{"id":3779,"date":"2014-03-13T00:17:32","date_gmt":"2014-03-13T00:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sl.governormarley.com\/?p=3779"},"modified":"2014-03-13T01:21:41","modified_gmt":"2014-03-13T01:21:41","slug":"the-hypergrid-stories-project-interacting-with-the-fiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sl.governormarley.com\/?p=3779","title":{"rendered":"The Hypergrid Stories Project – Interacting With The Fiction"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Nara<\/a><\/p>\n

Nara Malone greets me as I return to Nara’s Nook to start my quest on The Hypergrid Stories Project<\/a>. Nara recognises that I’m a Hypergrid noob and tells me that if I want to keep my clothes on during this journey, I’m going to have to pack a suitcase. This troubles me but Nara simply explains that if I haven’t got a folder in my inventory entitled “My Suitcase”, then I need to make one and drag my worn items into said folder. This is how you keep your clothes when you travel to a different Hypergrid region. So suitcase duly packed I follow Nara.<\/p>\n

\"Hypergrid<\/a><\/p>\n

Next up Nara points out the books and poetry offerings and almost dares me to walk through one. I hesitate but I’m not one to shy away from a challenge. I walk into Dear Charlie, a story by Tina Glasneck, who recently wrote about the project at Hypergrid Business<\/a>. Without clicking anything, I’m teleported. However at this stage I haven’t left Greyville Writer’s Colony. However this soon changes.<\/p>\n

I’m greeted with chat :<\/p>\n

Dear Charlie, \u00a0 \u00a0You can’t change a monster into a man and I should have known that when Otto walked into the club and smiled at me. \u00a0 \u00a0[please proceed to Red Light Club in the provided teleporter] \u00a0[1 of 21]<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Walking into said teleporter and again without having to click to teleport, I find myself in the mysterious universe of Hypergrid travel. I arrive safely at my destination and my suitcase was indeed packed, as I am still fully clothed. Phew!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Follow<\/a><\/p>\n

The coloured prims are important, you generally click them for information and landmarks or you walk over them and receive text from the story in chat.<\/p>\n

\"Outside<\/a><\/p>\n

Look this wasn’t my fault! I randomly picked a story, it just so happened it took me to a redlight hotel and club! Again, this wasn’t my fault! I’m not deterred, after all I am the seeker of truth and justice and I walk on into the club, averting my eyes as there were male and female dancers inside, I did not take photos of them you’ll be pleased to note.<\/p>\n

\"Inside<\/a><\/p>\n

Walking across the red prims (they may be a different colour in other stories) the narrative chats to me, taking me to different locations, sometimes via more traditional landmarks.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Hotel<\/a><\/p>\n

The idea here isn’t for you to just blindly follow the story, you’re also free to explore. The narrative and the different locations add to the storytelling experience though, you move to different scenes, sometimes a parking lot with some extremely fancy cars.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Grungy<\/a><\/p>\n

Sometimes you’re out on the street and in the noirish story I was reading, this was a very fitting location. I’m not going to detail Tina’s story, that would be unfair.<\/p>\n

Now if things don’t work perfectly for you, or you get stuck, Nara has provided some tips :<\/p>\n

1) Flying or camming around are not advised. Many clues require specific objects be clicked or collided with before that clue is unlocked.<\/em><\/p>\n

2) Each author has developed her own way of guiding you through a story. What worked in one story may not serve you well in another.<\/em><\/p>\n

3) Stories are about 500 words long, contain about a half dozen different scenes and all deliver you to locations around the hypergrid. Take some time to explore those locations when the game is over. This is intended to be a fun way to introduce you to interesting builds and resources.<\/em><\/p>\n

4) We also have a poetry track featuring poetry set in themed environments. This is a good option for exploring when you just have a few minutes. Again the entrance is through a book a different volume for each them but the poetry does not involve game play. Simply click the images and the poetry will be appear on your screen or in local chat.<\/em><\/p>\n

5) If you have trouble with some aspect of the story, IM Nara<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Whereas this project is largely set in Hypergrid worlds, there is a Second Life element, as I explained in my previous post on the subject, so again, whereas Second Life isn’t part of Hypergrid, those who are can quite happily tear down the wall to a fashion. I mean obviously you won’t be able to seamlessly teleport to Second Life, but Second Life is a very big part of the virtual world experience and thus participants from Second Life are involved.<\/p>\n

This is a very interesting project and I will be back for more and hopefully I’ll get to talk to the authors.<\/p>\n

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