Joseph Matheny

Joseph Wayne Matheny (born December 24, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American writer and transmedia artist who has created works using alternate reality gaming and transmedia storytelling methods. He holds patents for prediction, recommendation and behavioral analysis algorithms and software design. He is a published author of screenplays, white papers, technology, sci-fi, marketing and gaming books. He is probably best known for the avant-garde work Ong's Hat, which has been called the proto-alternate reality game (ARG). Ong's Hat is often cited as the first ARG on many lists of alternate reality games.

He currently resides in Eugene, Oregon.

Early life Joseph Matheny- 2018 Santa Cruz, CAMatheny was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1961 and moved to California in 1989.

Books Ong’s Hat: Compleat, Wildcard Interactive, 2025. Statio Numero: Part 3 of the Liminal Cycle, Wildcard Interactive, 2022. Xen: The Zen of the Other (as Ezra Buckley), Wildcard Interactive, 2020. Liminal (as Cameron Whiteside), Wildcard Interactive, 2017. Ong's Hat: The Beginning: Authorized Version, Wildcard Interactive, 2002. Game over?, Immersion New Media, 2002. Why DVD? A Meat and Potatoes Guide for the Uninitiated, Metalepsis, 1999. The Incunabula Papers: Ong's Hat and Other Gateways to New Dimensions, eXe, 1999.

Contributions to other books and publications

Reality is What You Can Get Away With: Introduction Conversations with Diane Di Prima: Contributor The Big Black Book: Become Who You Are: Contributor Beats In Time: A Literary Generation's Legacy: Contributor Rebels and Devils: The Psychology of Liberation: Contributor Black Book Omega: Cirque Apoklypsis: Contributor YouTube: An Insider's Guide to Climbing the Charts: Contributor Black Book Volume 3, Part I: The Black Symphony, First Movement: Contributor Black Book Volume 3, Part II: The Black Symphony, Second Movement: Contributor What Would Bill Hicks Say: Forward- Contributor Exquisite Language: Contributor Poker Without Cards: Contributor-Forward, Afterward and Editor This Is Not A Game: A Guide to Alternate Reality Gaming: Contributor and Editor Covert Culture Sourcebook: Contributor The Millennium Whole Earth Catalog: Contributor

Filmography

Feature films and documentaries My Neighbors Daughter (1998): Art Director, Actor Amerikanskaya doch (1995): Art Director, Actor Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore (1997): Actor The "I" in the Triangle with Robert Anton Wilson (2010): Director TAZ: The Temporary Autonomous Zone (2010): Producer, Performer Inside A Mind (2021): Appears as self Visions Of Heaven and Hell (1994):ITV UK Appears as self

Discography Ong's Hat: COMPLEAT (2025) Wildcard Interactive This Is Not a Game with Marc Fennell (2024) Audible/BBC The Incident at Ong's Hat- audio drama (2023) BBC Xen: The Zen of the Other- audio drama (2021) Wildcard Robert Anton Wilson Remembered (2011) Hukilau Robert Anton Wilson: The Lost Studio Sessions (2010) Original Falcon TAZ- The Temporary Autonomous Zone (2010) Original Falcon The Banishing Ritual with Illusion of Safety (1991)