# Joseph Matheny

> Joseph Wayne Matheny (born December 24, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American writer and transmedia artist who has created works using alternate reality gaming and transmedia storytelling methods.

- Website: https://josephmatheny.com/
- Full content: https://josephmatheny.com/llms-full.txt
- Structured data (JSON-LD): https://josephmatheny.com/wp-json/aeo-genius/v1/schemamap
- Any page as Markdown: add .md to its URL

## Posts

- [The Basement: Joseph Matheny | The Man Who Hacked Reality Before the Internet Existed](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/08/12/the-basement-joseph-matheny-the-man-who-hacked-reality-before-the-internet-existed.md): The Basement: Joseph Matheny | The Man Who Hacked Reality Before the Internet Existed was a appearance that he did on The Why Files
- [The Liminal Cycle (A Trilogy) by Joseph Matheny](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/10/15/the-liminal-cycle-a-trilogy-by-joseph-matheny.md): The Liminal Cycle is a transmedia fiction trilogy and interdisciplinary media project created by American writer and artist Joseph Matheny.
- [Ong’s Hat: The Beginning (Authorized Version)](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/10/15/ongs-hat-the-beginning-authorized-version.md): Ong's Hat: The Beginning is a book and narrative project by Joseph Matheny that serves as a foundational text for the Incunabula Papers, widely recognized as the internet's first Alternate Reality Gam…
- [Ong’s Hat: Compleat](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/10/15/ongs-hat-compleat.md): Ong’s Hat: COMPLEAT is a multi-layered work by Joseph Matheny designed to be experienced in various ways, depending on the experiencer’s preferences and level of engagement.
- [Upon further consideration](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/10/13/upon-further-consideration.md): Joseph Matheny's new book, Art is War, will have a strong Situationist International influence.
- [Announcing The Incident at Ong’s Hat: Behind the Scenes](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/01/20/announcing-the-incident-at-ongs-hat.md)
- [Art is War: Fear and Loathing on the Internet](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/12/03/art-is-war-fear-and-loathing-on-the-internet.md)
- [This Is Not a Game with Marc Fennell (Ong’s Hat History)](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/09/02/this-is-not-a-game-with-marc-fennell.md)
- [SUPERSTORY: La Virgen de Guadalupe en el Inframundo – Sacred Protection in High-Risk Worlds](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/08/13/superstory-la-virgen-de-guadalupe-en-el-inframundo-sacred-protection-in-high-risk-worlds.md)
- [The COMPLEAT Broadcasts: Final Thoughts and Credits](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/08/25/the-compleat-broadcasts-final-thoughts-and-credits.md)
- [The Man From 2036: John Titor, the IBM 5100 and the Internet’s Greatest Unsolved Mystery](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/08/03/the-man-from-2036-john-titor-the-ibm-5100-and-the-internets-greatest-unsolved-mystery.md)
- [Xen: The Zen of the Other- The Liminal Cycle Part 2](https://josephmatheny.com/2020/01/07/xen-the-zen-of-the-other-the-liminal-cycle-part-2.md)
- [Thin Liminal Lines](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/07/16/thin-liminal-lines.md)
- [When dark tourism goes para-terrestrial: Online legend-tripping and touring the void](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/05/26/when-dark-tourism-goes-para-terrestrial-online-legend-tripping-and-touring-the-void.md)
- [Talking About Talking About Talking About UFOs](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/05/22/talking-about-talking-about-talking-about-ufos.md)
- [‘Mycellium Parish News 2025’](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/04/28/mycellium-parish-news-2025.md)
- [Synchronicity and Scarcity](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/06/19/synchronicity-and-scarcity.md)
- [The COMPLEAT Broadcasts, Chapter 0](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/04/15/the-compleat-broadcasts-chapter-0.md)
- [Ong’s Hat: The NJ Ghost Town That Invented Alternate Reality Games](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/04/12/ongs-hat-the-nj-ghost-town-that-invented-alternate-reality-games.md)
- [14 Haunted and Creepy Places in New Jersey That Will Give You Goosebumps](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/03/26/14-haunted-and-creepy-places-in-new-jersey-that-will-give-you-goosebumps.md)
- [7 famous places that don’t actually exist](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/03/19/7-famous-places-that-dont-actually-exist.md)
- [Ong’s Hat: Burlington County’s Enigmatic Lost Settlement](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/03/12/ongs-hat-burlington-countys-enigmatic-lost-settlement.md)
