‘Victory Garden’ is a new creation myth for humankind, in the form of a transmedia narrative project. This creation myth leans heavily on science fiction and at times fantasy. Regardless, ‘Victory Garden’ offers people an entry point toward better understanding of the effects of media overall, and its very real and embodied impact on our cognition. The project ties several different narratives together using a variety of media including a graphic novel, film, traditional novel, series, video games, interactive mixed reality games, and more. True to transmedia narrative, the pieces stand alone and are a complete media experience unto themselves. However, pieced together, they tell a more complete story from start to finish.
Origins: graphic novel
To introduce the story world to participants, a one-time graphic novel will incorporate the fictitious origins of life in our galaxy. In this narrative, the human brain as we know it will originate as an ancient biosynthetic technology operating to evolve Earth’s hominids into present day humans (the missing link). However, because of a galactic catastrophe, the synthetic portion of the original ‘brain’ technology is destroyed, leaving survivors disconnected and traumatized. Due to the overall effect of the cataclysm, the brain and mind were left vulnerable to the ‘programming’ where once these beings functioned vibrantly through cognizance of absolute mindfulness over their ‘machinery.’ The graphic novel will also introduce participants to the First Figures, the Mars Faction, and the fight for the mind of humanity via the brain. In this narrative, media is the programming and operating system is the human brain.
Series content: Preservation
Long-form content to support the story world and to develop specific characters on a deeper level. Much of this content will frame the Mars Faction as the protagonists who eagerly attempt to thwart another catastrophic event from occurring.
mobile-app game
Choose your side: First Figures OR Mars Faction. In similar game play to Pokemon GO!, participants can explore their surroundings and collect clues to get a deeper understanding of the First Figure, the Mars Faction, and the story world of “Victory Garden.” Will participants work to keep the First Figure hidden and help humanity reconnect to a glorious past, or will they seek to save humanity?
mixed-reality: totemic emblems
In the ‘Victory Garden’ story world, connectivity is key. Connected devices which are unique to character’s Universal Digital Identity (UDI) are used to keep them connected to their surroundings, these are known as ‘Connected Totems.’ As part of an immersive experience into the story world of ‘Victory Garden,’ participants can design their own totemic emblem which will be exclusive to that participant. Through game play, participants will have the opportunity to leave their Augmented Reality (AR) digital stamp on parts of the city, state, country, or world they’ve already “conquered” via geo-caching and geo-fensing. At a certain point in this game play, participants will be notified of the existence of the final First Figure; Either Mars Faction or Earth-based. And before the next round occurs, one participant will be awarded: Winner.
Content Series: renaissance city
Creative non-fiction content providing specific clues to the overall narrative, and set against the backdrop of Detroit in the years leading up to the ‘67’ riots.
Console/PC video game
Earth’s last First Figure is deep in hiding. This first person Role Playing Game (RPG) allows participants to build their own character and choose to either help keep the First Figure on Earth hidden and uncover the truths of history, or seek to help the Mars Faction locate and uncover the mystery behind the First Figure to save humans from yet another catastrophe. Each choice impacts the rest of the game play. In the spirit of other Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG), this adventure will play out in real time, and highlight several cities in the United States. Each participant will have a unique role to play in the narrative, and the culmination of the game will lead participants to the city of Detroit, where they will find the last Earth First Figure has been placed in secrecy.
novel: victory is…
film: war for water
The future is bleak. Much of the freshwater in the world has been contaminated. (Perfect for a faction from Mars) The 5 Great Lakes surrounding Michigan are the last and largest reservoirs of freshwater on this planet.
The Social Utility Network (SUN)
While the story world contains this fictitious social network. I believe there is a place for such a network in every connected community. A “call to duty” for every citizen who cares and wants to help.
mixed-reality game: interactive Journals
In the ‘Victory Garden’ story world, one of the main characters has been keeping journals for a long time. As a writer myself, I’ve kept journals for over 26 years and have thousands of dreams documented. It is my intention to curate these journals and dream entries into an interactive experience where participants can dive through 26 years of ‘curated’ content… as if it is weaved into the story world. The process will require copying pages of my personal journals and of course, making sure the names are changed to protect the innocent.
Connected totems
In portions of the ‘Victory Garden’ narrative, as with the not-so-distant-future ‘Connected Cities’ across the globe, the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) has come to full fruition. This means internet connectivity is placed into physical devices and everyday objects, which keep in contact with one another through constant streams of data sent between devices, sensors, and beacons. Connection is everywhere.
The Connected Totem is an integral part of the IoT. It is a wearable device which communicates with the connected surrounding. In the ‘Victory Garden’ story world, the connected totemic device is specifically linked to the owners bio-metrics and unique Universal Digital Identity (UDI) for heightened security purposes. This high level of interactivity among entities connected to the IoT makes it crucial for human participants to have the option of either being ‘plugged into’ the network or completely ‘unplugged from’ the network at their sole discretion.
While the IoT of ‘Victory Garden’ is a ways from being completely realized in this reality, this project suggests there is a market for early adopters to design their own interactive totem. This device can be connected to an app, much like presently available wearables. Depending on the purpose of the app, the totem can interact with it or other devices on the network. (See: Social Utility Network (SUN) above)