Category: Alternate Reality Game

The COMPLEAT Broadcasts, Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of the ongoing series, Ong’s Hat: COMPLEAT This is a free podcast/post series of Ong’s Hat: COMPLEAT For reviews regarding this work, go here. You may subscribe to this series via RSS here. https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/232444.rss You can subscribe and/or download on other platforms here. The COMPLEAT Broadcasts Archive Chapter 0 Chapter 1 Chapter 2   LINK: https://josephmatheny.substack.com/p/the-compleat-broadcasts-chapter-3

When dark tourism goes para-terrestrial: Online legend-tripping and touring the void

Sophie James *, James Cronin A B S T R A C T Using ˇZiˇzek’s concept of ontological incompleteness, we theorise the touristic appeal of online legend-tripping as derived from the fantasy of traversing reality’s uncharted horizons. While online legends such as ‘the Backrooms’ invoke curiosity in suffering and the macabre, they deviate from the… Continue reading When dark tourism goes para-terrestrial: Online legend-tripping and touring the void

Talking About Talking About Talking About UFOs

You know, it is gratifying when you point out a very obvious (to you) hanging thread, and someone takes the time to follow it and, most importantly, has the capacity to comprehend it. Good job, lads. The truth is out there… sometimes… maybe… well, Hine and Buckley just aren’t sure. UFOs, UAPs, Flying Saucers, Alien… Continue reading Talking About Talking About Talking About UFOs

The COMPLEAT Broadcasts, Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of the ongoing series, Ong’s Hat: COMPLEAT This is a free podcast/post series of Ong’s Hat: COMPLEAT For reviews regarding this work, go here. You may subscribe to this series via RSS here. https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/232444.rss Other platforms where you can subscribe and/or download are available here. LINK: https://josephmatheny.substack.com/p/the-compleat-broadcasts-chapter

‘Mycellium Parish News 2025’

Received my ‘Mycellium Parish News 2025‘ in the mail. Great zine and I highly recommend. @rawilson23.bsky.social published a review on their site, so go check that out. Ong’s Hat: COMPLEAT received a very kind and generous review in this issue. The 2025 Mycellium Parish News may be ordered from Etsy.

The COMPLEAT Broadcasts, Chapter 0

  It’s been on my mind to do this for a while. So, I’m just going to do it. This is the beginning of a free podcast/post series of Ong’s Hat: COMPLEAT You may subscribe to this series via RSS here. https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/232444.rss On Spotify   Apple podcasts iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-joseph-mathenys-art-is-war-107824877/ Pocast Addict https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/joseph-matheny-s-art-is-war-talks/4223678 and most other podcast outlets. Or… Continue reading The COMPLEAT Broadcasts, Chapter 0

Ong’s Hat: The NJ Ghost Town That Invented Alternate Reality Games

Explore Ong’s Hat, the real Pine Barrens ghost town behind the legendary 1980s–90s interdimensional cult myth and Joseph Matheny’s groundbreaking Incunabula/ARG that blurred fact and fiction, inspired The Blair Witch Project, Cicada 3301, and modern creepypasta, and still draws pilgrims to the ruins today. Full deep-dive episode! LINK: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ongs-hat-the-nj-ghost-town-that-invented-alternate/id1839679377?i=1000740825114

14 Haunted and Creepy Places in New Jersey That Will Give You Goosebumps

14. Ong’s Hat (Pine Barrens) The Pine Barrens have a special talent for producing places that feel half real and half rumor, and Ong’s Hat might be the best example. Once a tiny settlement and now mostly a legend-soaked name on the map, it has grown into one of New Jersey’s strangest folklore sites. Depending… Continue reading 14 Haunted and Creepy Places in New Jersey That Will Give You Goosebumps

7 famous places that don’t actually exist

Ong’s Hat © Patrick Tappe/Shutterstock.com Tucked into the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, Ong’s Hat may be found on actual maps from the early days of the region. The small town finds naming on maps but most likely, it was merely the site where Ong (presumed a farmer) parked in a hut (Ong’s hut) on… Continue reading 7 famous places that don’t actually exist