- [日常浸食型エンターテイメント：ARGの誕生と変遷【国内にARGが浸透するまで】](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/03/11/%e6%97%a5%e5%b8%b8%e6%b5%b8%e9%a3%9f%e5%9e%8b%e3%82%a8%e3%83%b3%e3%82%bf%e3%83%bc%e3%83%86%e3%82%a4%e3%83%a1%e3%83%b3%e3%83%88%ef%bc%9aarg%e3%81%ae%e8%aa%95%e7%94%9f%e3%81%a8%e5%a4%89%e9%81%b7.md)
- [My Dad took me on graveyard picnics in the Pine Barrens — and I’ve never gotten over it](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/03/10/my-dad-took-me-on-graveyard-picnics-in-the-pine-barrens-and-ive-never-gotten-over-it.md)
- [THE COMMERCIAL VIABILITY OF ALTERNATE REALITY GAMES: A PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR PROFITABILITY AND SCALABILITY](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/03/07/the-commercial-viability-of-alternate-reality-gamesa-proposed-framework-for-profitability-and-scalability.md)
- [Ghost Towns Used As Movie Filming Locations In New Jersey: Ong’s Hat and Other Mysterious Abandoned Settlements](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/03/04/ghost-towns-used-as-movie-filming-locations-in-new-jersey-ongs-hat-and-other-mysterious-abandoned-settlements.md)
- [Most People Have Long Forgotten About This Vacant Ghost Town In Rural New Jersey](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/02/28/most-people-have-long-forgotten-about-this-vacant-ghost-town-in-rural-new-jersey.md)
- [Nancy Guthrie and the gamification of crime](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/02/19/nancy-guthrie-and-the-gamification-of-crime.md)
- [AWGIE](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/02/19/awgie.md)
- [The Unseen Internet](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/02/16/the-unseen-internet.md)
- [That damn Galidor and moar](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/02/03/that-damn-galidor-and-moar.md)
- [Ong’s Hat: The Ghost Town That Became an Internet Legend](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/01/14/ongs-hat-the-ghost-town-that-became-an-internet-legend.md)
- [Robert Anton Wilson (and Joseph Matheny) on Tubi](https://josephmatheny.com/2026/01/09/24899.md)
- [Chasing the White Whale with Joe Matheny and Leah Prime](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/12/14/chasing-the-white-whale-with-joe-matheny-and-leah-prime.md)
- [Ong’s Hat: The NJ Ghost Town That Invented Alternate Reality Games](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/12/12/__trashed.md)
- [Statio Numero – The Liminal Cycle Part 3](https://josephmatheny.com/2021/04/07/statio-numero-the-third-and-final-chapter-of-the-liminal-cycle.md)
- [in the footsteps of giants](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/11/10/in-the-footsteps-of-giants.md)
- [Joseph Matheny Starving for Story](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/11/06/joseph-matheny-starving-for-story.md)
- [Visions of Future Heavens and Hells](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/11/04/visions-of-future-heavens-and-hells.md)
- [Tales of perpetual fire, demons and ghosts haunt these creepy US towns](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/10/21/tales-of-perpetual-fire-demons-and-ghosts-haunt-these-creepy-us-towns.md)
- [Making a virtual appearance at Lambertville Halloween Film Festival](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/10/12/making-a-virtual-appearance-at-lambertville-halloween-film-festival.md)
- [Unfolding Alternate Realities, Ong’s Hat, Synchronicity and more with Joseph Matheny](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/09/30/unfolding-alternate-realities-ongs-hat-synchronicity-and-more-with-joseph-matheny.md)
- [The Mauve Zone #013 – Jesus trapped in an LLM, Evil Dating and Dusty Magickal Orders](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/09/26/the-mauve-zone-013-jesus-trapped-in-an-llm-evil-dating-and-dusty-magickal-orders.md)
- [LEAKED Portal Experiments in New Jersey?](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/09/26/leaked-portal-experiments-in-new-jersey.md)
- [Ong’s Hat: How did the First ARG Spiral out of Control?](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/09/10/ongs-hat-how-did-the-first-arg-spiral-out-of-control.md)
- [Ongs Hat Compleat – Official Soundtrack](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/07/28/ongs-hat-compleat-official-soundtrack.md)
- [Ong’s Hat episode of Historicon (not in English)- Η πρώτη θεωρία συνωμοσίας (Guest Storyteller Elena Strouthou)](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/08/17/ongs-hat-episode-of-historicon-not-in-english.md)
- [Ong’s Hat on TVTropes](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/08/19/ongs-hat-on-tvtropes.md)
- [Ong’s Hat: The Internet Myth That Became a Reality](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/08/14/ongs-hat-the-internet-myth-that-became-a-reality.md)
