Room 304

This kind of thing inspires me… Guru Talk by Jeff Gomez.

Wed, 09 May 2012 16:13:00 -0400

This kind of thing inspires me… Guru Talk by Jeff Gomez.

Neil Gaiman: Reposted as something that can be reblogged. ON WRITER'S BLOCK.

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:17:13 -0500

Neil Gaiman: Reposted as something that can be reblogged. ON WRITER'S BLOCK.:

I’ve seem to be hitting writer’s block far too often now. My grade in my creative writing class is suffering because i don’t turn in anything because i’m never really satisfied with anything i do. all my good ideas seem to turn into bad ones once i write it down. How do you get pass writers…

The Anatomy of a Design Document

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:18:00 -0500

The Anatomy of a Design Document:

Starting to think how I could present my proposal. How to filter through ideas and boil it down to a comprehensive, straightforward document. This is a good place to start. As with writing a screenplay proposal, brevity is key.

Always something to keep in mind.

And of course looking back at what people have done helps avoid...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:33:00 -0500

And of course looking back at what people have done helps avoid certain mistakes (read MARKETING PLOY). Some brilliant tips from Simon Staffans’s blog here aggregated into one cohesive work. Love the interview with Jeff Gomez!

(P.S. I did put this in a hyperlink before but I was reading through it again and thought it deserved its own post)

Getting Started in Transmedia Storytelling by Robert Pratten. A...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:26:31 -0500

Getting Started in Transmedia Storytelling by Robert Pratten.

A brilliant practical guide that puts things into perspective and removing some of the fuzzy aura around big projects that involve transmedia and multiple platforms (as mine will be hopefully)…

Jane McGonigal: Gaming can make a better world

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:28:16 -0500

Jane McGonigal: Gaming can make a better world

Why Transmedia is a no-brainer for TV.

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:34:52 -0500

Why Transmedia is a no-brainer for TV.:

Very good read that has now even more convinced about pursuing this plan to tie in this an interactivity component with the 30 minute series is the right way to go. However, that said I do not want this to be just a marketing ploy but rather a platform where The Vengeance Crew’s story will continue to unfold.

The perfect music to come up with sick ideas for The Vengeance...

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:42:07 -0500

The perfect music to come up with sick ideas for The Vengeance Crew.

Brain on overdrive.

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:19:45 -0500

The idea of a hyperlinked world is something that I’ve been reading about for a while now. They way people experience media is changing. We all know that and we’ve heard it countless number of times that it’s becoming annoying.

However tonight I am putting myself as case in point. I’ve been jumping from one article about Aristotle to another regarding the last year in transmedia. Notable is the fact that this past hour I’ve sailed through some 30 articles… But the point that I want to focus on is the fact that i reality I barely manage to finish reading one article before I’m onto the next. This is something that is becoming more and more pervasive in the modern day world.

Now we’ve heard a lot about social media shortening people’s attention span and the usual doom and gloom stories (which I do find entertaining nonetheless) when it comes to new media.

HOWEVER because we are at a time where information is readily available literally at our fingertips, would it be so wrong to think of it in terms of people developing an overwhelming desire to consume as much content as possible?

Should games even bother trying to tell a meaningful story?

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:10:55 -0500

Should games even bother trying to tell a meaningful story? :

I’ve heard so many differing views about this subject. Good read. Definitely something to consider when working on an interactive project.

Why so serious?

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:15:00 -0500

Why so serious? :

Again an ARG that is used to promote a project. A bit larger scale than what I’m aiming for of course but the idea fragmenting information and allowing the player to put the pieces together is a lot of fun to think about.

Something in the Sea

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:28:00 -0500

Something in the Sea:

This was an ARG designed to promote the Bioshock 2 game by immersing fans into the story of the character Mark Meltzer in his quest to find his missing daughter. The site is beautifully designed with puzzles, photos etc. (something I want to try and incorporate into my own project)

What intrigues me the most is that people following and participating in this ARG in 2009 were given locations to 10 beaches. The site instructed them to go on a certain date at midnight. Those who did go found artifacts washed ashore from the game’s fictional underwater city of Rapture.

Mindblowing.

"You know what’s really exciting about video games is you don’t just interact with the..."

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:58:08 -0500

“You know what’s really exciting about video games is you don’t just interact with the game physically — you’re not just moving your hand on a joystick, but you’re asked to interact with the game psychologically and emotionally as well. You’re not just watching the characters on screen; you’re becoming those characters.”

- Nina Huntermann, Game Over

The Gaming Experience.

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:35:08 -0500

Today’s class has given me a lot to think about. Many decisions need to be made… and this time not regarding the actually story line but the more practical side of gameplay, revenue streams and aesthetics, keeping in mind the hardware that would be needed to support the game itself and hence the audience it would then be available to.

