Conclusions

We saw in the introduction how this research started from our own concerns regarding transmedia as it is created and measured today. Did this  research answer these concerns? It probably didn’t completely, but it certainly clarified   the field.

The first part of the research shows how there are ways to analyse the impact   of participatory experience on the audience. There is definitely a need for more qualitative and quantitative research focused on getting into the heads of the audience in order to understand and analyse where, how and when the impact of participatory research happens. Another finding of the first part is that there are strong reasons to believe that the impact of participatory experience is stronger than the impact of non-participatory experience.

For instance, intrapersonal findings must be collected by creators for future development work.

The second part of the research seems to be showing how there still is a long way to go before a model will become a standard in the industry. There is a risk of this standard model not to be adapted to all formats, and in particular to be only applicable to larger, more mainstream, formats. For this reason, there is a need for professionals and scholars to get involved in the field and to take part in the development of this future model.

As a general conclusion for this research, it appears quite clearly that the audience isn’t taken enough into account amongst transmedia and participatory media professionals and scholars. The need for a stronger involvement isn’t only for commercial purposes but also for artistic and creative  purposes.

This research is only a first step in the direction of putting the audience at the heart of creation. Other steps will be necessary. In particular, there is a real need for a thorough analysis of one empirical case from an audience point of view.

The upcoming Treasures, by the Company P, could be an interesting candidate for such a study. There is also a need for prototyping so that the model presented in this paper can be tested and improved. And last but not least, there needs to  be a strong effort put into asking the question of the audience in every possible situation  where  transmedia  professionals  and/or  scholars  meet:  in  pitching events,  training  workshops, academic conferences  and festivals.