the wrestling and film industry have time and again encouraged the WWE superstars to pursue a career in mainstream media. And we have seen a lot of the guys crossover to the big screen in order to gain commercial success.

While many have failed in their pursuit to sustain their WWE success and become Hollywood megastars, some have prevailed in achieving stardom as movie stars. We take a look at those who have tried their hands in becoming Hollywood actors and have succeeded or failed.

#Kane

Kane made his motion picture debut in 2006 as Jacob Goodnight in See No Evil. The movie was WWE Studios’ first production and was released in May 19, 2006. Known as the Devil’s favourite Demon in the WWE and The Undertaker’s evil half-brother, Kane’s character crossed over aptly to the big screen as he played the role of a disturbed serial killer.

His next project was a small cameo appearance in MacGruber alongside other WWE superstars such as Chris Jericho, MVP, Mark Henry and The Great Khali.

Kane’s upcoming project is See No Evil 2 which is a sequel to the 2006 movie.

#TheMiz

After appearing as himself on several reality shows and TV series, notably Psych and Pair Of Kings, The Miz landed his first lead role in the third installment of The Marine, replacing fellow WWE superstar Randy Orton. The movie titled The Marine 3: Homefront which was a direct to video release, opened to mixed reception and didn’t do a great deal in terms of success.

But despite of failing to impress the audience, Miz’s role of sergeant John Carter did impress the movie critics as they felt he has a bright future in the industry. He returned to the WWE recently after filming The Marine 4 where he reprised his role and brought along with him a new Hollywood gimmick called “ The Moneymaker.”

#KevinNash

Former WCW and WWE superstar Kevin Nash, also known as Diesel got his first movie break in the 1991 movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze where he played the role of Super Shredder, a genetically enhanced version of the villain Shredder.

After landing a very minor role in the 1998 movie Family Plan, Nash’s next significant role was in the film The Punisher as the Russian where he appeared in a fight scene.

He also featured in the Adam Sandler movie, The Longest Yard which casted a host of other WWE superstars including Steve Austin, Goldberg and The Great Khali. That was his last notable role as his movie career never took off.

#TheBigShow

The Big Show has had small stints on the big screen starting as Big Santa in the 1996 Arnold Schwarzenegger PG movie Jingle All the Way. He then appeared as Captain Insano in The Waterboy.

In the action comedy MacGruber, Big Show was casted as Brick Hughes alongside with other fellow wrestlers where they are blown off in the first scene altogether.

His first on-screen lead came in 2010 as he starred as Walter Krunk in the comedy film Knucklehead. The film opened in selected theatres and was a box office failure. Show then returned to the WWE and kept on wrestling as a full timer until Lionsgate and WWE Studios signed a 6-movie-deal where Show was casted in the first one titled Vendetta.

The action film directed by the Soska Sisters (See No Evil 2) has completed filming and is expected to come out at the fall of this year.

#RandyOrton

Randy Orton’s first major step into the world of Hollywood came in 2009 after Orton himself revealed that he would be starring in the lead role for The Marine 2, succeeding John Cena. But an injured collar bone prevented Orton from working on the film and Ted Dibiase was casted instead.

After that, Orton played a supporting role in the comedy film, That’s What I Am. Another chance to play the lead character of Jack Carter came knocking at his door as the casting crew of The Marine 3 approached him. But due to his past with the US Marines, he was dropped again and The Miz replaced him.

His only major role till date is in the sequel to 12 Rounds which was a direct to video release unlike its predecessor which starred John Cena.

#AndreTheGiant

After several stints on television including in series like The Six Million Dollar Man in 1970’s as Big Foot and The Fall Guy, Andre The Giant’s debut role on the big screen was an uncredited appearance as a giant god named Dagoth in Arnold’s movie Conan The Barbarian.

He also made a small appearance in Micki+Maude and most notably as Fezzik in the 1987 film The Princess Bride.

The cameo role in Trading Mom as a circus giant was his last role before he died.

#RowdyRoddyPiper

Rowdy Roddy Piper was one of the first wrestlers from the WWE who has enjoyed a fair amount of mainstream success. He featured on many TV shows including SNL and the Robocop series. He was also a guest VJ on MTV and appeared in Cyndi Lauper’s music video.

Piper’s first lead role came in 1986 in the movie Body Slam. Since then, he has been casted in many feature films as a lead or supporting actor, most recognizably in Hell Comes to Frogtown.

#JesseVentura

Jesse Ventura began his acting career when well past his prime wrestling days. His first role was in the groundbreaking Arnold Schwarzenegger classic Predator where he was cast as Blain, one of Arnold’s mercenaries. That helicopter shot where he displays a hostile attitude towards Carl Weathers and spits on his feet became memorable for the fans of this cult classic.

Developing a good friendship with Arnold, Jesse was cast in several other movies with the California Governer including supporting roles in The Running Man and Batman & Robin. He also featured as CryoCon in Demolition Man.

#Goldberg

Bill Goldberg’s incredible success in the WCW caught the attention of the reel makers as he made his debut through Universal Soldier 2: The Return. The movie bombed in box office and his Romeo character was a forgettable role.

Goldberg’s next recognizable role was in the 2005 film The Longest Yard as an inmate alongside several other fellow wrestlers. The movie did well at the box office and became Goldberg’s best big-screen role till date as after that he appeared in low-budget movies or failed projects.

The movie Santa’s Slay where he takes on the character of a homicidal Santa Claus was a disaster while low budget movies like Half Past Dead 2 and Kill Speed facilitated a downhill slope in his movie career.

#TripleH

Triple H’s first big screen role was in the third instalment of the Blade series where he was a side kick of the main protagonist Dracula. The film failed to take off at the Box Office and was received negatively.

His next major role was in the 2011 comedy film The Chaperone where he played the character of a wheel man who gets caught up between his daughter’s school field trip and a bank-robbing crew. It was another disaster for The Game as the movie faltered at the box office.

Before returning to the WWE, he appeared as Arlo Jayne in the movie Inside Out, but the crime-drama film was again a big flop as Hunter’s acting was dubbed as inert.

#Batista

Batista’s latest release, Guardians of the Galaxy grabbed the headlines as it turned out to be a major box office success. The Animal played the role of Drax The Destroyer and was lauded for his performance.

