When the opportunity arose to write for some of the characters, I decided to go for it, as the realtime portrayal of a character via social media had always intrigued me. While there was an overarching storyline for the game, which took place over several months, there was a lot of leeway for character development and story arcs for individual minor characters. With almost 30 different characters in the story, with several writers covering two or more characters and quite a few more people who started creating a character and gave up fairly quickly, there was a lot of opportunity for interesting stories to play out on the sidelines of the main storyline.
The main story centered on an inventor named Rex Higgs who discovers blueprints for a machine called a "time switch," builds it, and ends up on the wrong side of an evil multinational financial investment company called the Agent Intellect Corp (AIC). One of my characters, Lauralee Simcoe, is a corporate communications assistant working at AIC whose only functional role in the game is to have players hack into her online account at AIC for information. I created a story arc for her that involved her experiencing clinical depression, getting treatment and recovering. The strategy behind the narrative was to engage the game participants by getting them emotionally involved in Lauralee's story, with elements of education, modeling and an accurate depiction of potential roadblocks and their resolution.
I've compiled excerpts from the story across various social media platforms to give you an idea of how Lauralee's depression subplot played out over the five months or so of the game. (If you can't see the embedded posts here, see them on the Storify site .)
[<a href="http://storify.com/Nedra/lauralee-simcoe" target="_blank">View the story "Lauralee's Depression: An Immersive Storytelling Case Study" on Storify</a>]<h1>Lauralee's Depression: An Immersive Storytelling Case Study</h1><h2>Excerpts from the Miracle Mile Paradox alternate reality game for a case study about immersive storytelling for health promotion. Lauralee Simcoe is one of the characters written by Nedra Weinreich (@Nedra) for the story (among several other writers), told online via social media.</h2><p>Storified by Nedra Weinreich · Wed, Sep 05 2012 18:06:34</p><div>For context about the overall story and game, see the Miracle Mile Paradox site:<br></div><div>The Miracle Mile ParadoxWelcome to the Miracle Mile Paradox! We are so excited that you are here! So, long story short, here is what you need to know about the p...</div><div>As a character in the Miracle Mile Paradox alternate reality game, Lauralee Simcoe plays a relatively small role in the solving of the game. She is the corporate communications assistant for the evil Agent Intellect Corp, but is at such a low level in the organization and so naive about how AIC operates that she cannot offer much insight to the players. But she was able, through her story arc, to keep players emotionally involved in what was happening in her life. The portrayal of her experience of depression, treatment and recovery was designed as a pilot for future health-related content embedded in transmedia experiences.<br><br>You can get a sense of Lauralee's background on her LinkedIn page:<br></div><div>Lauralee Simcoe | LinkedInView Lauralee Simcoe's professional profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the world's largest business network, helping professionals like Lau...</div><div>Most of the story is told on Twitter (@LauraleeLuv), Facebook (facebook.com/lauralee.simcoe) and Pinterest (pinterest.com/lauraleeluv).<br></div><div>Hello Twitter! Figured it's about time I check you out.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Dinner at Gladstones for Sean's birthday was special. Look how they wrapped up our leftovers! http://pic.twitter.com/0Bnx5VRoLauralee Simcoe</div><div>This is already a great day! My boss LOVED my idea about how we could rearrange the cubicles to increase communication among co-workers.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Awesome run this morning, followed by brunch with Sean at S&W. Relaxing today before what I think is going to be a stressful week at work.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Was too tired last night to go out to the movie, but tonight I'm taking Sean with me to see the 5-year Engagement. Maybe he'll get a hint?Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>If one more person says "May the Fourth be with you," I'm going to scream. So many geeks here! Star Wars is ancient history, people.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Just got home from work. It's been a long day. So lucky to have Sean to rub my feet while I relax!Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Sean is trying to convince me to use part of my bonus on a nice vacation with him this summer. Tempting, but student loans are calling.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>As I was handing a cup of coffee to our most important Board member, someone bumped me and it went all over his suit and my top. AAAAAAAAH!Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>"This is the cruise we're looking at booking..."</div><div>Things I lovePinterest</div><div>I could be wrong, but my woman's intuition is telling me that Sean might have a question to ask me on our trip. We've been together 4 years!Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>"I know I'm jumping the gun on this, but look how gorgeous this is!"