Do you love Gothic fiction?  Where you can almost see the mist-shrouded worlds of Edgar Allan Poe or H.P. Lovecraft?

Then, VR visionary and Blackthorn Media Founder/Creative Director Michael Conelly is going to give you chills.  But in a good way: through his short interactive VR experience, Caliban Below.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Michael is the author of the 1989 novel The Abbot’s Book: A Gothic Tale.     He’s also a multiple Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor.  His past work has included visual effects for Snow White and the Huntsman and Charlotte’s Web.

Drawing on his background in filmmaking, Michael is bringing his novel to life as a series of short stories in virtual reality.

His latest chapter, Caliban Below, has just become available for iPhone and iPad.

When you strap on the headset, you have a role to play.  There’s a mystery to uncover–and no two experiences will be alike.

Caliban Below is part of an eight-part series, according to the STEAM® website.  If you want more–and you probably will!–Chapter One, The Abbot’s Book Demo, is also available as a free download.

Michael talked about the inspiration for his novel, The Abbot’s Book, the process of creating the world he envisioned in VR, and what’s next!

On this edition of Over Coffee®, you’ll hear:

• How The Abbot’s Book first came about, during Michael’s college days;

• Some of the challenges Michael experienced, in translating the story to virtual reality;

• What we’ll experience, after entering the world of Caliban Below;

• How the game is unique to each player, due to XR;

• Michael’s favorite experience, from creating his XR experiences;

• Where to access Caliban Below (it’s a free download!);

• The “surprise” element Michael’s encountering, with his larger creative project, The Abbot’s Book;

• What needs to happen next!;

• The circumstances that enabled Michael to bring his story from book to XR;

• His recommendations for resources to fellow creatives;

• One of the best professional lessons Michael learned, in the process of re-creating The Abbot’s Book in XR format.