Extensive research was conducted to situate the narrative in the rich historical background of Mont Royal Park. Using this initial research, charrettes were created to bring together artists, designers, writers and engineers and create a wide variety of historically relevant narrative subplots for player interaction. Rich imagery, character taxonomies, and rules of play were created to flesh out the story's plot.

In situ research activities were organized to understand the nature of the intersecting trails, player sightlines, the effects of light on gameplay. Interaction maps were developed to plan out player choices and movement along the various park paths.

Various levels of working prototypes were completed that delivered the interactive narrative through voices, video and animation. Bluetooth beacons were developed to seed the game area with interactive hotspots. Ringtones were also designed to signal the presence of specific ghosts.

The Haunting is part of the Mobile Digital Commons Network. Methodologies for interactive narrative creation developed by the Haunting Project has been integrated into the core design methodologies established at the OCAD Mobile Experience Lab.

Principal Investigators:
Sara Diamond
President, Ontario College of Art & Design

Michael Longford
Concordia University

Co-Creative Directors:
David McIntosh, PhD
Professor, Ontario College of Art & Design
Michael Longford
Concordia University


INSTRUCTIONS The Haunting: a ghost-capture game

The Haunting is a location-based ghost-capturing game played at night on Parc Mont Royal in Montreal. The VFB (Voices From Beyond) phone company has received an urgent message from spectral beings inhabiting the Mountain. These unhappy ghosts need your assistance to put their  souls to rest.

Objective: The goal of The Haunting is to find 8 ghosts buried on the mountain whose spirits clamour for peace. Players must encounter, capture, store and liberate the ghosts using VFB cell phones. There is no time limit to the game. Your task is simple: find the ghosts, capture them and neutralize the disturbance that they are causing.

Number of Players: Players may work alone or in teams of two. Each team is sent out in 10-minute intervals. The game does not depend on interaction between the teams of players who are on the same quest.

Equipment: Each team is out-fitted with GPS/Bluetooth-enabled cell phones, a GPS locator and a flashlight. The GPS system must be worn on a player's arm to receive the satellite signal. You must stay within 10 metres of one another in order for the cell phone and GPS locator to work in tandem.

The Ghosts: You will meet 8 ghosts in The Haunting. 5 ghosts are based on historical characters, some famous, with a connection to Montreal. The other 3 are generic characters drawn from real events from Montreal's lively past.

Game Play: Players meet representatives of VFB at the Belvedere (the panoramic viewpoint) where basic instructions are received.

Players are then sent to the starting point of the game: an open meadow that leads into The Forest of Shadows. From this point on you will receive directions from Alma, a VFB operator, via your cell phone. Your goal is to locate and capture the ghosts who dwell on the Mountain. When you encounter a ghost, a sequence is triggered on the phone. Players must respond as instructed to capture the ghost and move on.

There are 3 distinct zones inhabited by our agitated ghosts: the Forest of Shadows; the Devil's Pitchfork and the Summit of Spirits. Each of these zones represents a level of game play. All of the ghosts must be captured in a level before you can proceed to the next level of the game by passing through a gateway. Alma will tell you when you have completed a level and help you find the gateway.

Along the way you will experience a variety of unearthly ambient sensations. Do not be alarmed. Do not be fooled. These are signs of ordinary paranormal presences on the Mountain. They are not ghosts.

Game Space: The map of the game space, which is on the phone, will assist your navigation of the Mountain?s trails and pathways. It indicates the location of supernatural disturbances and gives your approximate distance to the dwelling place of the ghosts. (press 5)

If you stray too far out of the game space, or come too near the edge of a cliff, a warning sound will be played on your phone to keep you out of harm's way.

Technical instructions:

  • Players start the game by answering a phone call from Alma.
  • Players may verify their inventory of supernatural beings on the phone at any time by pressing 5.
  • Players may consult a map of the game space by pressing 5.
  • Important: Players should refrain from pressing other buttons.

Trouble shooting: If nothing happens on your phone for too long a period, it may be that the phone is too far from the Bluetooth signal being emitted by the GPS locator. Get closer to the phone to restore the wireless connection. It may also be that unkind spirits have decided to thwart your mission.

End: All of the ghosts must be captured and brought to a final destination. This destination will be revealed after all the ghosts have been collected. As the game progresses, instructions on how to liberate the ghosts from your phone will be given. Completing this task, at the correct place, ends the game.

Good hunting!