#argn

[transmediawriting]

How to Lose Yourself in Unknown 9’s Transmedia Sprawl

Last month, the Institute for Higher Knowledge posted a seemingly innocuous online personality test asking people to discover their true potential. That simple test serves as an entryway into the strange world of Unknown 9, an ambitious transmedia franchise from Reflector Entertainment that plans on revealing its occult mystery across television, film, video games, podcasts, novels, comic [...]

“Last month, the Institute for Higher Knowledge posted a seemingly innocuous online personality test asking people to discover their true potential. That simple test serves as an entryway into the strange world of Unknown 9, an ambitious transmedia franchise from Reflector Entertainment that plans on revealing its occult mystery across television, film, video games, podcasts, novels, comic books, live events…and an alternate reality game. The prologue to Unknown 9wrapped up with a live event hosted by the McKittrick Hotel during New York Comic Con, but the first phase was largely designed to establish the occult, conspiracy-laden setting for the storyworld. The second phase launched earlier this week, making this a perfect chance to step into the story. How you do that, though, is based on what type of experience you’re looking for.”

[transmediawriting]

argn.com: A Return for a New and Improved Emma Approved

“Five years ago, Pemberley Digital released their first episode of Emma Approved, the Emmy-Award winning transmedia series that reimagined the character Jane Austen described as “a heroine whom no-one but myself will much like” as a modern-day advice coach turned vlogger. Over the course of the show’s initial 72-episode run, Pemberley Digital painted a sympathetic and nuanced portrait of Emma Woodhouse that allows the viewers’ appreciation of Emma’s strength to grow in parallel with Emma’s own personal growth as the series progresses. And to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the show, Emma Approved is returning for a sequel, starting in October.”

[transmediawriting]

Gaslamp Fantasy Meets Puzzles for the ASPMC’s Cryptozoological Adventures

During the twilight years of the 19th century, a collective of Massachusetts residents organized a series of tea parties dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the region's local wildlife. These parties eventually led to the foundation of the Audubon Society. Around the same time, a more magically inclined group of researchers and preservationists founded [...]

“When Covid19 rendered many artists, writers, and freelancers in the entertainment sectors unemployed and under-employed, Green Door Labs resurrected the ASPMC [American Society for the Protection of Magical Creatures] and brought it into the 21st century to serve as a home for “original, story-based online puzzle hunts”. Under the game’s framework, the ASPMC sends players on family-friendly, modular missions that can be played independently, but also fit within a singular shared storyworld that is accessible to all. Initially funded through a Kickstarter campaign, the society’s first mission went live in late July, with two more missions slated to follow in the coming months.”

Another excellent, in-depth write-up by ARGN’s Michael Andersen on a new puzzle-y, interactive experience. This looks fun — I am already a fan of Aunt Carol....

[transmediawriting]

MIT Media Lab Experiments with Remote Controlled People for Halloween

This Halloween, the MIT Media Lab is launching BeeMe, a dystopic tale about an evil artificial intelligence named "Zookd". Starting at 11pm EST on October 31st, the story's protagonist will be tasked with stopping Zookd in real time. There's just one twist: in order to face off against Zookd, the protagonist will relinquish all free [...]

“This Halloween, the MIT Media Lab is launching BeeMe, a dystopic tale about an evil artificial intelligence named “Zookd”. Starting at 11pm EST on October 31st, the story’s protagonist will be tasked with stopping Zookd in real time. There’s just one twist: in order to face off against Zookd, the protagonist will relinquish all free will, leaving their every action over the course of the story up for popular vote.”

[milfitinstitute]

The Football World Cup & the Military!

The Football World Cup & the Military!

Although FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association or the International Federation of Football Associations) was founded in 1904 and stated they would be the only “group allowed to organize a professional World Cup football competition.” Coleman, 2018, p.21-22), they did not hold a world cup until 1930.

The first ever world cup competition was held in Uruguay, South America, and was…

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[transmediawriting]

“A magical acceptance letter to become a witch...delivered to the wrong person.”

Here’s an intriguing rabbit hole into an immersive storyworld: a mystery box of beautifully detailed, in-story artifacts having something to do with a would-be witch named Christinia... but “accidentally” delivered to Michael Andersen of the Alternate Reality Gaming Network. (And if the end of the curious letter contained within the box is to be believed, I may be courting danger myself by posting about it on Tumblr! Maybe I should, um, burn some sage or something?)

Read Michael’s full write-up over at ARGN.com, and follow christiniathewitch.org to get in on the ground floor of what looks to be an intriguing, interactive story of magic and mystery.

[transmediawriting]

Everything You (Probably Don't) Need to Know About Cloverfield

Bad Robot is releasing a new Cloverfield movie on 03-11-16, more than eight years after its cinematic debut. The film, 10 Cloverfield Lane, isn't exactly an official sequel to the original, but has been described by JJ Abrams as a "blood relative" to the film. Whether this blood relative will mark the return of the [...]

“Bad Robot is releasing a new Cloverfield movie on 03-11-16, more than eight years after its cinematic debut. The film, 10 Cloverfield Lane, isn’t exactly an official sequel to the original, but has been described by JJ Abrams as a “blood relative” to the film. Whether this blood relative will mark the return of the enigmatic Cloverfield Monster remains to be seen, but the familial resemblance is evident with 10 Cloverfield Lane‘s new alternate reality game.”

This excellent write-up by Michael Andersen at Alternate Reality Gaming Network revisits the Cloverfield ARG from 2008, and dissects the various websites and other story elements tied to the new film 10 Cloverfield Lane. 

Michael also spoke to Steve Peters about this new Cloverfield ARG in the latest episode of StoryForward, a fantastic podcast on transmedia storytelling and experience design — listen to it here:

http://www.storyforwardpodcast.com/2016/02/25/086-10-cloverfield-lane/

[transmediawriting]

Four years ago, a little over three thousand people raised $72K on Kickstarter to make Six to Start's Zombies, Run a post-apocalyptic reality. The smartphone app allowed runners to step into the role of Abel Township's Runner 5, the largely silent protagonist collecting supplies for the town in a world infested with zombies. Three seasons [...]

“Four years ago, a little over three thousand people raised $72K on Kickstarter to make Six to Start’s Zombies, Run a post-apocalyptic reality. The smartphone app allowed runners to step into the role of Abel Township’s Runner 5, the largely silent protagonist collecting supplies for the town in a world infested with zombies. Three seasons and over 200 missions later, over a million people purchased the game, following its often heart-wrenching story as Runner 5 gradually gets to know the inhabitants of Abel Township, neighboring settlements, and the truth behind the zombie infestation. And now, with season 4, Zombies, Run has gone free-to-play.”