On Shadowrun: Nostalgia for a Game I’ve Never Played
I honestly don’t know how Shadowrun escaped me all these years, but its combination of D&D, The Matrix, and Mission: Impossible is 100% my shit! Imagine: fantasy races, magic, cyberpunk, and elaborate heists sitting atop an intricately fleshed out near-future world that uses the Mayan Long Count calendar and corporate greed as its main pillars. It’s as problematic, corny, and compelling as you’d think — and I’m totally digging it.
Entry Points, Accessibility and Transmedia Potential
It will be interesting to see what other publisher can successfully go the Marvel route; with a $2B+ worldwide box office already in for the Avengers’ on-screen storyworld (one that still bizarrely lives in total isolation from the comics), I’m guessing several will make the attempt within the next 2-3 years. Two gaming franchises I think have some serious transmedia potential are Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls and Activision’s Skylanders, though you might be surprised by which one I think has the most potential.
Beyond the Story: Engaging Experiences Rule
Book publishers, on the other hand, have traditionally either focused on “digital” as a secondary medium, or worse, not even as a distinct medium at all, simply a fascimile or marketing channel for their print products. In doing so, they’ve effectively positioned themselves for easier disintermediation, being seen as container manufacturers instead of content curators and community organizers.
Unleashing Stories; Engaging Communities
Stories just as powerful and compelling as those Waiting for Superman put in the spotlight are confined to the printed page instead of being unleashed across multiple platforms for people to connect with, share with others, and inspire action.
DIY’s Great, But WHO Are We Doing it For?
“Just do it!” was definitely an underlying theme of the day as the deceptively sexy notion of the “democratization” of content creation and distribution was frequently noted, but I realized towards the end of the day, what was missing was any reference to the issue of access, and the ever-widening digital divide.
The Art of Immersion by Frank Rose
The Art of Immersion is a much-needed bridge to/from Henry Jenkins’ seminal Convergence Culture, as Frank Rose crafts an engaging, insightful overview of how storytelling has evolved in the digital age that’s accessible to all, whether enthusiast or skeptic.
2011: Are You a Writer or Creator?
10 questions writers should be asking as they look ahead to the future of publishing—and where they fit in.
Fragmented Marketing: Making Mickey a Transmedia Epic
While Epic Mickey can certainly be used as an example of transmedia development, I’d argue that the process only got it half right since there doesn’t appear to be an integrated marketing plan in effect.
Seven People in My #Transmedia Neighborhood
While Twitter has only become even more valuable since then as a professional networking tool, I still look to blogs for deeper engagement, and subscribe to feeds of blogs that offer real value.
Perplex City: Learning From an ARG
Part collectible card game, part treasure hunt, augmented with an immersive online community, Perplex City offers a number of interesting takeaways for anyone wrestling with how and where audience development and transmedia intersect.