MMD GROUP PROJECT - ARG

So we've gotten the final group project which is creating an Alternate Reality Experience.
It sounds like fun and it's definitely something different and more hands on.
We are split into 2 groups and each group is split into 4 teams: Concept, Web, Video, Print.
Each Team is to come up with a concept for an ARG.

Some new key terminology relating to this genre:*
-Cross-Media
-Transmedia
-Aternate Reality Game (ARG)
-Location Based Game
-Virtual Reality
-Mixed Reality
-Augmented Reality
-Augmented Virtuality
-Simulated Reality
-Virtuality Continuum
-Multimodal Interaction

Crossmedia*
(also known as Cross-Media, Cross-Media Entertainment, Cross-Media Communication) is a media property, service, story or experience distributed across media platforms using a variety of media forms. It refers to the journey or linkages across devices and through forms and is most evident in branded entertainment, advertising, games and quest based forms such as Alternate Reality Games where there are a range of dependencies between the media placed across devices and fragments there-of. There are potentially ref four main categories or levels of cross-media:

There are potentially ref four main categories or levels of cross-media*
Cross-media 1.0 – Pushed.
Cross-media 2.0 – Extras.
Cross-media 4.0 – Experiences.
Cross-media 3.0 – Bridges.

Aternate Reality Game (ARG)*
An alternate reality game (ARG) is an interactive narrative that uses the real world as a platform, often involving multiple media and game elements, to tell a story that may be affected by participants' ideas or actions.

Mixed reality (MR)*
(also referred to as augmented reality or augmented virtuality) refers to the merging of real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualisations where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real time. A mix of reality, augmented reality, augmented virtuality and virtual reality.

Unique terminology*
Among the terms essential to understand discussions about ARGs are:
Puppetmaster* - A puppetmaster or "PM" is an individual involved in designing and/or running an ARG. Puppetmasters are simultaneously allies and adversaries to the player base, creating obstacles and providing resources for overcoming them in the course of telling the game's story. Puppetmasters generally remain behind the curtain while a game is running.The real identity of puppet masters may or may not be known ahead of time.
The Curtain* - The curtain is generally a metaphor for the separation between the puppetmasters and the players. This can take the traditional form of absolute secrecy regarding the puppetmasters' identities and involvement with the production, or refer merely to the convention that puppetmasters do not communicate directly with players through the game, interacting instead through the characters and the game's design.
Rabbithole* - Also known as a Trailhead. A Rabbithole marks the first website, contact, or puzzle that starts off the ARG.
Trailhead* - A deliberate clue which enables a player to discover a way into the game. Most ARGs employ a number of trailheads in several media, to maximise the probability of people discovering the game. Some trailheads may be covert, others may be thinly-disguised adverts.
This Is Not A Game (TINAG)* - Setting the ARG form apart from other games is the This Is Not A Game aesthetic, which dictates that the game not behave like a game: phone numbers mentioned in the ARG, for example, should actually work, and the game should not provide an overtly-designated playspace or ruleset to the players.

Examples of ARG's*
www.worldwithoutoil.org
www.cloudmakers.org
www.ilovebees.com
www.thelostexperience.com
www.argn.com (ARGNetwork)

Examples of Location Gaming*
www.pacmanhattan.com
www.mogimogi.com
www.perplexcity.com
www.parallelkingdom.com
www.inrainbows.com

*Taken from www.wikipedia.org

Youtube Rotoscoping Tutorial!

I have always been interested in rotoscoping and have wanted to learn how to do it. It's a unique style of animation/video. Thanks to youtube you can learn anything online for free! Here's the tutorial. Enjoy!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5aayQz0sEw

Workout whilst you're at work video!

I found a video on working out at work, which is a good idea, because with people's busy work and life scheduals, people don't have the time to go to the gym or do something to stay fit and tone up, because they are really stagnant they put on weight.

There is no embed option for this video so here's a screen shot from the site with the video playing.


Checkout the full video at the url below.
http://officeworkout.msn.com/default.aspx?source=email§ion=home&contentType=video&contentId=12>1=25043

On a side note I also really like this website's look and functionality, it's a very simple layout and it has that web 2.0 functionality and feel.

Motion Graphics

After seeing the classes presentations the other day, it inspired me to check out some motion graphics. I found some pretty good ones on youtube.

This first show reel has some great examples of commercial work:

Designomotion Motion Graphics & Broadcast Design


http://youtube.com/watch?v=9ZdQVxUNjo0

This second one is useful in giving ideas as to what can be achieved in after effects. I really like the morphing effect used in the part where they advertise "Retail Week".

After Effects Show Reel
http://youtube.com/watch?v=klbEN9cpx_I&feature=related

This thrid one is quite entertaining:

ORIGINAL DESIGN GANGSTA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yJexyQT0l1c&feature=related

I really like the colour palette, texture, masking and transitions in this last one:

Shilo Design Motion Graphics
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7EaglZAN4fU

Blind Ambition

"University of North Texas (UNT) student John Bramblitt paints beautiful works of art in vivid colors, despite the fact that he's been blind for years. www.bramblitt.net (#976, 3/13/06)"

I saw this video on youtube about a blind artist named John Bramblitt. I think he is really good at painting. I like the texture, the shading technique and the impressionist style of his works.

To hear John's story (by Texas Country Reporter) and to see John's paintings and how he creates them, watch the video below.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P84bfFpVWE

Invitation Design

I am still on my hunt for some funky invitation designs. I found some sites that let you design electronic invites. They offer templates, images and the option of uploading photos.

This first site has some pretty basic invitation designs and few options. The styles offered here are not at all what I'm looking for. Outdated too.



http://www.evite.com/app/invitations/dyo/custom.do


This second site is much more comprehensive with some really appealing designs and style. There are alot of options, including uploading photos. The designs are detailed and contemporary.



http://www.pingg.com/event/view/ZQzZ09E-Z0Azo?new=true

Incredible Etch a Sketh Artist

This guy has incredible talent, you should defintiely watch both videos. How does he move across to a spot without drawing and how does he erase stuff? I haven't used those type of etch a sketches, mine was simpler: a thick pen with a magnetic tip that drew the metal pieces to the top of the board and a lever thing that erased it all...

"See for the first time Etch A Sketch artist George Vlosich creating his one of a kind artwork. This five hour etch of LeBron James is sped up so that you can see every line he makes and step he takes to create a unique piece of pop art. This piece of artwork was created for the Quicken Loans Arena. Look for more of George's upcoming Etched In Time artwork. For One Town, One Team, One Dream Tshirt or song go to:
http://www.timlesstees.com/
http://gvetchedintime.com/"

NBA Finals Lebron Etch A Sketch



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYM__s3R5q0


Carmelo Anthony Etch A Sketch All Star

"Famed Etch A Sketch artist George Vlosich's 2nd YouTube video is of Carmelo Anthony. It took 25 hours and was done in time lapse. His first video of Lebron was a featured video and was one of the top videos of 2007. To see more of George's one of a kind artwork go to www.gvetchedintime.com.
This unique piece of pop art was captured on film and created for Key Bank's promotional night with Melo and the Denver Nuggets. Look for more on the way. Thanks for watching. visit www.myspace.com/keyclubcolorado for behind the scenes"



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_lwUF_9ZEk