But before enjoying commercial success, Batista has been trying his hand at acting since 2009. He did a few direct to video movies before playing the villainous Brass Body in The Man with the Iron Fists which was his first big studio venture. He was also cast in the 2013 movie Riddick alongside Vin Diesel.

Batista is also set to appear in the highly anticipated remake of the 1989 movie Kickboxer.

#JohnCena

Gaining huge success as a WWE superstar, it was only a matter of time before John Cena made his name in the reel world. The Cenation leader got his breakthrough role in The Marine as retired sergeant John Triton who runs into a band of criminals on a normal day and has to rescue his wife who is kidnapped by that gang.

Cena’s second movie was highly engaging thriller 12 Rounds which was a box office failure. His next movie Legendary was also poorly received.

Cena is currently filming for two movies ( Trainwreck and The Nest) both of which are set to come out in 2015.

#StoneColdSteveAustin

Arguably, the biggest star of the WWE Stone Cold Steve Austin, made his on-screen debut in The Longest Yard where he was casted as Officer Dunham, who loved to harass the inmates. The film was a commercial success box office success which featured a lot of other WWE superstars.

In 2007, Austin got his first lead role as Jack Conrad, a prisoner who is given the chance to escape execution as he is transported to a deserted island along with nine other criminals to put on a live killing show for the internet and battle other convicts in order to emerge as the surviving winner.

Although the film bombed at the box office, it gained a cult following. Gradually, Austin’s movie career began to go downhill as he began to appear in low-profile movies such as Damage, Hunt to Kill and Tactical Force.

He was also cast as Paine in Stallone’s The Expendables where he worked under a Latin American Dictator. He also appeared as Adam Sandler’s high school bully in The Grown Ups 2.

#TheRock

The Rock may lose out to Stone Cold when compared in context of who was the biggest star in the WWE. But when it comes to Hollywood, The Great One eclipses his adversary and any other superstar for that matter.

With an unspoken attitude and flawless mic skills in the WWE, The Rock was destined to make it big in the movie world and currently, he is one of the most recognized and successful stars of the industry.

Starting as The Scorpion King in 2002, he has gone on to star in major box office hits such as Walking Tall, The Game Plan, Race to the Witch Mountain, Fast Five, G.I.Joe retaliation and most recently Hercules.

Never before has a WWE wrestler gained such mainstream popularity on big screen as The Rock has. He has established himself as a Hollywood mega star and has gained equally credible status as a WWE superstar.

Sportskeeda.com. (2014). 14 WWE Superstars who starred in Hollywood movies. [online] Available at: http://www.sportskeeda.com/slideshow/14-wwe-superstars-who-have-starred-hollywood-movies [Accessed 3 May 2016].

[marksdigitalculture]

Henry Jenkins research:

More notes and quotes regarding the blog of the academic source Henry Jenkins.

Some people have argued that transmedia is simply another name for franchising. Franchising is a corporate structure for media production which has a long history and throughout much of that history, there has been an attempt to move icons and brands across media channels, but not necessarily an attempt to extend the story in ways which expanded its scope and meaning. Most previous media franchises were based on reproduction and redundancy, but transmedia represents a structure based on the further development of the storyworld through each new medium. For a good guide to the history and practices of franchising, watch for the forthcoming book by Derek Johnson, who has been doing extensive thinking on this topic.

Transmedia storytelling represents a process where integral elements of a fiction get dispersed systematically across multiple delivery channels for the purpose of creating a unified and coordinated entertainment experience. Ideally, each medium makes it own unique contribution to the unfolding of the story.

Jenkins, H. (2016). Transmedia 202: Further Reflections. [online] Henryjenkins.org. Available at: http://henryjenkins.org/2011/08/defining_transmedia_further_re.html [Accessed 11 Apr. 2016].

[marksdigitalculture]

Social TV Diagram

This diagram helps illustrates where tv series’ should be if they wanted their show to be more connected with their fans.

To break this down more, for the audience to feel attached more to a storyworld, they need to be more connected to their favourite shows, this would be through social media. This allows the audience to follow their favourite series’ celebrities via social networking, to receive the latest updates, regarding the shows content. 

WWE have done something similar for their universe, which I have researched and posted throughout this blog. They have created accounts for each character on their weekly shows, allowing the superstars to be in control of their on social media page. However, there must be guidelines in place for the superstars to follow, for when they post content across the social media platforms, such as content that doesn't harass fans.

..

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The Twitter Rules

Content Boundaries and Use of Twitter

In order to provide the Twitter service and the ability to communicate and stay connected with others, there are some limitations on the type of content that can be published with Twitter.

Trademark: We reserve the right to reclaim usernames on behalf of businesses or individuals that hold legal claim or trademark on those usernames. Accounts using business names and/or logos to mislead others may be permanently suspended.

Copyright: We will respond to clear and complete notices of alleged copyright infringement. Our copyright procedures are set forth in the Terms of Service.

Graphic content: You may not use pornographic or excessively violent media in your profile image, header image, or background image. Twitter may allow some forms of graphic content in Tweets marked as sensitive media. When content crosses the line into gratuitous images of death, Twitter may ask that you remove the content out of respect for the deceased.

Unlawful use: You may not use our service for any unlawful purposes or in furtherance of illegal activities. International users agree to comply with all local laws regarding online conduct and acceptable content.

Misuse of Twitter badges: You may not use badges, such as but not limited to the “promoted” or “verified” Twitter badge, unless provided by Twitter. Accounts using these badges as part of profile photos, header photos, background images, or in a way that falsely implies affiliation with Twitter may be suspended.

Abusive Behavior

We believe in freedom of expression and in speaking truth to power, but that means little as an underlying philosophy if voices are silenced because people are afraid to speak up. In order to ensure that people feel safe expressing diverse opinions and beliefs, we do not tolerate behavior that crosses the line into abuse, including behavior that harasses, intimidates, or uses fear to silence another user’s voice.

Any accounts and related accounts engaging in the activities specified below may be temporarily locked and/or subject to permanent suspension.

if a primary purpose of the reported account is to harass or send abusive messages to others;

if the reported behavior is one-sided or includes threats;

if the reported account is inciting others to harass another account; and

if the reported account is sending harassing messages to an account from multiple accounts.

Twitter, (2016). Twitter search rules and restrictions. [online] Twitter Help Center. Available at: https://support.twitter.com/articles/42646 [Accessed 25 Apr. 2016].

