Cross Platform Mobile Media

The Project: Leader of the Zombie World is locative media game that uses Zombies as a vehicle to explore the creation, and use of avatars within mobile and ubiquitous networks.

The Zombie metaphor provides a satirical look at technological de-humanization. In the early age of cinema and folk lore, the Zombie has been a symbol of the loss of humanity. No longer living as a human, the Zombie speaks to the loss of control and independence. The Zombie becomes a slave to its un-relenquishing thirst for brains. In some cultures, the Zombie is slave to the bidding of its master. In more recent cinematic representations (Zombie Land, Resident Evil, Dawn of the Dead), ‘the master’ or ‘controller’ role has shifted to something beyond human understanding. No longer is it another human commanding the zombie, but the zombie becomes a slave to its own undying thirst for ‘brains’, in order to perpetuate its existence (Dawn of the Dead).

The Game Narrative

What's more fun than killing Zombies? Being the Zombie leader and killing humans and other Zombies! You are fighting to control the Zombie World by eating human brains and growing your Zombie Army. The participatory game allows you to play in a default zombie world, or create and share your own worlds based on geographic locations.

In GPS Mode:
You play Zombie World in your immediate geographical location - for example if you are physically located in Toronto, Canada; You can not experience the Paris of Zombie World because the worlds are based on your physical GPS coordinates. If your location doesn't have any Zombies - you can become the leader of that region and grow an army of Zombies by eating brains of your friends and attacking larger populations when you are both in the same geographic location.
You can create armies of Zombies. Your soldiers might be in Paris, France while you, their leader are located in Toronto, Canada. In this case your army of Zombies can begin to populate the world, as your Zombies create their own soldiers and armies. But watch out - humans and other Zombies are trying to kill you and your army.

In Non/GPS Mode:
You can play Zombie World in a virtual location. Its not quite the 'Second Life for Zombies' - but you do get to take advantage of some of the cool physical effects included in mobile hardware. All the fun from the GPS version is included: create zombie armies, create and share worlds, and eat lots of yummy brains!

The Results
The project is still in production, and is scheduled for release in August, 2010. Keep track of the progress on the mediaboot blog