- [EarMobPodcast Ep. 27 I Read It On The Internet So It Must Be True w. Joseph Matheny](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/08/12/earmobpodcast-ep-27-i-read-it-on-the-internet-so-it-must-be-true-w-joseph-matheny.md)
- [Joseph Matheny’s Journal: The Emory Cranston Interview](https://josephmatheny.com/1994/09/10/joseph-mathenys-journal-the-emory-cranston-interview.md)
- [Interview mit Joseph Matheny – Ongs Hat, Nekronomikon, Randonautica, UAPs, KI, Dimensionen, Künstler](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/06/18/interview-mit-joseph-matheny-ongs-hat-nekronomikon-randonautica-uaps-ki-dimensionen-kunstler.md)
- [Keeping up to date](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/06/05/keeping-up-to-date.md)
- [The Mauve Zone #012 – The Great Media Brain Drain, Insight Roles, and Canadian Conspiracies](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/04/30/the-mauve-zone-012-the-great-media-brain-drain-insight-roles-and-canadian-conspiracies.md)
- [A bibliographic archeology of game-like conspiracy narratives: examining the Ong’s Hat Incunabula catalog](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/03/13/a-bibliographic-archeology-of-game-like-conspiracy-narratives-examining-the-ongs-hat-incunabula-catalog.md)
- [Taxonomizing Conspiratorial Information Practices: Examining the Ong’s Hat Legend](https://josephmatheny.com/2021/09/08/taxonomizing-conspiratorial-information-practices-examining-the-ongs-hat-legend.md)
- [The Mysterious Egg in Ong’s Hat – The First ARG](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/03/11/the-mysterious-egg-in-ongs-hat-the-first-arg.md)
- [UFO…No! Episode 215: Ong’s Hat](https://josephmatheny.com/2025/01/27/ufonoepisode-215-ongs-hat.md)
- [Getting out of the way with Joseph Matheny](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/12/27/getting-out-of-the-way-with-joseph-matheny.md)
- [New Mauve Zone and a Bonus Substack](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/12/23/new-mauve-zone-and-a-bonus-substack.md)
- [Happy Solar Return (New Year)](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/12/19/happy-solar-return-new-year.md)
- [Cracking the Code with Joseph Matheny](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/11/17/cracking-the-code-with-joseph-matheny.md)
- [VYSXXXX | The Real Vayse: Halloween 2024](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/10/31/vysxxxx-the-real-vayse-halloween-2024.md)
- [Strange Tales of People Who Built Portals to Other Dimensions](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/10/30/strange-tales-of-people-who-built-portals-to-other-dimensions.md)
- [The Mauve Zone #009 – The Media v Miracles, the Horror of Nature, and Cosmic Transmissions.](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/10/21/the-mauve-zone-009-the-media-v-miracles-the-horror-of-nature-and-cosmic-transmissions.md)
- [The Rebel Podcast: Episode 232: Ong’s Hat (The”Fake” Town)](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/10/17/the-rebel-podcast-episode-232-ongs-hat-thefake-town.md)
- [Joseph Matheny: Bending Reality With Art](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/10/08/joseph-matheny-bending-reality-with-art.md)
- [First Time Caller: An Art Bell Tribute](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/09/18/first-time-caller-an-art-bell-tribute.md)
- [The Mauve Zone #008 – The Collins Elite, X Disinformation, and the London Riots](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/08/28/the-mauve-zone-008-the-collins-elite-x-disinformation-and-the-london-riots.md)
- [Mother Foucault’s Bookshop Friday, July 19, 2024](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/07/19/mother-foucaults-bookshop-friday-july-19-2024.md)
- [The Utopic Hyperspace, Liminal Realities, & The Incunabula Papers: Ong’s Hat with Joseph Matheny](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/07/08/the-utopic-hyperspace-liminal-realities-the-incunabula-papers-ongs-hat-with-joseph-matheny.md)
- [The Mauve Zone #007 (Licence to Spill)- Liminal Spaces, New Age Christianity and The Black Lodge](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/07/06/the-mauve-zone-007-licence-to-spill-liminal-spaces-new-age-christianity-and-the-black-lodge.md)
- [New Jersey Is The World: A Return to Ong’s Hat](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/05/28/new-jersey-is-the-world-a-return-to-ongs-hat.md)
- [The Mauve Zone – Transmission #006 Hyperreality, Project Blue Beam and the Death of the 20th Century](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/05/16/the-mauve-zone-transmission-006-hyperreality-project-blue-beam-and-the-death-of-the-20th-century.md)
- [Hilaritas Podcast and the Reissue of “Reality is What You Can Get Away With”](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/03/23/hilaritas-podcast-and-the-reissue-of-reality-is-what-you-can-get-away-with.md)