[marksdigitalculture]

Platforms for Storytelling

Below is an image I extracted from a website produced by 5 students that were studying transmedia storytelling.

The table shows how what platform can be used for across multiple platform storytelling, whilst stating the elements the mediums use, and also their unique features.

Have a look at the table below for a quick overview of different media platforms for storytelling and their unique features and affordance.

Bain, K., Jensen, K., Sangruengkit, P., Silman, E. and Zi, C. (2016). Media Platforms. [online] Transmedia and Crossmedia Convergence in a Connected World. Available at: http://convergenceishere.weebly.com/media-platforms.html [Accessed 25 Apr. 2016].

[marksdigitalculture]

WWE’s News and Media Info

This post contaisn statistincs and information that will be relevent for my report.

NEWS & MEDIA INFORMATION

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide in 25 languages. WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 direct-to-consumer premium network that includes all 12 live special events, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library, is currently available in more than 180 countries. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Munich and Tokyo.

FOR FULL WWE CORPORATE OVERVIEW, CLICK HERE >>

AUDIENCE

WWE broadcasts to more than 180 countries in 25 languages, and can be seen in 650 million television households worldwide each week. WWE creates seven hours of original programming that is watched by approximately 15 million fans in the United States. Our diverse audience spans generations of fans. Approximately 36 percent of WWE’s audience is female and 25 percent are under the age of 18.

PROGRAM BROADCASTS

WWE’s flagship program, Monday Night Raw (8/7 pm CT) on USA Network is among the most-watched regularly scheduled programs on primetime cable television and helps make USA a top-rated network. USA Network also airs WWE’s AM Raw on Saturdays (9/8 am CT). SmackDown (Thursdays, 8/7 pm CT), is regularly Syfy’s most-watched program every week. In addition, WWE Superstars and WWE NXT air on WWE Network each week.

CORE BUSINESSES

WWE reports revenue in four areas:

Media Division (including Network, Television, Home Entertainment and Digital Media segments) WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 direct-to-consumer network, launched live on February 24, 2014, featuring all 12 WWE live pay-per-view events for $9.99 per month. Creative storylines are usually played out in the ring and unfold on our weekly television shows, and culminate in our monthly pay-per-view events.

WWE utilizes the Internet to promote our brands; create a community experience among our fans; market and distribute our offline, online and mobile products; and sell online advertising. Learn More >>

Live Events Segment Our creative team develops compelling and complex characters and weaves them into dynamic storylines that combine physical and emotional elements. Our multiple sports entertainment brands allow us to perform live events within the United States and abroad.Learn More >>

Consumer Products Division (including Licensing, Venue Merchandise and WWEShop segments) WWE offers a wide variety of consumer products through licensing programs that builds partnerships with companies globally to create products featuring our marks and logos, copyrighted works and characters in diverse categories, including: toys, video games, apparel, housewares, collectibles, sporting goods and books. Our merchandise is also sold at our live event venues as well as online on WWEShop.com.Learn More >>

WWE Studios Segment Established in 2002 and re-branded in 2008, WWE Studios creates a diversified mix of filmed entertainment by means of strategic production, financing, distribution and acquisition partnerships.Learn More >>

WWE, (2016). News & Media Information | WWE Corporate. [online] WWE Corporate. Available at: http://corporate.wwe.com/news/news-media-information [Accessed 25 Apr. 2016].

[marksdigitalculture]

What happens in a 2016 Internet Minute?

Big Data is growing exponentially, as consumers demand more content, more speed and more data. Communication and Media providers are struggling to keep up and are constantly competing with one another in efforts to provide consumers the fastest and highest quality broadband speeds. Simultaneously to Internet speeds ramping up, the challenge to monetize Big Data increases.

Big Data is everywhere and it is inevitable. It ranges from suggesting what movie to watch on Netflix to predicating national tragedies. Whether you realize it or not, as consumers, Big Data surrounds us everywhere, ultimately influencing decisions that we make every day. For instance, when shopping on Amazon, products are recommended to us based on our shopping patterns. It's no coincidence; Big Data is behind the scenes, personalizing each of our shopping experiences.

Often Big Data and Internet speeds are overlooked. What happens in an Internet minute is mind-blowing. In just 60 seconds this is what the Internet does:

What's happened since 2015?

Uber – 695 more rides per minute (100% increase)

Amazon – $83,836 more in sales per minute (70% increase)

Spotify – 24,752 more hours of music uploaded per minute (186% increase)

Leboeuf, K. (2016). 2016 Update: What Happens in One Internet Minute? - Excelacom, Inc.. [online] Excelacom.com. Available at: http://www.excelacom.com/resources/blog/2016-update-what-happens-in-one-internet-minute [Accessed 25 Apr. 2016].

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WWE Talent Wellness

This post links with the code of conduct post by the WWE.

What are you doing to address the health and well-being of WWE Talent?

WWE is committed to doing everything it can to help WWE Talent of today lead healthy lives. The company has worked hard to improve its Talent Wellness Program in an effort to better support WWE Talent and help them make the right lifestyle decisions. The Talent Wellness Program calls for regular cardiovascular evaluations or exams, ImPACTT testing, annual physicals, medical referrals and blood screening of WWE Talent, as well as random drug testing.

Does WWE have a drug testing program?

Yes. WWE’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing policy was designed by Aegis Sciences Corporation and is run 100% independently of WWE.

How comprehensive is the Talent Wellness Program?

The Talent Wellness Program is considered to be as good as the testing programs initiated by major sports leagues and corporations. The WWE program is unique in the entertainment industry and no other entertainment company offers this type of program. WWE Talent Wellness Program is administered independently by world renowned medical professionals and includes cardiovascular testing, ImPACTT, testing for brain function, substance abuse and drug testing, annual physicals, and health care referrals. The performers are contractually responsible for securing their own insurance to cover everyday health maintenance and ailments. WWE does cover 100 percent of all costs associated with any in-ring related injuries and associated rehabilitation.

Who oversees and administers the Talent Wellness Program?

The Talent Wellness Program is supervised by WWE Medical Director, Dr. Joseph Maroon. Dr. Maroon is a board certified Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh. Honored as one of America’s Best Neurosurgeons for eight consecutive years, he has published four books, has written more than 250 papers and 40 book chapters (many on sports medicine), and has been the Team Neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers for more than 25 years.

