The Loop - Domani Studios Design Blog

DS Embraces the Apocalypse for Terminator Salvation

Our friends at Campfire approached us to execute specific digital aspects of their campaign for the summer blockbuster movie Terminator Salvation. Two web sites and an alternate reality game (ARG) later, we felt like we had returned from the apocalypse - we are just starting to trust technology again. Damn you McG… Here is a quick rundown:

The Sites.

Skynetresearch.com is the simple-looking corporate website for the most evil arm of Cyberdine Systems. Filled with 3D product animations, strange voice-overs, hidden password-protected pages and outreach programs for robot enthusiasts and filmmakers, the site enticed users to step into the storyline and “live” the film.

Soon, a new site appeared, resistorbeterminated.com (ROBT), home to a faction of resistance members (online users) trying to find out what Skynet Research is really about. Initially a simple unskinned blog site, over the course of a few weeks it grew to a fully realized “home base” for resistance information, video blogs and posts, a forum for discussion and a Tactical Simulator: an online strategy-based game designed to help the resistance find weaknesses and plan successful attacks on Skynet.

The Game

The Tactical Simulator is an online strategy-based multiplayer game where players choose to play as Skynet or The Resistance and develop local military units to expand territory and attack enemies. The interface comes complete with different themes for each side and a Google Maps satellite view with custom layers for sector information and indicators of battle damage, which helped keep the game alive in the real world. Using the game’s forums, players organized squadrons, bringing a sense of community among players, who inundated the Internet through their own sites, forums and Twiter accounts.