Un-Reality: The Brief

The Project

In the streets surrounding the WT Building, hidden from the day to day wanderings of commuters and shoppers, is a parallel reality. Discovered through direct or secret invitation, or just by chance, this alternate world weaves across physical and digital space in and around the WT Building.  

The creation of this alternate reality is your project this semester. 

Transmedia games are at the leading edge of game design and are being utilised for a variety of purposes including marketing, education, organisational and community development. They form a bridge between multiple worlds, and by presenting multiple views of reality, expand our epistemological and ontological flexibility. We are giving you an opportunity to create a game of your own.

Brief

This assignment will involve the creation of an alternate reality ‘journey’ which will utilise multiple media and traverse multiple realms. The journey must involve at least some physical movement around spaces (including the streets closest to the BCT studios (a map is attached showing outer boundaries)), and involve both physical  and digital media content. 

The type of ‘reality’ you choose is up to you and your group. The reality may involve a mystery, an unfolding narrative or simply be an alternate reality tourist trail. It could involve interdimensional communication with unusual beings or day to day people in an unusual context. It is up to you. But it will need to be compelling and engaging and demonstrate your ability to take creative risks.

Try to pay attention to as many senses as possible (e.g. sound, visual, smell, taste, kinaesthetic, emotion/feeling) when creating the reality. Also think about magic, surprise, fun and excitement as you create an alternate reality experience.

You may choose to utilise some form of mobile technology as part of your process but this can be at any level of technological sophistication (i.e. conventional phones or GPS units, through to smart phones using QR codes or AR apps).You should not have to do any programming for this assignment – keep it simple and use existing apps where possible and if at all.

You will need to attend to how individuals discover the reality – direct invitation and selection or chance? Also how do they end the journey? The process of journeying through your reality should not be too complicated or confusing