- [The Last Book: A MediaKaos Work in Progress](https://josephmatheny.com/2011/05/02/the-last-book-a-mediakaos-work-in-progress.md)
- [RADICAL: THE HYPERGAME OF ANARCHIST FAIRIES](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/04/02/radical-the-hypergame-of-anarchist-fairies.md)
- [Five questions for Joseph Matheny](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/03/27/five-questions-for-joseph-matheny.md)
- [The Mauve Zone – Transmission #005 Satanic Panic 2.0, Spiritualism, and Kenneth Grant](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/03/19/the-mauve-zone-transmission-005-satanic-panic-2-0-spiritualism-and-kenneth-grant.md)
- [Perplexity: A Mystery PodcastEpisode 67: Ong’s Hat, New Jersey and the Internet Conspiracy Theory](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/03/13/perplexity-a-mystery-podcastepisode-67-ongs-hat-new-jersey-and-the-internet-conspiracy-theory.md)
- [Legend-Tripping Online: Supernatural Folklore and the Search for Ong’s Hat](https://josephmatheny.com/2012/08/02/legend-tripping-online-supernatural-folklore-and-the-search-for-ongs-hat.md): On the Internet, seekers investigate anonymous manifestos that focus on the findings of brilliant scientists said to have discovered pathways into alternate realities. Gathering on web forums, researc…
- [Tales of Weird NJ: Bovine, Bigfoot & Frogs](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/02/28/tales-of-weird-nj-bovine-bigfoot-frogs.md)
- [133 — Joseph Matheny Interview: Ong’s Hat & The Alchemy of Alternative Realities](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/02/19/133-joseph-matheny-interview-ongs-hat-the-alchemy-of-alternative-realities.md)
- [VYS0036 | Infinite Game – Vayse to Face with Joseph Matheny](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/02/14/vys0036-infinite-game-vayse-to-face-with-joseph-matheny-show-notes.md)
- [Portal a lo desconocido](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/02/11/portal-a-lo-desconocido.md)
- [Exploring Ong’s Hat](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/02/05/exploring-ongs-hat.md)
- [The Mauve Zone – Transmission #004 BEASTTECH, TIKTOK ASTRAL BATTLES, and PUNK ROCK MAGICK](https://josephmatheny.com/2024/01/26/the-mauve-zone-transmission-004-beasttech-tiktok-astral-battles-and-punk-rock-magick.md)
- [Ong’s Hat creator Joseph Matheny on the blurred lines between fiction and reality](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/12/16/ongs-hat-creator-joseph-matheny-on-the-blurred-lines-between-fiction-and-reality.md)
- [The Mauve Zone – Transmission #003 Aleister Crowley, UAP Culture, and Traditionalism](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/11/30/the-mauve-zone-transmission-003-aleister-crowley-uap-culture-and-traditionalism.md)
- [CAN HYPER-SINCERITY SAVE US?](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/11/25/can-hyper-sincerity-save-us.md)
- [These Scientists Ripped A Hole In Reality From A Cabin In The Woods](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/11/13/these-scientists-ripped-a-hole-in-reality-from-a-cabin-in-the-woods.md)
- [The Worst of All Possible Worlds: 111 – Slender Man and Marble Hornets](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/11/06/the-worst-of-all-possible-worlds-111-slender-man-and-marble-hornetsthe-worst-of-all-possible-worlds.md)
- [ART IN THE AGE OF REELS](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/11/09/art-in-the-age-of-reels.md)
- [Der vielleicht älteste Internet-Mythos überhaupt: Das Mysterium von Ong’s Hat](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/10/31/der-vielleicht-alteste-internet-mythos-uberhaupt-das-mysterium-von-ongs-hat.md)
- [The Mauve Zone – Transmission #002 ‘Ultraterrestrials, Black Magick and the Playstation 1 Krishna’](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/10/27/the-mauve-zone-transmission-002-ultraterrestrials-black-magick-and-the-playstation-1-krishna.md)
- [Technikart 273 Digital Version](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/10/25/technikart-273-digital-version.md)
- [The Wildest Conspiracy Theories of All Time (Epic Blaze)](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/10/16/the-wildest-conspiracy-theories-of-all-time-epic-blaze.md)
- [Layer 01 Podcast | Episode 06: Ong’s Hat – Liminal Spaces and Legend Tripping](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/10/09/layer-01-podcast-episode-06-ongs-hat-liminal-spaces-and-legend-tripping.md)
- [The Mauve Zone – Transmission #001 ‘UAPs, Cosmic Trolls and Municipal Magick’](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/10/05/the-mauve-zone-transmission-001-uaps-cosmic-trolls-and-municipal-magick.md)
- [Où sont passés ces gens disparus à Ong’s Hat ? – Le mystère d’internet qui est allé trop loin](https://josephmatheny.com/2023/09/11/ou-sont-passes-ces-gens-disparus-a-ongs-hat-le-mystere-dinternet-qui-est-alle-trop-loin.md)

