Studio Zero

So, here's the backstory of Studio Zero, which all started in a loft on Royal Street, right in the heart of New Orleans. Originally, it was just a simple setup—a window looking out into the madness of Mardi Gras with a livestream capturing every colorful moment of the French Quarter during the festivities. To let the passersby know they were part of the live show, I put a monitor in the window. It was silent cinema though—no speakers, no sound—just visuals. So, to bring the audio to life and connect with the viewers, I cleverly used QR codes. These little digital magic squares linked people directly to my Twitch channel, where they could tune in and hear everything live. As things picked up, I wanted to make it even more interactive and fun. So, I introduced a couple of digitally animated buddies into the scene—a virtual raccoon and a raptor, both with facial rigging. These weren’t just any avatars; they interacted with the crowd, adding a whole new layer of engagement. My main aim? To merge real-world festivities with digital interactivity, essentially turning the streets into a stage and the passersby into part of a live, interactive experience. This is what I call Real World Gaming—where the line between realities gets all fun and fuzzy, and people can engage across both physical and digital worlds right from the streets of New Orleans.