Joseph Matheny
Joseph Wayne Matheny is an American writer and transmedia artist who has created works using alternate reality gaming and transmedia storytelling methods. He holds patents for prediction, recommendation and behavioral analysis algorithms and software design. He is a published author of screenplays, white papers, technology, sci-fi, marketing and gaming books. He is probably best known for the avant-garde work Ong's Hat, which has been called the proto-alternate reality game. Ong's Hat is often cited as the first ARG on many lists of alternate reality games.
He currently resides in Eugene, Oregon.
Early life
Matheny was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1961 and moved to California in 1989.Books
Ong’s Hat: Compleat, Wildcard Interactive, 2025. Statio Numero: Part 3 of the Liminal Cycle, Wildcard Interactive, 2022. Xen: The Zen of the Other , Wildcard Interactive, 2020. Liminal , Wildcard Interactive, 2017. Ong's Hat: The Beginning: Authorized Version, Wildcard Interactive, 2002. Game over?, Immersion New Media, 2002. Why DVD? A Meat and Potatoes Guide for the Uninitiated, Metalepsis, 1999. The Incunabula Papers: Ong's Hat and Other Gateways to New Dimensions, eXe, 1999.Contributions to other books and publications
- Reality is What You Can Get Away With: Introduction
- Conversations with Diane Di Prima: Contributor
- The Big Black Book: Become Who You Are: Contributor
- Beats In Time: A Literary Generation's Legacy: Contributor
- Rebels and Devils: The Psychology of Liberation: Contributor
- Black Book Omega: Cirque Apoklypsis: Contributor
- YouTube: An Insider's Guide to Climbing the Charts: Contributor
- Black Book Volume 3, Part I: The Black Symphony, First Movement: Contributor
- Black Book Volume 3, Part II: The Black Symphony, Second Movement: Contributor
- What Would Bill Hicks Say: Forward- Contributor
- Exquisite Language: Contributor
- Poker Without Cards: Contributor-Forward, Afterward and Editor
- This Is Not A Game: A Guide to Alternate Reality Gaming: Contributor and Editor
- Covert Culture Sourcebook: Contributor
- The Millennium Whole Earth Catalog: Contributor
Filmography
Feature films and documentaries
My Neighbors Daughter : Art Director, ActorAmerikanskaya doch : Art Director, Actor- Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore : Actor
- The "I" in the Triangle with Robert Anton Wilson : Director
- TAZ: The Temporary Autonomous Zone : Producer, Performer
- : Appears as self
- Visions Of Heaven and Hell :ITV UK Appears as self
Discography
Ong's Hat: COMPLEAT Wildcard InteractiveThis Is Not a Game with Marc Fennell Audible/BBCThe Incident at Ong's Hat- audio drama BBCXen: The Zen of the Other- audio drama WildcardRobert Anton Wilson Remembered HukilauRobert Anton Wilson: The Lost Studio Sessions Original FalconTAZ- The Temporary Autonomous Zone Original Falcon- ''The Banishing Ritual with Illusion of Safety''