When we decided to dedicate our March issue to Innovation, we turned to Nexus Productions to develop an interactive cover that would articulate its themes. The company’s producers brought on board their newly-signed artists Theo Watson and Emily Gobeille who created Rise and Fall, a stunning interactive experience that takes design and storytelling to the next level.

The front cover is an invitation into the curious graphic world of Rise and Fall. The back cover is also interactive and can be used to uncover a behind-the-scenes look at how the project was achieved.

TO EXPERIENCE RISE AND FALL:

• Download - Rise and Fall ( MAC )
• Download - Rise and Fall ( PC )

For instructions on getting started click here.

‘Rise and Fall’ Trailer from Nexus Productions on Vimeo.

A tale of opposing forces, the rotation and angle of the magazine dictates the storyline of Rise and Fall.  You’re in control, rising to the greatest heights or, as you turn the magazine, falling deep into the dark depths.  Story nodes encountered on your journey reveal deeper concepts of attraction and repulsion, which develop as the story transforms and unfolds.

With interactive sound design by Dutch company MOST, Rise and Fall develops technology to enhance storytelling.

Rise with the whimsical balloon

... and gently fall with the umbrella.

SETUP GUIDE:

To explore the world of Rise and Fall for yourself all you need is a computer, webcam and a copy of the March 2010 issue of Boards. If you don’t have a copy of the magazine, download the front and back covers here.

Step 1: Download the Rise and Fall Application.

• Download - Rise and Fall ( MAC 10.5 / 10.6 ) ( Updated March 10 2010 )
• Download - Rise and Fall ( PC ) ( Updated March 10 2010 )

Step 2: Launch Rise and Fall.

• Unzip the zipped folder.
• Open that folder and double click on RiseAndFall.
• The app will load a splash screen.  Click the ‘Launch App’ button to open your webcam and start the experience.

Step 3: Begin your journey through Rise and Fall.

• Hold up the Boards magazine cover to your webcam to start the journey.
• You should see an introduction that will show you how to rotate the magazine to ‘rise’ or ‘fall’ through the story.  You can also ’steer’ left and right by changing the angle of the magazine.

Bonus Back cover - Behind the Scenes!

• Show the back cover to the camera at any point in the story to see a behind the scenes peak of how the application was made.

System Requirements:

• Rise and Fall requires a fast laptop or desktop computer with a webcam.
• Mac Requirements: Intel Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro / Mac Pro, webcam, OS 10.5 or 10.6.10.6 users need QuickTime 7 - it can be downloaded here
• Windows Requirements: Intel Core 2 Duo ( or better ), webcam, 2 GB+ Ram.Windows users need QuickTime 7 - it can be downloaded here

OPEN SOURCE:

Get involved, it’s open source. Change the code and graphics to make your own interactive story by downloading the source code. Rise and Fall is made with openFrameworks, using the Ferns library for tracking. For information on how to compile the source code for the project please check out this thread on the openFrameworks forum.

• Download the source code (Mac)

GALLERY:

View a selection of stills from the Rise and Fall experience and behind the scenes gallery:

CREDITS:

Nexus Productions

Digital Directors: Theo Watson and Emily Gobeille

Design by: Emily Gobeille

Technical Development: Theo Watson

Executive Producer: Chris O’Reilly and Cedric Gairard

Production Manager: Alice Wigley

http://www.nexusproductions.com

MOST Original Soundtracks and Audio Post Production

Sound Supervisor: Ivo Witteveen

Music and Sound Design: Ivo Witteveen, Otto van den Toorn, Diederik Idenburg

Audio Post Production: Stephan Bakker

http://www.m-ost.nl/