Communications in Humanities Research

- The Open Access Proceedings Series for Conferences


Communications in Humanities Research

Vol. 21, 07 December 2023


Open Access | Article

Exploring Media Mix in Transmedia Storytelling: A Case Study on ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ and ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’

Nuozhou Chen 1 , Jiaqi Li * 2
1 Wenzhou Business College
2 Macau University of Science and Technology

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Communications in Humanities Research, Vol. 21, 78-84
Published 07 December 2023. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by EWA Publishing
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Citation Nuozhou Chen, Jiaqi Li. Exploring Media Mix in Transmedia Storytelling: A Case Study on ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ and ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’. CHR (2023) Vol. 21: 78-84. DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/21/20231421.

Abstract

The research investigates the combined role of video games and Japanese anime in transmedia storytelling. Taking “Cyberpunk 2077” and its anime adaptation “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” as focal points, the study delves into the unique narrative experience this media pairing bestows upon the storytelling universe and its audience. Rather than adhering to traditional linear narratives, this amalgamation furnishes an unstructured, symbol-laden storytelling odyssey. The paper introduces and scrutinizes the notion of “media convergence”. It is noted that through the integration of Japanese manga and video game elements, “Cyberpunk 2077” witnessed a resurgence in sales and acclaim. Concurrently, “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” influenced the game with its pronounced symbolic essence, hinting at an emergent lean towards postmodernism in modern media production.

Keywords

transmedia storytelling, media mix, Cyberpunk 2077, video game, post-modernism

References

1. Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide. New York, NY: New.

2. Jenkins, H. (2006). Welcome to convergence culture. Confessions of an Aca-Fan. Official Weblog of Henry Jenkins. Last Access October 15, 2015.

3. Ryan, M.-L. (2006). Avatars of story (Vol. 17). U of Minnesota Press.

4. Ryan, M.-L. (2013). Transmedial storytelling and transfictionality. Poetics Today, 34(3), 361–388.

5. Ryan, M.-L. (2016). Transmedia narratology and transmedia storytelling. Artnodes, 18.

6. Liang Yuanyuan. (2017). The Research on IP Operating Mode in the Perspective of Transmedia Storytelling (Doctoral dissertation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology).

7. Nakamura, A., & Tosca, S. (2021). The Mobile Suit Gundam Franchise: A Case Study of Transmedia Storytelling Practices and Ludo Mix in Japan. Transactions of the Digital Games Research Association, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.26503/todigra.v5i2.114

8. Nakamura, A., & Tosca, S. (2019). The Mobile Suit Gundam Franchise: A Case Study of Transmedia Storytelling Practices and the Role of Digital Games in Japan. DiGRA Conference.

9. Steinberg, M. (2012). Anime’s media mix: Franchising toys and characters in Japan. U of Minnesota Press.

10. Bjarnason, N. J. (2021). The Ludo Mix and the Loss of In-Game Narrative: A Case Study of the Final Fantasy XV Universe. Transactions of the Digital Games Research Association, 5(2).

Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies
ISBN (Print)
978-1-83558-185-8
ISBN (Online)
978-1-83558-186-5
Published Date
07 December 2023
Series
Communications in Humanities Research
ISSN (Print)
2753-7064
ISSN (Online)
2753-7072
DOI
10.54254/2753-7064/21/20231421
Copyright
07 December 2023
Open Access
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Copyright © 2023 EWA Publishing. Unless Otherwise Stated