<br></div><div>Things I lovePinterest</div><div>@kittybabe_la I think I had a little too much fun tonight. Glad to see you and Sean getting along so nicely! :-)Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Heading down to the park to get set up for the employee picnic. This is going to be awesome! It's a glorious day!Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Yeesh - everyone's just talking or reading their phones, still working. We're supposed to be having fun. Time for the team building!Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Now we have to make a huge circle sitting down on each other's knees while standing up. Lots of grumbling. Come on - lighten up everyone!Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>How was I supposed to know Rita had a bum knee??? Paramedics are on the way. :-(Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>The rest of the team-building exercises are cancelled. What a disaster! I'm about to cry and I can't find Sean.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>There's Sean. Looks like he's having fun with @kittybabe_la. Glad he's fitting in so well with my co-workers. I just want some champagne!Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>@goerinngo @CarterLegum The latest I heard is that Rita will be in a wheelchair for a while. Not sure how she'll fit it in her Smartcar.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>When I came into the conference room, Rita suddenly stopped talking and everyone stared down at their phones. Does EVERYONE hate me now?Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>I have spent the last 2 nights crocheting Rita a backpack for her wheelchair. Finally finished! I hope she'll like it. Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Hey, @kittybabe_la, do you want to catch dinner with me Thurs nite? Sean has some kind of work thing going on (as usual, lately).Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>@LauraleeLuv Tonight I have other plans - some time next week?Kit Midden</div><div>@kittybabe_la Too bad. Let's definitely get together soon. Want to have a chance to chat more than just at work!Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>I have been sitting here for 2 hours waiting for Sean to get here. Enough! I'm heading to the beach to clear my head.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>@LauraleeLuv Had a great time 2nite - 1 too many Manhattans but once in a while is ok.Kit Midden</div><div>I had a great time with you too, @KittyBabe_LA! Sometimes girl talk is exactly what's needed. Glad to have a friend like you.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Another weekend where Sean says he has to work. We haven't been together for a full weekend in ages. Getting annoyed!Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Another absolutely FABULOUS weekend! This summer is going wonderfully.Kit Midden</div><div>Disaster strikes... (click on picture to enlarge)</div><div>Betrayednedraweinreich</div><div>Karen, Paul and Jojo were three players who were very interactive with Lauralee and over time provided lots of advice and support.<br></div><div>@geologylady I really can't talk about it now. I have to go drive and I can barely see thru the tears. Sean is a lying jerk.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Sean and I can finally be couple in public. Freedom and bliss!Kit Midden</div><div>@LauraleeLuv Sean said he wasn't happy - u 2 just weren't working out. I know you're mad but please return my calls!Kit Midden</div><div>Can't believe this is happening.RT @geologylady: @LauraleeLuv noticed recent tweets of yours. Your friend really backstabbed you. Very harshLauralee Simcoe</div><div>All week I was wondering what was going on with Sean. On Friday he told me he "needs some space." Turns out he's been seeing <a href="http://www.facebook.com/kit.midden">Kit Midden</a> behind my back. And *I* was the one who introduced them! She's been pretending to be my friend all this time. That slut.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Symptoms of depression start showing up - fatigue, wanting to stay in bed, hopelessness, feelings of guilt, insomnia, thoughts about suicide, loss of interest in favorite activities, etc. Not all are shown in these excerpts, but they appeared  in different ways in the story.<br></div><div>Mom made me get out bed and dragged me to the beach. Zuma always makes me happy. Not today. Even the seagulls sounded sad.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>I walked out in the water and thought about whether I should just keep going. I chickened out in the end.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>@LauraleeLuv um things are not that bad and it is Sean and kit who should be dunked - why hurt yourself for something they did.docwho2100</div><div>@geologylady Honestly, I don't know how to feel. Everything I thought I knew about where my life was going just turned upside down.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>I can't sleep. I just keep going over and over in my head what I might have done wrong to make Sean leave me. Maybe I can fix things.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>@KittyBabe_LA Oh, right. You care about me so much that you stole my boyfriend. Please, spare me your "care."Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>@LauraleeLuv You may know this already, but AIC offers confidential counseling (even for non-work-related issues). Speak to HR.Carter Legum</div><div>@CarterLegum That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me, Carter. But I don't need counseling. I've got things under control.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>The cruise would have left this afternoon. I guess it still is going. They won't give me a full refund. But I couldn't bear going alone.