The Substance Abuse and Drug Testing policy is independently administered by Dr. David L. Black, Ph.D., D-ABFT, FAIC, of Aegis Sciences Corporation, Nashville, Tennessee. Aegis Sciences Corporation is a full service forensic sciences company providing toxicology and consulting services to sports organizations, medical examiner systems, crime laboratories, physicians, corporations and other organizations throughout the world. Aegis is the largest independent sports doping laboratory in the U.S., and is certified by the United States Department of Health and Human Services – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and other certifying agencies.

How many times a year do you test WWE Talent?

The program requires random testing of all WWE Talent a minimum of four times a year. The program is independently administered by Aegis Sciences Corporation.

What are the penalties for a positive test?

WWE has a three strike system. The first strike is a 30 day suspension without pay. The second strike is a 60 day suspension without pay. The third strike is termination of WWE Talent’s contract. The policy states that a WWE Talent who tests positive and receives a strike is subject to follow up testing.

Does WWE announce WWE Talent that have been suspended under the Talent Wellness Program?

Yes. It is WWE policy to publicly release the names of any WWE Talent who are being suspended under this program.

How often is a WWE Talent tested after testing positive and receiving a strike?

After a WWE Talent tests positive and receives a strike that WWE Talent is tested a minimum of 12 times for a period of one year.

Does a WWE Talent who leaves WWE with a strike or strikes retain those infractions if they return to WWE?

Any WWE talent who leaves the WWE for any reason with a first or second violation on his/her record will maintain those strikes if he/she returns to the WWE.

Is a WWE Talent who is terminated for a third strike able to return to the WWE?

A WWE Talent who is terminated by the WWE for a third violation will be prohibited from returning to the WWE for at least one year. Before a possible return, the WWE Talent must test negative for all prohibited substances under the Policy during a pre-contract screening. If they pass the pre-contract screening and are approved to return, the WWE Talent must undergo mandatory unannounced testing for at least one year after the execution of the new contract. The WWE Talent will return with two strikes on his/her record.

How does WWE test for concussions and protect its performers from head trauma?

Since December 2008, WWE has taken significant steps in the area of head trauma. Under WWE’s Talent Wellness Program, all performers undergo mandatory tests of brain function, including memory, processing speed and reaction time. Monitoring and analysis are done through the ImPACT Concussion Management Program, which is used by the NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS, US Olympic Training Center and in more than 400 colleges and 2,000 high schools. If a WWE performer shows symptoms of a concussion or has suffered a concussion, then that WWE performer will not be cleared for a return to wrestling until he/she passes an ImPACT test and is cleared clinically by a certified physician.

Click here for information on concussion management program.

Does WWE test for marijuana?

Yes. In the event of any positive test for marijuana, a WWE Talent shall be fined $2,500 per positive test.

Does WWE allow for Therapeutic Usage Exemptions (TUE)?

The Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy itself does not make reference to TUEs. However, if a WWE Talent has a valid prescription from a licensed and treating physician for a medical condition, and the medical need is verified after an investigation by the Medical Director and subsequent consultation with the Program Administrator, the WWE Talent may use that prescribed drug, subject to follow-up care and monitoring. Currently less than 4% of WWE Talent have a TUE.

Do you provide any assistance to former talent?

WWE offers all former WWE Talent (any individuals who had ever performed under contract for WWE) the ability to receive appropriate drug and alcohol assistance. Letters to former talent are sent out annually offering this assistance.

For more information on WWE’s Talent Wellness program or Former Rehab Assistance program, please click here.

WWE, (2016). WWE Talent Wellness | WWE Corporate. [online] WWE Corporate. Available at: http://corporate.wwe.com/faq/wwe-talent-wellness [Accessed 25 Apr. 2016].

[marksdigitalculture]

The Wrestling Games (2k) case study

The WWE have successfully been producing games since the rise of the games consoles.

This .gif was produced by me, all the images are extracted from Here: http://www.wwe.com/inside/thq/wwe-13/the-history-of-wwe-video-games and Google Images.

If it doesn’t play, please click here

Here is all the statistics from the most recent WWE game: #2k16

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WWE stars posting exclusive photos to social media.

The photo below was posted by superstar Lana, on her official WWE Facebook page.

The photo contains Rusev and his advocate Lana.

The photo is from a house show.

The reason why I am posting this is to show that the WWE continuously use their social media accounts to reach their fans.  Even if they are not live or taping shows, they are always allowing their audience to view what is happening during tours. 

The majority of the main rosters superstars post updates and photos of their touring or everyday life, to allow the fans to feel more connected. 

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More on the WWE Case Study

The beginning of RAW

The weekly episode of Raw began in 1993 when the company was labelled as WWF. (IMDB, 2016)

Shane McMahon:

“Shane and his team launched WWE.com in 1998, a site that has more than 14.5 million unique visitors worldwide per month.”  (WWE, 2007)

WWE’s Online catalogue of superstars

WWE uses WWE.com to allow their audience to access the catalogue of superstars they currently have signed with the company. These also include NXT superstars.

Samoa Joe dethrones Finn Bálor at Live Event

Even at house shows, WWE offers their fans with story alerting matches. 

WWE NXT Integrating with Rock Festivals

WWE superstars and divas using twitter

Over 100 superstars and divas from the main roster currently have a twitter account, which is continuously being used to post content and tweet to fans. 

(Twitter, 2016)

IMDb. (2016). WWF Raw (TV Series 1993– ). [online] Available at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0185103/ [Accessed 21 Apr. 2016].

James. (2016). NXT Is Coming To Download Festival - Kerrang!. [online] Available at: http://www.kerrang.com/42183/nxt-is-coming-to-download-festival/ [Accessed 7 Apr. 2016].

Twitter, (2016). List members. [online] Twitter.com. Available at: https://twitter.com/WWE/lists/wwe-superstars/members [Accessed 27 Apr. 2016].

WWE, (2007). WWE Corporate. [online] Web.archive.org. Available at: http://web.archive.org/web/20070430120945/http://corporate.wwe.com/governance/bios/sb_mcmahon.jsp [Accessed 24 Apr. 2016].

WWE, (2016). Superstars. [online] www.wwe.com. Available at:http://www.wwe.com/superstarswww.wwe.com. Available at: http://www.wwe.com/superstars [Accessed 22 Apr. 2016].

