For those interested in examining another type of online strategy, look no further.

Final Presentations - Thurs, Feb 17th

Each group will have 15 minutes to present their complete transmedia strategy. There will be five minutes for Q and A.

This presentation should be based on the five assignments carried out this term. Given the short length of time - and knowing that I have already read your content - it is important that you focus on the unity of the transmedia franchise. How does your work this term best exemplify those principles set forth in the first class? Be very clear on this point... don't give me a laundry list of all the component pieces.

You may use whatever audio-visual aids you feel will enhance your presentation - but be wary of showing media! Film clips suck away an alarming amount of time.

Each group should rehearse their presentation beforehand and carry out a tech run at some point on the 17th. Nothing is worse than wrestling with technical problems (ie. the computer not having PowerPoint) while the clock is ticking.

Finally, each group should submit polished versions of all five assignments as a single package... this would be the "leave behind" if you were actually pitching this to an IP holder. This part of the final presentation simply requires incorporating the notes I have made on each assignment. Include a one page executive summary at the front to tie it together.

I would suggest, naturally, that you divide the labour between the presenter(s) and those polishing the assignments.

Any questions, of course, just send an e-mail.

Assignment#5 for Transmedia Storytelling class

This assignment is due well before next week's final class. In order to give you proper feedback, this assignment will need to be submitted no later than 23h59 on Sunday the 13th. These assignments will get feedback that can be incorporated into your final presentations. I will, however, accept assignments for grading (no feedback guaranteed) until 18h29 onTuesday. In all cases, these should be placed in the usual dropbox - send an e-mail to Justin so that he can forward me a copy.

Each team is to develop an online content strategy that rounds out their transmedia franchise. At a minimum, this proposal should:

1) Identify your audience.
2) Select methods of propagation.
3) Lay out a time table.
4) Develop a content strategy that employs several of the techniques discussed in class.
5) Be clear on how this online material fits into your overall transmedia franchise.

As always, be conscious of how your choices showcase the world of your franchise and expose the depth of the characters.

Assignment#4 for Transmedia Storytelling class
For next week (to be submitted no later than 18h29, as always), each team is to develop a comprehensive "pitch" for a video game related to their transmedia franchise. As always, consider how this extension heightens the audience experience. Your pitch should include the following three documents:

The Vision Statement
The Project Charter
Competitive Analysis

Please refer to the handout. Keep it at about 5 pages total. Any questions, just drop me a line.

Assignment#3 for Transmedia Storytelling class

For next week (to be submitted no later than 18h29, as always), each team is to develop a licensed product strategy that ties into their transmedia property. This strategy can encompass either an analog game, collectibles or other related products. As always, discuss the specific techniques and featured content that will bring the world and its characters to life.

Given your specific IP, the submitted work should take the form of 3 one page pitches for different analog products. Each must cover the following points:


1. Game title
2. Type of game (e.g. casual party game, CCG, RPG, etc.)
3. Brief description of game play (NOT A LISTING OF RULES)
4. Description of target demographic and the intended user experience
5. How will you do the IP justice / how will you stay true to the IP?
6. How will the license will contribute to game play? And vice versa?
7. Why this product (conclusion)?
8. What entity (individual, corp., etc.) controls the licensing of your IP?

Assignment#2 for Transmedia Storytelling class

For next week (to be submitted no later than 18h29, as always), each team is to develop a DVD co-creation strategy that ties into their transmedia property. This strategy should discuss the specific interactive techniques and featured content that will bring the world and its characters to life.

While it is not strictly necessary to discuss the business rationale for doing so, some understanding of this would benefit your submission. Please make sure to include a discussion of the following points:

1) How will your strategy deepen the audience experience?
2) Which of their sensibilities are you trying to engage?
3) In what ways can this content be mined, distributed, re-purposed?

To truly understand Transmedia theory, here are two articles to kick you off, both by Henry Jenkins. The first lays out his concept of how transmedia franchises work; the second is a terse-but-interesting rebuttal to critics of the Matrix franchise.

An article recommended by our friend, M. Van Slyke.

Some helpful game-theoretic definitions:

Economics
The study of choice in an environment of scarcity

Game
A conflict situation where one must make a choice knowing that others are making choices too. The outcome of this conflict is determined in some prescribed way by the sum of these choices.

Positive Sum Game
A game where both players can come out ahead

Negative Sum Game
A game where both players can lose

Zero Sum Game
A game where one player’s gain is exactly equal to the other’s loss

Rationale
Choices that maximize one’s personal utility… define it as you will. Players are assumed to be perfectly logical and interested only in winning.

Irrationale
Choices that are motivated by reasons other than utility.

Utility
Someone’s perceived benefit from a transaction

Saddle Points
Where the maximin intersects with the minimax… neither player can expect to do better by changing strategy. They may not be happy, but they are satisfied. This is the expected play outcome if everyone is behaving rationally.

Golden Rule
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Free Riding
Trying to better one’s interests in a way that would be disastrous if every other player did this (hopping turnstiles, making bots to produce magic swords)

Mamihlapinatapi
Looking at each other, hoping that either will offer to do something that both parties desire but are unwilling to do.

Some goooooood reading... by Tyler Sigman.