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XINE 06x2003 (JUNE/JULY 2003): VIRTUOSITY
OCT 4: ADDED XFVCU INFORMATION.
Welcome to Virtuosity! June Xine (which, yes, I know, is running late) focuses on the various fan-created virtual seasons. In a plethora of fan-made virtual seasons, The X Files lives on - and there are a few new and not-so-new incarnations of it, as well.
What Are Virtual Series?
A virtual season, or virtual series is an online equivalent of a TV show. It runs as a series of written stories (episodes), usually has a broadcast schedule, and often has other paraphernalia associated with filmed series - print ads, trailers, spoilers, post-episode chats, and the like. Most virtual series aim to mirror the mood and structure of the show and maintain consistency with it up to its point of departure from onscreen canon. (There are, however, some exceptions, such as the Fox And Rat virtual series, which is a sitcom).
For readers who miss the excitement of online fandom during the show's run - the hunt for spoilers, the struggle to remain spoiler-free, the anticipation, the habit of seeing an episode at a set time every week, and the after-episode discussions - a virtual series can fill the gap. For readers who enjoy otherwise difficult-to-find casefiles and conspiracy stories, a virtual series can be a goldmine. Virtual series are also a viable alternative for people who simply miss seeing Mulder, Scully, Doggett, Reyes, and their colleagues in their "natural habitat" as FBI agents.
How Do They Work?
Each virtual series has a website. That website will archive any existing episodes, advertise upcoming episodes, and tell you where the episode departs from X Files canon. Typically, a virtual series will simply branch off from the end of an onscreen season. A couple have more complex arrangements - the Italian Virtual Seasons run parallel with X Files canon in Seasons 5 and 6, and the Starkweather series inserts a year between Existence and NIHT. Check the fine print, and you'll know what information you'll need in order to know what's going on.
In some series, particularly ones with an emphasis on standalone casefiles, you will be able to dive right in. For some it will be necessary to read the episodes in order. You can also check the synopsis, or ask around on the message boards, to find out whether there are any episodes that really have to be read in order (eg, mythology episodes).
Virtual series usually follow the norms of the televised series - a season of between eighteen and twenty-two episodes, followed by an extended break. The timing of the breaks are not always the same, however, and you may like to follow two series that, between them, cover the year, or read some of the older, discontinued series during the off months.
Where Do I Begin?
Right here. In this month's Xine, we profile some of the virtual seasons that are out there, and provide hints and resources for people interested in writing or producing one. The links on your left are your one-stop guide to all things virtual in Philedom.
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