So in thinking about the audience and what is the purpose behind the development of the game, I would like it to be a continuation of the series. Hence the idea that the player would be contacted by the already established Vengeance Crew in order to become a fighter against the Jock Gang.

However, that said, I still do think the game could also serve an immensely powerful purpose if it were to be the introduction of Leighton High. Therefore the game would be a stepping stone towards the series. It would be wise to do so as it could be used for promotion purposes - as a marketing tool.

That is something which needs to be explored further.

Now this series is going to be aimed at a teenage and above audience. More specifically, it will be more appealing to the male population. Keeping in mind that in today’s world the amount of gamers is increasing immensely, in actuality according to recent statistics, it is the proportion of casual gamers that is booming. That means that aiming the game towards this demographic will ensure the largest audience. So despite the fact that I am more inclined towards a 3D gaming experience, from a practical point of view, isometric projection would maybe be more of a wise choice. This is because of the simple fact that full on 3D games would require a much more powerful computer that the casual gamer would not have.

Now depending comes also the question of how this game will be distributed. Facebook games at the moment are on top of the list for game developers. But people hate them. Most people do anyway. Also FB can still do a whole bunch of horrible stuff like take your game down without notice. Naturally, they will also charge and take a commission off of your game as well. So I am very much averse towards using Facebook as a platform.

I am looking at other options and the one I am most keen on is building a website for the series which will then incorporate the game. This would allow me to continue building on the universe as I also plan on writing 5 minute web episodes with the supporting characters as protagonists.

But for the moment I think that is enough information.

Lots to think about.

Lots of decisions to be made…

Bully (Rockstar Games) trailer.

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:16:54 -0500

Bully (Rockstar Games) trailer.

In the vein of all the nerd games I’ve been looking at,...

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:06:22 -0500

In the vein of all the nerd games I’ve been looking at, here is one that really rings a bell. Working on the same concepts of school cliques Bully (by Rockstar Games) has Jimmy Hopkins as protagonist and follows him through his endevours to gain respect among the several groups.

What I like in particular about this is the use of mini-games and puzzles within the narrative itself that really make way for diversified gameplay. However I think that if the player could create their own avatar and actually choose whether or not to become one a member of one of the gangs, then this would add significantly to player immersion.

Shoot the Nerd

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:58:00 -0500

Shoot the Nerd:

In the vein of Slap the Nerd, this game in turn is slightly more violent as it allows the player to throw a various array of increasingly dangerous weapons (including a swordfish) at the poor geek…

Slap the Nerd

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:55:47 -0500

Slap the Nerd:

Research about geeky games spewed this thing up… Game consists of slapping as many nerds as possible during a variety of classes…

Nerd Bot.

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:24:00 -0500

Nerd Bot.

Now let me explain...

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:18:00 -0500

So where do I start?

From the beginning I guess…

The world of Storytelling is changing and that much is obvious. The digital revolution is upon us and it’s time to wake up to it. This has given rise to this whole phenomenon that is Transmedia storytelling… and it fascinates me. That much is obvious from what I have posted so far. Telling a story on multiple platforms is something that really allows a writer to build not only a story but a universe. Being able to call myself a Story Architect is something I believe to be very cool indeed.

As time progresses, broadcasters are losing their power as regards distribution and new business models are emerging. Most obvious is online distribution - all hail You Tube! But there are many others who chose to release content through their own websites as well as through traditional pathways.

In developing my 30 minute series The Vengeance Crew (working title) for another module, I soon came to realize it was much too violent for kids. So I aimed it towards an older audience. Hence - [adult swim] as inspiration. In essence it’s the adult segment of Cartoon Network. The Vengeance Crew premise is as follows;

After being wrongfully accused of burning down Leighton High Library, seventeen year old prodigy, Renton Bromley goes on a mission to unite the fragmented Geek Clans of Leighton to fight the Jocks and clear his name.

Since broadcasters are super keen on delving into interactivity (obviously), I want to continue the series through an online game. The idea is that the people who watch the series will then go to the online version of Leighton High. There they will be able to register and enroll. With that done, they can choose their clan; Techies, Artists, Physicists, Biologists or Jocks.

Upon becoming members, they will then be given missions to accomplish. With each one, their skills, weapons and status in the clan improves. When the user reaches an appropriate level, Renton Bromley or Blake Lansing (depending if they’re a jock or a geek) will contact and ask for them to join either the Vengeance Crew or the Jocks. The player can accept or decline, making every choice matter.

Inputting the code provided will gain the user access to restricted areas and new missions. However new rules will also govern, so for example geeks that join the VC can no longer engage in unprovoked attacks on bullies. Likewise, the jocks will have their own code to abide by and a new heirarchy will be set into place.

So… How’s that?