Online Viral Campaigns of the 21st Century / District 9 Online Games
The past couple of years has seen a blooming proliferation of online virals for the promotion of feature film / media properties - most notably for The Dark Knight and Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, amongst numerous others. From the straight-up "Solve A Clue & Be Rewarded" to the total immergence of one's online-identities within ARGs ("Alternate Reality Game"). And looks like the power of the online global audience continues to grow, as do the viral presence like the recent campaigns for Watchmen's New Frontiersman, Terminator Salvation and currently Tron Legacy (with Flynn Lives).
All of which utilizes the subversive to lure in the masses. It has become the "big boys" game now - no longer an undertaking of smaller projects (with "traditionally" lesser promotional budget) going the guerilla route of Cloverfield, or even the mother of all virals started by The Blair Witch Project (remember that old cyber-nugget?). With a Tweet, and a youtube-link, everyone with an internet connection and a sense of curiosity is connected. And the discovery is as prudent as the solving of the "mystery". This time, "we" go to "them".
Neill Blomkamp's upcoming DISTRICT 9 (produced by Peter Jackson / tagged) continues that new media genre with the blurring of sci-fi fantasy and reality in their varied viral-ARGs, as well as this two new online "games" = <Multi-National United Training Simulation and MNU Alert.
I heart me my online viral experience, but only when I "get it" ... (heh). Click on, have fun, enjoy the game, and watch the movie afterwards ... I wonder what's next tho...? :)
All of which utilizes the subversive to lure in the masses. It has become the "big boys" game now - no longer an undertaking of smaller projects (with "traditionally" lesser promotional budget) going the guerilla route of Cloverfield, or even the mother of all virals started by The Blair Witch Project (remember that old cyber-nugget?). With a Tweet, and a youtube-link, everyone with an internet connection and a sense of curiosity is connected. And the discovery is as prudent as the solving of the "mystery". This time, "we" go to "them".Neill Blomkamp's upcoming DISTRICT 9 (produced by Peter Jackson / tagged) continues that new media genre with the blurring of sci-fi fantasy and reality in their varied viral-ARGs, as well as this two new online "games" = <Multi-National United Training Simulation and MNU Alert.
I heart me my online viral experience, but only when I "get it" ... (heh). Click on, have fun, enjoy the game, and watch the movie afterwards ... I wonder what's next tho...? :)
