presented at Scott Walkerhttp://metascott.com

http://sharedstoryworlds.com

A Design Primer For

What is a Shared Story World?

a framework for designing an

experience (usually entertainment)

that co-creates value with

currently unknown collaborators

an entertainment property designed to allow

audiences to collaborate and participate in

the co-creation of value (content), where

there is a parity of value exchange in the

form of canonical credit, currency, or both.

For this discussion, a SSW is:

Value Co-Creation in SSWs

View fans as a source of competence

Find ways to constructively integrate UGC into entertainment properties

Recognize that contributing canonical content is the deepest form of engagement a fan can have with an entertainment property

Provide the mechanisms for accessing value in UGC

Traditional Entertainment

- Serial

- Monologue

- Product-based

- Passive

Shared Story Worlds

- Parallel

- Dialogue

- Experience-based

- Active

• Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA)

• Exquisite Corpse Storytelling

• Transmedia Storytelling

• the same as a Shared Universe

...though an SSW may use these.

SSWs are not...

Shared Story Worlds include an invitation to:

explore contribute collaborate

Core Narrative v. Emergent Narrative

Internally Created

Primary Storytelling Driver

Often Single Medium/Content

Often Single Medium

Blend of Internal/External Content

The Sum of All Storytelling

Includes All Content

Often Uses Multiple Mediums

v.

v.

v.

v.

Examples of SSWs

3 KEY PRACTICE AREAS

How do you build a Shared Story World?

the fun part the necessary part the important part

Storytelling

Worldbuilding

Inviting

Submissions

Systems

Community

Copyright

Trademarks

Money

Creative Operational Legal

Creative Questions

STORYTELLING

What’s the core/initial narrative (characters)? Are there secondary/supporting narratives?How will contributions be integrated?Will official but non-canonical contributions be allowed?

Creative Questions

WORLDBUILDING

What’s the world (genre, mythology, attributes, etc.)?How high is the hurdle for contributors?How dependent on contributions are you?Is it a single or multi-platform experience?What mediums will be used internally?

Creative Questions

INVITATIONS

How will you scope participation (limitations)?What mediums can contributors use?How will invitations be designed (entry points)?

Operational Questions

What technologies/resources are necessary?What is the process for submissions?What is the content workflow process?What is the process for payments (if applicable)?How will you scale based on submissions?How will you identify, connect and engage audiences?

Legal Questions

What is the parity exchange offered to contributors?How will rights be assigned for accepted contributions?Can audiences remix each other’s contributions?Are there limitations on trademarks?Under what conditions will contributors be paid?Will any additive licensing be used (e.g., Creative Commons)?

Do you have a rights management system?

for more information on Shared Story Worlds, please visit:

http://sharedstoryworlds.com

image attribution

“Explore the beautiful Caribbean Sea” by dMap Travel Guide

“collaborating” by superk8nyc

“Carver's Tool Handle” by Noel C. Hankamer

“BrickForge & BrickArms: Better Together” by Dunechaser

“Master Chief with BrickForge Plasma Blaster” by Dunechaser