Endgame: The Calling | James Frey | Talks at Google

TL;DR

James Frey discusses his book "Endgame" and its innovative approach to storytelling, combining novels, movies, and mobile games, with Google as a partner.

Transcript

JOHN HANKE: So I'm going to introduce James Frey, who's here to talk about his book, "Endgame." We've got a bunch of people from the Niantic team here-- very cool. My name is John Hanke. For you guys that don't know me, I've been at Google for over 10 years now. I came in in 2004 when Google acquired a company called Keyhole and worked on Google Ea... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 "Endgame" aims to revolutionize storytelling by combining novels, movies, and mobile games.
• 📽️ The project relies on partnerships with experts in technology and storytelling, such as Google and experienced producers.
• 🌥️ The book's puzzle and ARG elements make it an interactive experience for readers.
• 🌱 Future plans include integrating the ARG into the book series and releasing novellas in real time to engage fans and players.
• 👾 Players of the mobile game will need to physically move and interact with the world, similar to "Ingress," in order to progress in the game.
• 📽️ The project involves a considerable amount of collaboration and trust between various partners and participants.
• 📔 The book "Endgame" was released globally in multiple languages simultaneously, making it the largest simultaneous publication of a book in history.
• 🙇 The puzzle to win the game is designed to take approximately 10 to 12 months to solve, with the first person to solve it winning a gold prize.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did James Frey convince partners and investors to take a leap of faith in supporting his vision for "Endgame"?

Frey focused on presenting a well-documented plan, showing a clear roadmap for the project and highlighting the expertise of the partners involved. He also emphasized the importance of choosing trustworthy and capable partners.

Q: Is it possible for someone to catch up and win the game if they start playing late?

Yes, it is possible to catch up in the game. Players can share information and collaborate with other players, allowing them to make progress together. The game is designed to be accessible to latecomers.

Q: How will the ARG fiction and the game be integrated into future books?

The plan is to gradually fuse the ARG fiction and the book series, with the integration becoming more prominent in the second and third books. The ARG will provide ongoing fiction and new puzzles, allowing readers and gamers to participate and help shape the story.

Q: Will players be able to form alliances and play the game together?

Yes, players will be able to form alliances and collaborate with each other in the game. They will be able to choose a line (faction) and align with players from other lines.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• James Frey shares the origins of his book "Endgame," inspired by a childhood puzzle book called "Masquerade."

• "Endgame" tells the story of a hunt for three keys hidden around the world, with the first player to possess all three keys winning the game.

• The book was published simultaneously in multiple languages and countries, with plans to integrate the ARG (Alternate Reality Game) into future books and mobile games.