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>@geologylady I don't feel like doing anything. I used to like to dance. Go to the beach. But I'm just so tired now.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>I wish Mom would stop calling me lazy. She doesn't understand why I can't go back to work. Maybe I need to go back to my place.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>"This..."</div><div>Things I lovePinterest</div><div>I wonder what would happen if I just never showed up back at work...Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>@geologylady How can I face everyone, when they know what happened? And especially Kit. I'm such an idiot for not seeing that coming.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Can't stand being at home anymore. Mom just won't leave me alone. If I have to to get out of bed, I'm driving back to my bed in Culver City.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Back at my own place flipping the channels. Watching reruns of "Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?" Better than "Don't Be Tardy for the Wedding."Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Happy effing birthday to me. I decided to take the rest of the week off work since I had the vacation time approved and go back Monday.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Definitely my worst birthday ever. Karen from church called me up and wanted to take me to dinner. Told her I was under the weather.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Mom and Dad intervene to help Lauralee get treatment, and we find out this has happened with Lauralee before...<br></div><div>doctornedraweinreich</div><div>Now I'm depressed from being diagnosed with depression. Just started some meds.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Back to work tomorrow and I can't sleep.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>I hated seeing the way people were looking at me at work today. Like there was something wrong with me. At least I was able to avoid Kit.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Oh god, I just bumped into Kit in the hall. She just smirked at me, and it was like a knife in my heart. Went to the ladies room and cried.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>@LauraleeLuv hang in there and know there are people around like me, Paul and Karen who are here if you need and believe in you.docwho2100</div><div>@geologylady I don't know if I could do it without you all behind me.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>@LauraleeLuv You're always been the master of getting attention.Kit Midden</div><div>It can take weeks for the antidepressants to start having an effect, and it's important for people to know that from the start.<br></div><div>The antidepressant meds are not working! It's been 4 days and I'm still crying all night. Being at work is not helping either.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>"I'm so tired..."</div><div>Things I lovePinterest</div><div>I'm back at Mom and Dad's. Feeling a little better. Maybe I'll come out of this.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Mom took me to the mall today and bought me a pair of shoes. Retail therapy doesn't really work for me, but I like the shoes and it got me out of the house. Do you like them? Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Back at work and at least the busy stress of getting stuff done while people around me are freaking out keeps my mind off of other things.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>I'm sick to my stomach. Kit and Sean are in San Francisco - apparently going to all the places we used to go together. I can't take this.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>It can definitely get worse before it gets better. The support of family, friends and spiritual advisors can make all the difference...<br></div><div>Been in bed the past few days. Not happy with how my life is going right now. Feeling really low.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>I don't know why my friends at work haven't even checked on me. I think Kit's turned them all against me.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>SM sabbaticalnedraweinreich</div><div>For the first time in a long while, I'm looking forward to the weekend. I'm going to spend all day tomorrow with a girlfriend at the beach.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>The more I feel like my old self, the more I start thinking about my future. I won't be with AIC forever. What do I want to do with my life?Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>The medicine is working, and Lauralee is moving forward with her life. The message of hope and recovery from mental health challenges is so important to encourage others to seek treatment.<br></div><div>I had the greatest time last night putting on some music and just dancing. It's been a long time. My downstairs neighbor banged the ceiling.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Things I lovePinterest</div><div>I decided I'm going back to school to get a degree in arts management! I know communications/PR and I know dance. I'll combine them!Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>Glad I stuck with the antidepressants. Took a while to work, and they make me tired, but I feel so much better now.Lauralee Simcoe</div><div>The players bid farewell in the private forum...</div><div>HappyEverAfternedraweinreich</div>
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