I've posted before about transmedia projects, specifically mentioning some comics I like that add to the universe of the videogame they are based on, but Remedy Entertainment do so much more when it comes to expanding on their narratives - where world building isn't confined to what you play.
The insights they provide reward the audience and allow us to examine the games in new ways...
Having announced a connected universe for some of their games, in particular Alan Wake and Control, they have crafted some amazing tie-in elements that add substantial depth to the stories within the various IPs, while providing intriguing links between projects. Take for instance the This House of Dreams blog or the Bright Falls web-series, which expand story threads and characters between the games in two very different formats. Both invite their audience to explore the mysteries the protagonists are uncovering, and when referenced in-game are more than just quick easter-eggs, but rather a revelation to the player as too where or how these mysteries fit into the larger experience. The insights they provide reward the audience and allow us to examine the games in new ways – re-reading collectibles and exploring locations with new perspective.
There's also The Alan Wake Files, a physical book (or PDF on PC) that has been written by Clay Steward a character from the Alan Wake game, which is referred to in both Alan Wake and Control, and rather than just being a 'neat reference' provides valuable insight into the story. The games story functions completely without it, but reading it adds to understanding the larger picture.
It's these additional narrative elements that make the Remedy stories so unique, they are building each title with connections to past and future games and take the time to build new projects outside of these games to enrich their audience. From books, to comics, websites and live-action media, each new experience builds-on and adds-to the last. I really hope that in the future licensing around their games won’t restrict this as much, and really allow them to build that special Remedy universe I love to explore.
