What is this page?

Lately I have been dissatisfied with past definitions of terms of "Unfiction" and "ARG's," to the point where discourse about the subject comes up int daily conversation.

This page aims to rectify that by establishing a clear definition and taxonomy of this umbrella category known as Unfiction, along with its many classifications.

Much of this is a work in progress and based on much of what creators in this space also believe.
This page is open to comments, critique and refinement by the community.

What is "Unfiction" (WIP)

In common conversation, many will interchangeably use the terms "ARG" and "Unfiction"

Commonly Understood Definition:

• "Unfiction, put simply, means something that takes place in a reality that is treated as real within its own universe. It might be outright said to be in its own universe, or treated as it's in our world." - Fire, Medium.com

Working Definition:

• A storytelling medium that is inherently fictional, but is either presented as or rooted in a version of reality that could plausibly be mistaken or passed off as events that happened in the real world.

Defined Requirements:

• Unfiction must try, to some degree, convince you that this is or once was a part of real life.
  • It's not always obvious that this is the case, but convincing you that fiction is reality is KEY
• Unfiction must have a "Something's Off" factor. A "tell" for the audience to understand that what they're viewing is, in fact, fictional. This doesn't need to be rooted in horror all the time, however it is the easiest example.
  • For example: Angle Hare isn't Horror or Scary, but "something's off" with a TV character interacting with the mc.

The Five Structures (WIP)

To my experience, there are 5 different levels of structure to any given piece of Unfiction.
The five Structures of Unfiction are classified by their level or amount of intractability present in said series.

Alternate Reality Experiences (ARE)

Alternate Reality Experiences, or ARE's, are classified as projects that require NO interaction to understand or influence the narrative at all. Typically, these experiences do not include transmedia experiences.

Examples

• Bedrock.zip
• No Through Road

Pseudofiction

Pseudofiction is classified as projects that do not require outside interaction to understand or influence the story. However, supplemental content in the form of an extra website, or some extra pre-context helps add flavor to the experience of the project, and does not detract from it

Examples

• The GMod Stream
• Briscoe Park
• The SCP Foundation

Chaotic Fiction

Chaotic Fiction projects are classified as series that require some interaction with the story to understand the overall narrative or to progress the story. This typically comes in the form of character interaction via. typical internet social media locations. Stories told through this medium tend to be malleable based on community interaction, but do not have to be.

Examples

• The Sun Vanished
• PBHere
• MCcompanion Mod (XtremeGamer11 Reuploads)

Alternate Reality Games (ARG)

Alternate Reality Games, or ARG's, are classified as projects that require Major interaction with the series in order to fully understand the narrative. Player interaction affects the story in a critical way.

Examples

• Interloper
• RHKQ
• Inscryption (The Mullinsverse)

Puzzle Hunts

Puzzle Hunts, while before do not seem to be classified as Unfiction under normal circumstances, will be classified here for semantic purposes.
Projects that almost exclusively focus on Puzzles or otherwise lock a story or further content behind puzzles fall under this category.

Examples

• Cicada3301
• OldRoot

Unfiction Genres

The following are what I have identified as Genre's that are inherently some form of "Unfiction" even if not classified as such beforehand.

Genre List (WIP)

Unfiction Mediums

While most Unfiction is seen today online, I've taken it upon myself to classify the different mediums their stories happen to be told through. Many series use multiple of these mediums, but many also stick to a single format.

Medium List (WIP)

Things to ask myself

• I love bees
• The Beast
• Poppy YouTube Channel
• The Jejune Institute
• MIT Mystery Hunt
• Notpr0n
• Historical Fiction
• HLVR:AI
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Pages to make

• Creation Resources
• art tools
• How to do just about anything tbh.