Endgame is one of the more recent ARG’s, but there are many other types of storytelling in this world and we’ll be exploring those in months to come!
If you’ve read my posts on the MFM facebook page, you know I’ve introduced the concept of an ARG (Alternate Reality Game) very briefly awhile back when talking about the crossplatform project DIG by USA Network. ARGs are just one way to deliver content and story to a consumer (AKA the audience).
Often content is delivered passively, meaning you sit and watch, read, listen to something doing nothing more than taking in the content. Sometimes content is delivered through one basic form; you watch a movie and receive the entire story, or read a comic or flip through a website. But, there are other ways to tell a story; that’s where interactive narrative and crossplatform projects step in.
Basically those are fancy terms to mean you interact in some way with the story or you find the storyworld can be explored through many different methods. ARGs are one type of interactive narrative. Storytellers (creators) are finding more and more ways to deliver story. For those who like to do something more than sit in front of one screen, or want to expand beyond the pages to track the story, interactive narrative is an awesome, wild ride.
Starting in May, at the end of each month, we’ll explore new CrossMedia Snapshots together–and I’ll even show you my top picks for cutting edge projects that are breaking or are being crowdfunded, so you can cut right to the good stuff!
So, roll up your sleeves, get out there, and come explore with me!
[Editor’s Note: If you want to learn about the images we used in this article, which feature the ARG, Endgame, that Google launched at the end of last year, check out the official Endgame site. -JH]
Julie Stratton
Julie Stratton trains young minds in multimedia design in New Jersey and researches alternate reality gaming.