Join the Conspiracy for Good

Join the Conspiracy for Good

23 July, 2010
by: SpoonfedMeg

Meg gets recruited into a secret resistance movement, led on a mobile scavenger hunt around London and held up at gun point all in one afternoon.

In a dark warehouse in London Bridge, I cower before the heavily armed militia that’s just burst through the door. Full SWAT gear adorns our attackers as they shove flashlights and machine guns in our faces. I, and the others in the warehouse, are interrogated as to our reason for being huddled in the dark in the first place and those not brave enough to answer get thrown out into the blinding sunlight with a warning never to come back. Just your typical Saturday.

I’m not in fear of my life – I’m taking part in one of the live events hosted by Conspiracy for Good, a transmedia game that sees participants solve clues online, unlock information on their mobile phone and in popular songs, and take part in live events that form part of the overall story. While the story and online elements are accessible globally, it’s London that’s playing host to the live events and Londoners who are progressing the Conspiracy for Good plot through scavenger hunts, boat chases and safe house raids. Prior to our warehouse hold-up, myself and over 100 other Londoners scoured the city looking for clues using a Nokia phone application developed specifically for the event and following in the footsteps of an underground resistance leader heading towards a London safe house.

Conspiracy for Good is the brainchild of Tim Kring, the creator of the TV show Heroes. The interactive story follows the actions of underground resistance movement, Spira, which is recruiting members of the public to help in its task to bring down evil corporation Blackwell Briggs before they install an oil pipeline that destroys a small African village. Sponsored by Nokia, Conspiracy for Good is more than just an elaborate role playing game – fictional elements and the events also raise awareness for charities Room to Read and the Pearson Foundation, and will be providing resources to schoolgirls in Chataika village in Zambia.

The Conspiracy for Good story and events represent an interesting new kind of live entertainment that seems to be growing in popularity. Transmedia events, which mix traditional entertainment channels such as video, music and online content, also include interactive rich media as well as live events to allow a large group of participants a chance to get involved, keep up with the progressing storyline and engage with the entertainment. While it’s still a relatively new type of event, transmedia storytelling is growing in popularity both with networks looking to promote a new movie or TV show, brands promoting a new product or organisers like Tim Kring and his team who want to promote awareness of social issues.

Conspiracy for Good is still mid-storyline and as Spira work towards their goal of taking down Blackwell Briggs, they still need the public’s help. Lucky for you, that means plenty more opportunities to get involved, including three more live events in London on 24 July, 31 July and 7 August. Not only can you say you’ve taken part in one of the early forms of transmedia entertainment, but you too could possibly be initiated into a secret organisation, held up at gun point and charged to save the world.

To catch up on the story, or to sign up for any of the upcoming events, visit the Conspiracy for Good website.

Video credit Yomi Ayeni

Find more interactive events in London
Find more experimental events in London
Find more things to do in London

SpoonfedMeg