AFK - The Comedy / Drama Web series: Official HD Trailer
(Entertainment-NewsWire.com, May 26, 2014 ) Auckland, New Zealand -- What would happen if you were playing a video game and, all of a sudden, you were forced to live in that fantasy world?
Peter Haynes of Auckland, New Zealand, is producing a web series that is based on this premise. Called AFK (Away from Keyboard), it’s the 2014 version of Tron, where Lord of the Rings meets Battle Royale. Unexpectedly and abruptly, a group of modern gamers find themselves inhabiting their virtual world, struggling to survive.
“This is the ultimate massive multiplayer on-line role-playing game (MMORPG),” explained Haynes. “They’re in a strange world away from modern conveniences and technology, where they have to live off the land.
“There no rules, no game masters, and no multiple lives, only the survival of the fittest, fastest, strongest and most cunning.”
Many people in the cast and crew are gaming enthusiasts who understand the unique feeling of exploring a new game for the first time. “We want to try and recapture some of that magic in AFK, while adding an element of real danger to this fantasy,” Haynes said.
“There will be action, adventure, witty dialogue, romance and enough gaming references to appeal to the hardcore players, while still being accessible to more casual gamers, or even the general public.”
The lead character in this story is Q, a woman searching for a way back to the real world and the child she left behind. Along the way, Q and her fellow gamers have to fend off chaotic roaming killers and other challenges in their new fantasy environment. In addition, they have to deal with their new bodies, identities, and in some cases, genders.
The script is written and the cast is in place, but Haynes needs additional capital to finish the first year of this web series. His budget is $40,000 NZD. To generate the necessary funding, Haynes has launched a Kickstarter campaign, which can be viewed at the Kickstarter site.
So far, the campaign has raised nearly $5,000. Sci-fi and gaming fans who would like to support this project can make donations through the Kickstarter page, which includes video trailers. Depending on their donation levels, backers will receive signed photos of the cast, DVDs of the first season and costumes used in the video.
In addition to Kickstarter, Haynes is looking for help from social media. “If you have a blog, or are active on a gaming forum, let people know about us,” he said. “You can also suggest us as a story to some of the bigger news sites like io9.com or Kotaku, and post our links on Reddit and other similar sites.”