WWE, (2016). Samoa Joe dethrones Finn Bálor at Live Event. [online] www.wwe.com. Available at:http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/samoa-joe-wins-nxt-championshipwww.wwe.com. Available at: http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/samoa-joe-wins-nxt-championship [Accessed 22 Apr. 2016].

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The WWE Network: Case Study

“WWE Network is a subscription-based video streaming service owned by WWE, using the infrastructure of Major League Baseball Advanced Media. The concept was originally announced in 2011″ (Google, 2016)

You will be billed $9.99* per month, plus applicable taxes, until you cancel your subscription * £9.99 U.K. €12.99 Ireland. (WWE, 2016)

WWE Network Subscribers in 2015

WWE® (NYSE: WWE) today announced that WWE Network has surpassed 1 million subscribers just 11 months after launch, making it the fastest-growing digital subscription service. These results represent a 37 percent increase (24 percent domestically) in subscribers since last reported[1] at the end of third quarter 2014, driven primarily by a successful free November promotion, the launch of the service in the UK and significant additions for the Royal Rumble pay-per-view event.

(Paglino, 2015)

On which devices is WWE Network available?

The network is available on the following platforms:

WWE.com

Desktop and Laptop

Windows 10

Mobile Devices

Android and iOS

Connected Devices

Amazon Fire TV

Amazon Kindle Fire

Android TV

Apple TV

Roku:

Roku LT (models 2400X, 2450X, 2700X) Roku 2 HD (model 3000X) Roku 2 XD (model 3050X) Roku 2 XS (model 31000X) Roku Streaming Stick (models 3500RW, 3400X, 3420X) Roku 3 (model 4200X) Roku 1 (model 2710X) (launched in 2013) Roku 2 (model 2720R)

Sony PlayStation 3 and 4

TiVo:

Series 6 Series 5 - Coming Soon Series 4 - Coming Soon

XBOX One

XBOX 360

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WWE Network is delivered directly to fans through over-the-top digital distribution, and is not available through cable or satellite providers. 

(WWE, 2016)

WWE® NETWORK REACHES RECORD 1.82 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS

STAMFORD, Conn., April 4, 2016 – WWE® (NYSE: WWE) today announced that its digital subscription service, WWE Network, reached a record 1.82 million total subscribers following last night’sWrestleMania®, the most viewed WrestleMania in history. This is a 39% increase from March 30, 2015, the day after WrestleMania last year.

“History was made last night with both a record-setting crowd at AT&T Stadium and more households than ever before watching WrestleMania on WWE Network,” said WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. “WWE Network continues to drive transformative growth for our company.”

“Results today further demonstrate the power of our brand, illustrate our potential to drive long-term growth and provide evidence that we are effectively executing our multi-platform content strategy,” said George Barrios, WWE Chief Strategy & Financial Officer.

(WWE, 2016)

Even more:

Viewer data continues to indicate that, on average, close to 90 percent of subscribers access WWE Network at least once per week, 99 percent access WWE Network at least once per month and 86 percent of subscribers are satisfied with WWE Network.

Like other digital subscription services, such as Netflix and Hulu Plus, fans are able to sign up for WWE Network online by going to WWE.com and can watch WWE Network on their TVs through connected devices such as Sony Playstation 3, Sony Playstation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku streaming devices as well as Smart TVs including Sony and Samsung. The U.S. English language version of WWE Network is available direct to consumers in more than 170 countries and territories and recently launched in the UK and Ireland.

WWE Network’s one-of-a-kind programming includes all 12 WWE pay-per-view events LIVE at no additional charge plus groundbreaking original series, reality shows, documentaries, classic matches, exclusive coverage of special events and more than 2,000 titles in its video-on-demand library.

(Paglino, 2015)

Google. WWE Network (2016). [online] Google.co.uk. Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=wwe%20network [Accessed 6 Apr. 2016].

Paglino, N. (2015). WWE Network Hits 1 Million Subscribers, Vince Comments. [online] Wrestlezone. Available at: http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/547061-big-update-wwe-network-hits-1-million-subscribers-vince-mcmahon-comments-more [Accessed 6 Apr. 2016].

WWE, (2016). System Requirements. [online] Help.wwe.com. Available at: http://help.wwe.com/app/answers/kbdetails/a_id/40/cat_id/104 [Accessed 21 Apr. 2016].

WWE, (2016). How much will WWE Network cost?. [online] Help.wwe.com. Available at: http://help.wwe.com/app/answers/detailFramed/subscribed/0/a_id/6/a_level/Non-Subscribed/c_name/Overview [Accessed 6 Apr. 2016].

WWE, (2016). WWE® NETWORK REACHES RECORD 1.82 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS | WWE Corporate. [online] WWE Corporate. Available at: http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2016/wwe-network-reaches-record-1-82-million-subscribers [Accessed 24 Apr. 2016].

[marksdigitalculture]

Ethical and Legal frameworks

These quotes are extracted from the WWE corporate site, regarding what all employees have to follow whilst in a contract with the company. Click here for the code of conduct as a PDF, released in October 2015.

WWE CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT

October 2015

WWE is committed to conducting its business fairly, honestly and in accordance with law.

All officers, directors and other employees (collectively, including outside directors in their capacity as WWE directors, referred to herein as “WWE Personnel”) should read this Code of Business Conduct carefully. This Code is not meant to be all inclusive, and in many cases, WWE Personnel will be required to sign additional acknowledgement forms that they have read and understand various Company policies.

Equal Opportunity Employment and Non-Harassment

It is the policy of WWE to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a Vietnam -era or special disabled veteran in accordance with applicable Federal law. In addition, WWE complies with applicable State and Local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment in each locality in which it maintains offices or facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leave of absence, compensation and training. WWE is committed to maintaining a work environment that furthers the development of all its employees, encourages cooperation and teamwork, provides a pleasant work environment and provides fair and ethical treatment of all employment issues.

As part of this commitment, WWE is dedicated to providing a work environment that is free from harassment, whether that harassment is premised on sex, race, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin or any other legally protected basis. Harassment creates working conditions that are wholly inconsistent with WWE’s commitment to its personnel.

Examples of prohibited conduct include, without limitation:

Interfering with a person’s ability to perform his/her job, or creating an offensive work environment through insulting or degrading remarks, gestures, propositions, jokes, tricks, displays of sexually suggestive or other offensive symbols, objects or pictures or similar conduct related to a legally protected basis, including sex, race or sexual orientation.

