Clint was talking about Transmedia narratives, the idea that a story is of the same complexity as a puzzle piece. Separated into different media outlets in which it forms a greater narrative. We spoke about focusing on a story instead of the commercialised main use of the ideal format. I originally thought I was going to do something more silly and whimsical, however, after further discussion, I have decided to be vulnerable and interpret a personal story and experience. 

Furthermore, in the past few weeks, I have reconciled a feeling of separation, over family moving out and moving on and the gaining of new people. Creating a sense of separation of siblings and the dissipating of the family unit as we grow up.  

Though this is not subject to family, it could be spaces, people and things that have fallen under this umbrella of separation. Talking to Olivia today, we have come to conclude similar ideas and theories. Her with the loss of space, home and environment and me also with the loss of people in those environments. The family unit is separated and the person being separated from their home. 

The context of our stories are subjective, and when we look outward we realise the larger narrative that surrounds it. We want to focus on the idea of separation as a concept and create perhaps a physical interaction of something returning to us through the use of transmedia. Continuing with the whimsical quality of previous ideas, we are thinking to include this further. To not create a heart-wrenching story but an uplifting and reflective one. To turn what we see as our subjective separation experiences, a reflection of larger change and larger stories into a broad interaction with strangers. 

These are the bagged birds of Myers Park. Despite all their looks, they are made of solid metal through and through. The boxed birds are on the main sidewalk of Queen street and the park, while the other two are nearby in the park proper.

Why are there statues of bagged birds in Myers Park? Nobody knows.

They have been a mystery to myself and Charles Johnson for around a year now. We’ve looked them up, tried looking for artist’s names, and even went on a search of the park for more hidden bagged birds. Nothing. Just these three bagged birds.

The thing is though that nobody else bothers with this. Barely anyone even knows they exist, despite them being in plain sight. I’ve seen people stare right at them and just walk past, not once questioning why there is a bird in a bag and birds in boxes along the path. And that’s what sparked my studio idea.

There are things in this city that everyone has seen, but no-one has ever questioned. Whether they’re landmarks or just signs on walls, there are things hidden in plain sight that only a few people will pursue and unravel. So I thought, why not make an ARG around that?

So that’s what my studio project is. I’m scrapping my previous VR ideas and focusing on this - pure storytelling. It’ll be based on little things that will be hidden everywhere, but will only hold true meaning to those who pursue it.

Transmedia Narratives is definitely a new and important way to experience a story.

My past experience with online twitter narratives and youtube mysteries proved that fact right out the gate. But being introduced to the massive, sprawling phenomenon the SCP community created was definitely next level for me. It was so easy to get lost in the pages and pages of creatures, things and places each with their own sometimes dangerous oddities. Even just becoming a part of that is an extension of the transmedia narrative. The “Beautiful Mind” project is my extension, it is the SCP Foundation testing behaviours of close to life Human A.I. interacting with dangerous SCPs to counteract the real-life loss that occurs much too often.

I do really Enjoy the premise I've created, as both an extension and possible franchise of its own. making accessible puzzles and hoping people enjoy the mystery. But if there was one thing I wish I tried, that would be creating a connection between the virtual and online world, it could’ve been as simple as sticking out a QR code in town. Cicada 3301 accomplished this around the world, in the first portion of one of their second puzzles, and they have the Mythos of being arguably one of the internets biggest mysteries. Something out of my experience range, but definitely a goal to aim for.

Below are all of my posts related to the class:

From Clues to Action.

Connecting the Dots.

Is Stenography too hardcore?

Where I'm at with Transmedia.

The Layout Formula For Jonah.

Creating a Fake A.I.

Final Submission and Reflective Statement 

In our final submission we have submitted a concept book which we have already given to Clint and Joseph. Also Carol has made a short demo as well which is also part of our Final Submission. With the book all of us were given roles of what to write for where and so everyone pitched in content, then Iris designed the book and got it printed for submission to Clint.

Overall I really enjoyed this paper, Clint and Joseph did a great job as lectures giving us feedback when needed and really understanding our struggles because of the stress we are under because of studio. All of us did a great job, we all got along with each other really well and understood each others strength and weaknesses. We were very organized and our time management was really incredible I have never been a part of a team that has been this organised in a while.  Transmedia has given me skills now I can take into other future projects.

My role in the team was basically from researching into past ideas to take inspirations and then providing the content for our designers Carol and Iris. I provided history research on locations, wrote some personal stories from people regarding those locations as well as taking some photos for some of the locations. Me and some others also set up so social media platform accounts and got them up and running

Before I touched on the problems I had come across with Twitter and the move to Instagram. Visually I never quite expected to develop clues quite as layered as I have. I had mostly intended the whole narrative to be more story based than the tag along, follow the trail kinda setup I have now.

But the more I think about it the more it makes sense.

Originally I placed Jonah’s Story as an Extension type of transmedia. The extension of the pre-existing SCP “Franchise”. I planned to create a story that built on the world so many other creators have come together to create. But doesn’t it make sense to give my story the ability to have its own franchise? Opening up my methods to more than just blog-like updates will give me more reach, more opportunity to dive down the Jonah rabbit hole, that's really exciting to me.

The story feature is the second and last step in the lifecycle of Jonah, given some time to figure out the SCP in the posts. Players are now able to interact with Jonah in the classic choose your own adventure style.shown in the examples below.

I’m here to spoil the current state of the ARG so miss this one if it’s something you want to figure out yourself. The Instagram can be found here.

However, below is the process I have developed to aid players in the story, which I do consider important.