Halcyon

Hybrid VR Game & Short-form TV miniseries

Creator, Creative Director, Story Consultant | Syfy, Secret Location

Halcyon was a groundbreaking multimedia project blending traditional storytelling with cutting-edge virtual reality. It integrated a short-form TV series with a VR component to tell a cohesive narrative. Developed in partnership with Syfy International, its audience spanned 80 territories globally. Delivered in many languages and on multiple channels, Halcyon consistently exceeding viewership expectations.

Set in a futuristic world where virtual reality intertwines with daily life, the series explores a murder mystery that blurs the lines between reality and virtual existence. Its innovative hybrid format delivers a seamless viewing and interactive experience across linear, digital, and VR platforms, offering a bold new model for storytelling.

The project hook lies in its ability to merge different mediums into a unified story, making it accessible and engaging for diverse audiences and providing meaningful engagement in VR and providing context for the television episodes. This emphasis on connecting emergent gameplay with extant, linear storytelling underscores its significance in pushing the boundaries of multiplatform storytelling.

Original IP Creation

As the creator of the intellectual property Halcyon, my role involved conceptualizing the core vision for the project from its earliest stages through to the final days of production.

This included designing a compelling cyberpunk world, developing its unique aesthetic and narrative tone, and envisioning how advanced VR technology could shape civilization in the story’s future setting.

The initial pitch I made to Syfy was “The scene is virtual, but the crime is real.” From there, I developed the story, characters and setting.

Creative Lead

During initial development, I was involved in pitching the project to internal stakeholders, as well as our client Syfy International.

Production on Halcyon was spit between two crews—the series and the game. I worked with both teams as the overall vision holder and story consultant, ensuring the seamless integration of the traditional episodic TV format with the interactive VR episodes.

This involved translating the vision into scripts, game mechanics, and visual elements, while also balancing the demands of storytelling with the technical constraints and possibilities of VR technology.

My role required a mix of creative foresight, adaptability, and collaborative leadership to bring Halcyon to life as a groundbreaking multimedia experience.

Project Outcomes

  • Halcyon was launched in over 80 territories world-wide, catering to Syfy’s international audience and helping the broadcaster establish itself as a leading brand in the “future of entertainment”. Extending the broadcast experience by driving viewers to watch online episodes and download the interactive VR app, Halcyon exceeded ratings expectations from Syfy, earning its place as one of their most successful VR marketing campaigns.
  • Halcyon was featured in Playback Magazine, the Hollywood Reporter, and online through sites such as CNet and Engadget. It was selected as a feature for the inaugural “VR On the Lot” in 2016.
  • The series was recognized for excellence by the London Design Awards, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, AToMIC Awards, Webby Awards, FWA, the Banff World Media Festival, and was nominated for a Eurovision Rose D’Or.