Inappropriate physical touching.

Any threat of, or actual, retaliation against any person for reporting or filing claims of unlawful harassment.

Immigration Law Compliance

To be in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, WWE is committed to employing in the United States only individuals permitted or authorized to work in this country. WWE will not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of citizenship or national origin.

Each new U.S. employee, as a condition of employment, must present WWE original documentation establishing his or her identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as well as provide WWE a photocopy of, or the opportunity for WWE to photocopy, this original documentation. In addition, each new U.S. employee must complete the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. Former U.S. employees who are rehired must also complete the form if they have not completed an I-9 with WWE within three years, or if their previous I-9 is no longer retained or valid.

Prohibition Against Insider Trading

The term “insider trading” refers to the practice of trading in securities while in possession of material non-public information, a practice which is prohibited under federal law. Any WWE Personnel trading while in possession of material information which he or she has reason to believe is not publicly available is acting contrary to Company policy and may be held liable for insider trading. Directly or indirectly “tipping” this information to another person who trades is also a violation of this policy. Information will be deemed “material” if it would be likely to influence a reasonable investor’s decision to buy, sell or hold WWE securities. Any information about the advances, set-backs or over-all business plan of WWE should be considered material. “Non-public” information includes any information that has not been made available to the public through a press release or a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. WWE Personnel with information about WWE should consider the information “non-public” until the second full trading day following WWE’s wide-spread disclosure of that information.

Compliance with Laws and Company Policy

WWE Personnel must comply with all applicable laws and all Company policies, whether or not required by law. Violations will be grounds for termination. When in doubt, WWE Personnel have the responsibility of seeking clarification from their supervisors or, if necessary, the Business and Legal Affairs Department.

Any violations of law or any of the Company’s other policies must be reported, and it is a violation of Company policy not to make such reports. Reports may be written or oral; they should be clear and concise, but as detailed as is helpful to understand the issues. Reports may be made anonymously, if necessary. However, please bear in mind that anonymous reports are often more difficult to verify, and therefore may be less useful to the Company.

Reports of violations may be made (i) to the employee’s direct or indirect supervisor; (ii) to any officer(s) of the Company; (iii) to the Company’s Controller; or (iv) to the Company’s Audit Committee (see Annual Stockholders’ Report or the Company’s proxy statement for current members of the committee). Reports of violations may also be made by calling 1-866-737-6815. These reports will be monitored by Human Resources as well as the Chairs of our Governance and Nominating and Audit Committees. WWE Personnel may report concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters to our independent Audit Committee at 1-866-737-6815. If specifically requested, disclosure will be kept confidential to the full extent allowed by law.

Subject to any lawful condition of anonymity requested by the discloser, (x) any supervisor receiving a report pursuant to clause (i) above should notify an appropriate officer of the Company who is not a subject of the disclosure; and (y) if any such policy violation constitutes or could result in a violation of law, the Business and Legal Affairs Department should be notified immediately. Any complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters must be immediately referred to the independent Audit Committee at 1-866-737-6815.

Please note that no disciplinary action will be taken by the Company against any WWE Personnel based solely upon such WWE Personnel’s reporting violations of laws or Company policies in good faith. This shield, however, does not protect any WWE Personnel (including any reporting employee) who has violated the law or the Company’s policies. The Company also prohibits discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation against any WWE Personnel who provides information or otherwise assists in an investigation or proceeding regarding any conduct which he or she believes in good faith to be in violation of laws or Company policies. It is a violation of Company policy for any WWE Personnel to misuse this compliance program by knowingly or recklessly making a false report.

Conflict of Interest

WWE Personnel should not engage in any activities, have any personal or financial interests, or have any other relationships which conflict or appear to conflict with their duty to be loyal to WWE or which might impair their exercise of independent judgment. It is not possible to describe in this Code all those situations that might create conflicts of interest. However, the following are a few guidelines within which the Company expects WWE Personnel to work:

WWE Personnel shall not use their business position for personal gain or take advantage of any business opportunities of which they become aware in the course of their work for WWE that might be of interest to WWE.

WWE Personnel shall not provide any outside service or work for, or receive outside work or service from, any WWE vendor, service provider, licensee or other individuals or enterprises with whom the Company does or may do business (other than established institutions, such as banks, utilities, etc. with which the WWE Personnel transacts in the normal course of business), in each case, without full disclosure to, and approval by, the Chairman and CEO or his designee.

WWE Personnel shall not use information obtained through their engagement with WWE for personal profit, nor shall they disclose confidential information to outsiders.

WWE Personnel shall not borrow from or otherwise transact business with individuals or enterprises with whom the Company does or may do business, except if such enterprise is a bank or an established financial institution and the WWE Personnel’s business with it is in the normal course of its business.

WWE Personnel shall not have any business dealings with individuals or representatives/employees of outside firms/entities/governmental or quasi-governmental bodies that result in unusual gains for the WWE Personnel or those individuals or employees/representatives. “Unusual gains” refers to bribes, inappropriate gifts, unusual price breaks and other windfalls designed to benefit the WWE Personnel or such other parties, directly or indirectly.

WWE Personnel must report any conflicts of interest, potential conflicts of interest or related party transactions to the Human Resources and Business and Legal Affairs Departments.

Confidentiality/Non-Solicitation

The protection of confidential business information and trade secrets is vital to the interests and success of WWE. Confidential information includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors or harmful to WWE if disclosed. Examples of confidential information include, but are not limited to, the following:

Information concerning WWE talent; or story lines, ideas or other creative materials;

Financial information;

Marketing strategies;

Potential acquisitions;

Pending projects and proposals; and

Pending business partnerships.

All employees are required to sign a Confidentiality/Non-Solicitation Agreement as a condition of employment. WWE Personnel should maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to them, except when disclosure is duly authorized by appropriate officers of the Company or is legally mandated. WWE Personnel who improperly use or disclose trade secrets or confidential business information will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, and possibly legal action, regardless of whether they actually benefit from the disclosure.

Fair Dealing

All WWE Personnel should endeavor to deal fairly with the Company’s customers, suppliers and competitors and with other WWE Personnel. WWE Personnel should avoid taking unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair-dealing practice.

