On 1 October 2010, the employees of one of Africa’s biggest ICT organisations were sent links to a website that promised “a huge leap in business communications” using a projection of a charming client liaison avatar called Grace.

Hostage situation

What it really offered was a leap into the deep end of a world of rampaging holograms, umbrella men, slinking LOLcats, stinking hackers, epic battles and a lot of tricky puzzles.

Hundreds of players from Dimension Data made their way through the game, which turned a dry presentation about corporate values into an epic and unforgettable quest to save the world from a hologram avatar turned eeeevil!

We here at Cherryflava are often asked about the type of work that we do in the field of commercial experience design – and this alternate reality game (or ARG) is the perfect example of how we’d turn the mundane content of a typical year-end sales conference into something memorable, engaging and effective; using multi-layered media, a great story [written by the award-winning extremely super-talented novelist Lauren Beukes] and an intriguing game involving a puzzle-filled treasure hunt played out on the Internet and in the real world with fake websites and specially filmed video sequences.

Alternate reality gaming isn’t for everybody, but for innovative brands that are open to taking their event to a far deeper, fantasy level – you should get in touch with us.

Check out the series of videos that were part of the game here.

———————–

Credits:

Conceptualised and produced by: Cherryflava Media

Cherryflava team: Heinrich Hattingh, Jon Cherry & Isabeau Joubert

Story: Lauren Beukes and Sam Wilson

Gaming design: Cherryflava Media & Clockwork Zoo

Video production and direction: Pixel Warrior

Actors: Sarah Terry and Garth Breytenbach

Client: Dimension Data

It’s obviously a huge honour and we feel rather bashful about the whole thing, but in the interests of democracy and the preservation of free speech and freedom of association please head over there and make your mark next to your candidate of choice.

While you’re at it, perhaps consider giving Mr Brad Armitage [from our other office at Brewers & Union] your vote in the Trendsetter category We think that validation is well-deserved.

Fokofpolisiekar interview

Last night the Cherryflava Peep Show had its debut at the New Space theatre in Cape Town.

A huge word of thanks has to go to Fokofpolisiekar, Justin Bonello, Dave Levinsohn, Zoopy.com, “Nick and Dave”, Sean O from Good Hope FM, Softlight City [for the flashy theme tune], New Space Theatre & the GRAND DADDY Hotel, Tradewinds, and our crew for making things possible.

If you weren’t at last night’s show, you’ll be able to watch the whole thing on Zoopy as of tomorrow.

In the meantime, here are some of the backstage pics.

Setup

Hmm?

The List

Tickets!

Zoopy Team

Clap Clap!

Our hosts Dave Levinsohn and Jon Cherry

Fokofpolisiekar

Justin Bonello Interview

Justin Bonello Interview

"Nick and Dave"

The audience

"Nick and Dave"

The Audience

[photographs courtesy of Menke]

Take a peep

After four very successful BRAND HOOLIGANS and SecondBase events this year – Cherryflava will be finishing off 2009 with the debut of our very own marketing talk show which we’ve baptised ‘The Cherryflava Peep Show’.

If you’re a fan of Fokofpolisiekar, Dave Levinsohn, Justin Bonello, Bed on Bricks or us – it would be very rude of you not to reserve a ticket or two for next week’s show.

Tickets are going fast – so if you’re keen to see the live show, please check out the details here and let us know.

It’s on Wednesday 18 November at the New Space Theatre in the city. Starts at 18h30 – ends at 20h00 and should be a hoot.

BTW – if you aren’t able to make it, we’re having the whole thing filmed [it is a TV talk show after all] which will be posted on Zoopy