## Pages

- [*Wild/card (inter)active](https://josephmatheny.com/wild-card-interactive.md)
- [Art is War](https://josephmatheny.com/art-is-war-fear-and-loathing-on-the-internet.md)
- [Liminal: By Cameron](https://josephmatheny.com/liminal-by-cameron.md)
- [Ong’s Hat Specific Reviews](https://josephmatheny.com/interviews/incunabula-ongs-hat-specific-reviews.md)
- [Ong’s Hat: Compleat](https://josephmatheny.com/ongs-hat-compleat.md)
- [Ong’s Hat: The Beginning (Authorized Version)](https://josephmatheny.com/ongs-hat-the-beginning-authorized-version.md)
- [Statio Numero: The Third and Final Chapter of the Liminal Cycle](https://josephmatheny.com/statio-numero-the-third-and-final-chapter-of-the-liminal-cycle.md)
- [The Liminal Cycle (A Trilogy) by Joseph Matheny](https://josephmatheny.com/the-liminal-cycle-a-trilogy.md)
- [What is Ong’s Hat?](https://josephmatheny.com/some-ongs-hat-audio-and-video-pieces.md): Ong's Hat is one of the earliest Internet-based secret history conspiracy theories. It was created as a piece of collaborative fiction by four core individuals, dating back to the 1980s, although the…
- [Xen – The Zen of the Other, The Audio Drama](https://josephmatheny.com/xen-the-zen-of-the-other-the-audio-drama.md)
- [Xen: The Zen of the Other](https://josephmatheny.com/xen-the-zen-of-the-other.md)
- [Joseph Matheny](https://josephmatheny.com/index.md): Some of the things I have achieved as an inventor, creator, product manager, CEO, CTO, writer, and artist
- [Storytelling](https://josephmatheny.com/transmedia.md)
- [Interviews- Reviews](https://josephmatheny.com/interviews.md)
- [Writing, etc.](https://josephmatheny.com/print-newspaper-magazines.md)
- [Contact](https://josephmatheny.com/contact.md)

## Projects

- [Writing](https://josephmatheny.com/portfolio/writing.md)
- [Audio/Visual](https://josephmatheny.com/portfolio/audio-visual.md)
- [Multidisciplinary](https://josephmatheny.com/portfolio/multidisciplinary.md)

## Testimonials

- [Chronicle of Higher Education](https://josephmatheny.com/testimonial/chronicle-of-higher-education.md)
- [Wall Street Journal](https://josephmatheny.com/testimonial/wall-street-journal.md)
- [Games Magazine](https://josephmatheny.com/testimonial/games-magazine.md)