Record Keeping

Improper or fraudulent accounting documentation or financial reporting are contrary to Company policy and may also be in violation of applicable laws. Intentional accounting misclassifications (e.g., capitalizing something that should be expensed or improperly accelerating or deferring expenses or revenues) are unacceptable reporting practices and could result in criminal and civil sanctions.

WWE Personnel are required to record and report all information accurately and honestly. No undisclosed or unrecorded fund, asset or liability of the Company shall be established for any purpose. No false or artificial entries shall be made in the Company books or records for any reason, and no WWE Personnel shall engage in any arrangement that results in such prohibited acts. Every WWE Personnel records information of some kind and submits it to the Company. An example is expense accounts. WWE Personnel are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses to the extent provided by Company policy – but only if those expenses are actually incurred. To submit an expense account for meals not eaten, miles not driven, airline tickets not used, or for any other expense not incurred is dishonest reporting and is prohibited.

Dishonest reporting of information to organizations and people outside the Company also is strictly prohibited. It could lead to civil or criminal liability for you and WWE.

Bribes and Improper Influence

WWE Personnel may not give money or any gift to any official or employee of any governmental or quasi-governmental organization if doing so could reasonably be construed as having any connection with the Company’s business. In addition, U.S. law and Company policy prohibit the offering or acceptance of “kickbacks,” that is, anything of value offered or accepted for the purpose of obtaining favorable business treatment. What is acceptable practice in the commercial business environment, described below, may be entirely unacceptable, and may even violate certain federal, state, local or international laws and regulations, in dealings with government employees or those who act on a government’s behalf. Therefore, although the Company generally does not do business with governmental agencies, in those circumstances where WWE Personnel are dealing with federal or regional governments and/or quasi-governmental organizations including any lobbying efforts, WWE Personnel must be aware of and adhere to all relevant laws and regulations.

As a general guideline, WWE Personnel should not try to improperly influence the decisions of, or obtain restricted information from, government officials or those who act on a government’s behalf. Specifically, WWE Personnel should not undertake directly or indirectly any of the following activities:

Discuss or offer employment or business opportunities that could personally benefit governmental officials;

Offer or provide gratuities; and/or

Solicit or obtain proprietary or source selection information.

In dealing with its customers and suppliers, WWE does not seek to gain any unfair advantage through the improper use of business courtesies or other inducements.

Good judgment and moderation must be exercised to avoid misinterpretation and adverse effect on the reputation of the Company. Gifts, favors and entertainment may be given only if they:

are consistent with customary business practices;

are not excessive in value and cannot be construed as a bribe or payoff;

do not violate applicable law or ethical standards; and

will not embarrass the Company or the employee if publicly disclosed.

If you have any questions about the legality and/or appropriateness of any gifts, favors or entertainment, you should consult with the Business and Legal Affairs Department.

Fraud and False Statements

In the course of conducting business on the Company’s behalf, WWE Personnel shall not make any false or misleading statement that the WWE Personnel knows to be false or misleading or that with reasonable diligence the WWE Personnel should have known to be false or misleading. If an WWE Personnel finds that any statement made was unintentionally false or misleading or if an WWE Personnel believes any misunderstanding has occurred, he or she should promptly correct any such statement or misunderstanding. The resulting trustworthiness is essential to good business relationships.

Use of Company Assets

WWE Personnel should endeavor to protect the Company’s assets and ensure their efficient use. All Company assets should be used only for legitimate business purposes and should never be used for personal gain. The use of Company funds or assets for any unlawful or unethical purpose is prohibited.

Electronic Systems Usage

WWE provides a variety of computer and network resources to WWE Personnel, allowing them to perform their duties efficiently and effectively. These resources are administered by the Information Technology Department (IT) and are subject to usage policies outlined as follows:

The resources provided, including computer hardware and software, files, Email, Internet, telephones, and fax machines, are the property of WWE and are intended for business use only.

Access to these systems imposes certain responsibilities and obligations and is granted subject to the Company’s Electronic Systems Usage Policy.

To ensure compliance with this policy, WWE reserves the right to monitor and/or retrieve any information sent to or by, stored or otherwise contained in, those systems.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

It is WWE’s desire to provide a drug-free, healthy and safe workplace. While on WWE premises and while conducting business-related activities off premises, no WWE Personnel may use, possess, distribute, sell or be under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol (unless the use of alcohol is appropriate for the situation, such as in the case of a business dinner or cocktail party, in which case alcohol may be used only in moderation). The legal use of prescribed drugs is permitted on the job if it does not impair an employee’s ability to perform the essential functions of the job and in a safe manner that does not endanger other individuals.

Employee Conduct

In an effort to further explain what is expected of WWE Personnel, we have provided below a summary of behaviors that are not permitted in the WWE workplace. While many of these items may not seem new, it is not possible for us to list all forms of behavior that are considered unacceptable in the workplace. Therefore, the following are some examples of infractions of rules of conduct that may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination:

Theft or inappropriate use, removal, possession, or misuse of Company or others’ property;

Unauthorized use of Company identification cards, discounts, credit cards, computer passwords, or permitting their use by unauthorized users;

Tampering with an employee’s own or another employee’s time records;

Attempting to enter or assisting any person in entering the facility or restricted areas without proper authorization;

Possession of dangerous or unauthorized materials in the workplace (i.e. explosives or firearms);

Fighting or threatening violence in the workplace;

Insubordination or other disrespectful conduct;

Excessive absenteeism, tardiness, or any absences without proper notice;

Working under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs or possessing/engaging in the sale, distribution, or transportation of illegal drugs;

Falsification of records, including pre-employment records;

Unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential business information;

Unauthorized solicitation on Company premises;

Spreading malicious gossip or making false accusations regarding fellow employees or the Company or which in any way hinder its operation; and

Offering or accepting bribes.

Waivers for Directors and Executive Officers

Any waiver of this Code for an executive officer or a director may be made only by the Audit Committee and must be promptly disclosed to stockholders.

Further Information

If an employee has any questions regarding this Code of Business Conduct or is unsure about a particular situation, please consult the Human Resources or Business and Legal Affairs Department. This Code of Business Conduct should not be construed as, and is not, a contract of employment. The Company may terminate employment at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or notice.

