Alternate reality games (ARG) are a new form of gaming that combines the Internet with real-world events and clues to create an immersive experience, with Black Helix as this genre's newest addition. Black Helix is a global ARG that has just launched, taking place through March 2011, with players engaged in live events, phone calls, real world tasks and a final role-playing finale.
The Black Helix story revolves around the kidnapping of a 27 year old Medical research student while she is recording a video log containing information on her drug research and paranoia at being watched.
Black Helix takes the ARG concept a step further, with the story responding to conversations taking place on Facebook and Twitter and player aliases being written into the story which will subsequently published as a unique eBook.
Violent Virtual Games
New Alternate Reality Game Black Helix Brings Virtual World to Life
Trend Themes
1. Alternate Reality Games - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop ARGs that integrate real-world events and social media interactions to create an immersive experience.
2. Virtual World Gaming - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create virtual games that blur the lines between the online and offline world, incorporating live events and real-world tasks.
3. Interactive Storytelling - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore new ways to engage audiences through interactive storytelling that responds to social media conversations and integrates user-generated content.
Industry Implications
1. Gaming - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Combine gaming with real-world elements to create unique and immersive experiences.
2. Social Media - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop platforms and technologies that enable social media interactions to shape and influence narrative experiences.
3. Publishing - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Embrace the convergence of online and offline storytelling by transforming interactive narratives into unique eBook experiences.