Author: Joseph Matheny

Joseph Wayne Matheny (born December 24, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American storytell and artist who has created works using alternate reality gaming and transmedia storytelling methods, dealing with subjects of liminality and modern myth He holds patents for prediction, recommendation and behavioral analysis algorithms and software design. He is a published author of screenplays, white papers, technology, sci-fi, marketing and gaming books. He currently resides in the Pacific Northwest. He is probably best known for the avant-garde work, Ong's Hat, which has been called the proto-Alternate Reality Game by academia, the mainstream and alternative media. Ong's Hat is often cited as the first ARG on many List of alternate reality games.
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The Goldilocks Curve – Umberto Tosi

From an article about the inception of digital publishing. Link to full article here: https://authorselectric.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-goldilocks-curve-umberto-tosi.html “The creative energy of Mightywords’ self-publishers exceeded the technological innovation of the enterprise. Some of … Continue reading The Goldilocks Curve – Umberto Tosi

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ARG Pioneer Joseph Matheny on the Counterculture’s Hijacking from Corporatization to QAnon

*This episode became one of the top ten most downloaded episodes of Parallax Views.  On this edition of Parallax Views, a special, previously unpublished conversation with Joseph Matheny, a pivotal … Continue reading ARG Pioneer Joseph Matheny on the Counterculture’s Hijacking from Corporatization to QAnon

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Corrections to Brian Dunning’s Skeptoid Podcast About Ong’s Hat

The first thing one learns upon becoming a subject of press interest is that there’s actually very little one can generally do in the face of inaccurate or even malicious … Continue reading Corrections to Brian Dunning’s Skeptoid Podcast About Ong’s Hat

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Grimerica: Denny Unger and Joseph Matheny – Alternative Reality Games and Conspiracies

Here’s a show with Grimerica that I recently did with my old friend Denny Unger along with the hosts of Grimerica, D-Ron, and Grahambo. There’s one more interview I did … Continue reading Grimerica: Denny Unger and Joseph Matheny – Alternative Reality Games and Conspiracies

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Gizmodo-Ong’s Hat: The Early Internet Conspiracy Game That Got Too Real

LINK TO Gizmodo piece on Ong’s Hat, from 2/21/19 Chosen one of The Best Long Reads Of The Month, picked by Digg’s editors Chosen as a “WEEKEND READING PLEASURE” editor’s … Continue reading Gizmodo-Ong’s Hat: The Early Internet Conspiracy Game That Got Too Real