WWE Corporate. (2015). Code of Business Conduct | WWE Corporate. [online] Available at: http://corporate.wwe.com/governance/code-of-business-conduct [Accessed 18 Apr. 2016].

[marksdigitalculture]

Storyworld Research / Case Studies (Transformers & Halo):

Halo’s Storyworld

“Using the Halo universe as an example, we will do a deep dive across the franchise's multiple narrative platforms and discuss best practices learned while producing stories across bestselling novels, comics, episodic content, live-action, and of course the blockbuster video game.”

Kevin Grace [from the beginning of 343, when Microsoft founded the studio to take care of halo] It is very important to us, that everything counts in the universe, that there are no side tracks or lesser tracks of the fiction. so that the events that take place in the novels are meaningful and a real part of our universe, because if fans are going to spend their time and money, to kind of consume those experiences, to get in and enjoy them. comics that we have done with marvel We've done all of these stories right here, all of these narratives tying together, it's really about finding ways to let fans experience our universe, as much as they want and as many different forms as they want.

Not everybody is sat in front of their console, connected to live waiting to play a game, sometimes your on the bus, sometimes you want a little video you can consume on your phone, sometimes you want an actual paper novel, to take with you when you are on a plane and they tell you to turn all your devices off, so you can still enjoy halo then. we are trying to create all different ways to let fans get into the universe in exactly the way they want to. examples: Forward until dawn is a live action series for the halo franchise: they are published onto youtube (weekly episodes) they have done 7 series of comics with marvel going way back to the original graphic novel (waypoint) all of these experiences channel into and support, and build fans excitement and build fans understand of our universe up, for what they'll get in the game, Halo 4 We've been planting some of these seeds, literally with some of these the stories what we have been doing in the books. Armando Troisi

Transmedia Hierarchy

The important thing for us to make sure of is, that everything is connected and supported, so nothing lives in a bubble. Things that happen in the live action affects the motion graphics.., people who participate in the franchise are rewarded without us punishing those who don't, this is an important principle. Everything needs to be interconnected, at the end of the day, everything needs to feed into what we are calling our temple, which is Halo 4 Halo 4 is the centre of our Transmedia strategy Understanding that there is a Hierarchy to the DNA that happens between these [separate medias], is a very important lesson we learned early on.

What's the goal?

No homework required:

Sequential model:

How we move the universe forward

The one problem with this model, the barrier entry grows as the universe moves forward.

We have another model that we use called the...

Supplementary model:

We have a universe plan, we have something like a novel or a game, but they all survive on their own. The novel, if you just want to read the novel, you can just read the novel and not participate with any other channel. If you like the game, you can participate in the game, never read the novel and be totally ok.

But, we made sure as we built these things, that there is DNA between them. So there is things in the novel that colour the game, and there is things in the game that colour the novel. This colouring is an important strategy for us moving forward, which allows us to have that positive feedback loop with our audience.

Another thing that is important about the supplementary model is that we can continuously add to it. So, if we add the live action to it, now we have more supporting structures.

So people who play the game, watch the live action and read the novel have an optimums experience because they are participating with all the channels.

Kevin Grace

Room to grow: allow the media to flourish on its own

Grace, K. and Troisi, A. (2016). GDC Vault - Building Transmedia Worlds in Halo 4. [online] Gdcvault.com. Available at: http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1016603/Building-Transmedia-Worlds-in-Halo [Accessed 20 Apr. 2016].

Transformers Storyworld

“robot figures from the 1980's

1984, US Hasbro released the first transformer line TAKARA selling the rights and partnering   converting robot lines were brought together under the transformers name in the short time that followed Hasbro created a back story for the transformers and also gave names and personalities to many of the characters from the older Japanese lines Hasbro then created the popular tagline  "robots in disguise" among the original characters released were: Optimus prime, bumblebee, Megatron, star-scream, all the characters who still hold an important role in the franchise in that same first year (1984-87) an animated television series based on the toyline, took to the airwaves further proving that transformers quickly moved from being simply a toy line to a media franchise. After finding success in every area it had entered, the first transformers feature film hit the big screen (1986). Based on the animated series the film was also animated and served as a bridge between the tv series second and third seasons.  The film underachieved at the box office, bringing in only $5million during the opening weekend. in 1993, the transformers generation 2 line was released. Beast wars: transformers (1996-99) by 2001 (2008+), Hasbro would return to the classic transformer concept and a new generation would discover the joy of these transforming robots 2007, the transformers live action film was released. bringing in over $700million The firsts film's success ensured there will be a sequel in 2009″

(WatchMojo, 2009)

Brace yourselves, four more "Transformers" films are rolling out.

Stephen Davis, president of Hasbro Studios, revealed that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to the company's plans for the franchise.

"You're going to see a new 'Transformers' movie coming from Hasbro and Paramount and Michael Bay and our other partners," he said during a panel at the MIPJunior conference in Cannes, France. "We decided that we wanted to plot out the next 10 years of the Transformers franchise, so we got together in a room over a three-month period of time...Similarly, we are doing the same in television and in digital. So stay tuned, 'Transformers' 5 is on its way, and 6 and 7 and 8."

(Whitten, 2015)

Grace, K. and Troisi, A. (2016). GDC Vault - Building Transmedia Worlds in Halo 4. [online] Gdcvault.com. Available at: http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1016603/Building-Transmedia-Worlds-in-Halo [Accessed 21 Apr. 2016].

Gonzales, D. (2016). Forbes Welcome. [online] Forbes.com. Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/davegonzales/2015/06/08/paramounts-transformers-story-room-will-pitch-at-least-a-dozen-new-movies/?utm_content=buffer42e10&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#2e38597359b6 [Accessed 21 Apr. 2016].

Hasbros, (2016). Transformers Official Website | Robots In Disguise. [online] Transformers.hasbro.com. Available at: http://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us [Accessed 24 Apr. 2016].

WatchMojo, (2009). Transformers: The Franchise. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8SjatE_qwk [Accessed 22 Apr. 2016].

Whitten, S. (2015). Hasbro to roll out 4 more 'Transformers' films. [online] CNBC. Available at: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/05/autobots-roll-out-hasbro-confirms-4-more-transformers-films.html [Accessed 24 Apr. 2016].

[marksdigitalculture]

Flowchart of WWE’s Storyworld

Not all of WWE’s content is shown, as there would be too much to show.

The below illustrates the flow of the WWE’s universe.