Between the digitalbookworld talk I had with very smart people last Tuesday and spending a couple of days talking to equally smart people at ARGfest, I have a lot of thoughts about transmedia, games, writing, and how they all intersect swimming around in my head. So, over the next few days I’ll likely be making posts about some of the stuff I’m thinking about, once I get it all sorted out in my head. I’ll put them all in their own category for easy reference (“Transmedia Thoughts”).
But what is “transmedia”? To be honest, I’m not entirely sure – like many buzzwords, I’ve seen it used a lot of different ways by a lot of different people. It seems the intersection revolves around telling a story (interactive or otherwise, but mostly interactive) that is conveyed through more than one media. The scale of the story is where the questioning comes in, and sometimes transmedia is applied to a whole world rather than a specific story, but since there isn’t even a common definition of role-playing games, I’m not going to worry overmuch about it. The key to a lot of my thoughts are the use of multiple media in a cohesive experience and the application of interactivity in that experience. Since that’s a lot of what I do on a daily basis, I have a lot of interest in the topic, and therefore a lot of thoughts to share.
I’m fond of Jeff Gomez’s PRINCIPLES OF TRANSMEDIA –
http://www.jillgolick.com/2009/12/jeff-gomezs-principles-of-transmedia-narrative/
Though, I suspect that if you hold some of his own transmedia work to this definition it actually doesn’t hold up. Still, as “pure” principles, they’re a good place to begin.
– c.
That’s a very good distinction between transmedia and transmedia narrative. I think my thoughts cross that line a number of times, but that helps me to clarify it a bit.
I had always thought about this, but never had a word for it before…
Argh. This is so hard to pull off within the bounds of a volunteer organization, but it really is the future of storytelling/gaming/media consumption.
I hope to do more work in this field in the future – thanks Eddy!
You should talk to Leslie about Radio Free Fae. It was the first big thing I’ve noticed in global transmedia LARP support.
You know, Jeff, thinking about this more, I would make the case that the Cam has been Transmedia for years. The live-action component (LARPs) reinforces the online component (email lists) and vice versa. Perhaps it’s better to look at the tools you already have and find ways to use them more effectively?
I agree Eddy – we’re trialing a lot of it in Geist. However, it only leaps to transmedia with more than two types of media, yes? While the email lists and LARP reinforce each other, what if we had a computer game or another method of interaction that would help prop story?
However, as a volunteer organization, the time/work limits are atrocious for trying to accomplish multifaceted approaches to storytelling.
If I could, I’d have a YouTube channel, a Twitter account (coming soon), a set of several websites for organizations (I have one, thanks to David), physical letters/packages, and physical props/items to distribute from game to game.
A difficult problem and one I’m still grappling with.
Thanks for the insight. =)
I’ve never seen a number associated with transmedia. Many of the ARGs I looked were “website + phones.” I also think that adding things in just to add them in doesn’t help, either — it goes from being a tool to a gimmick. If the new media adds something to the story, use it, but if not, don’t.