Legendary Truth: The Collective, is a fictional paranormal research group, that started with Halloween Horror Nights 18. In reality, what it is is a deeply layered "game" which allows guests a more immersive Halloween Horror Nights experience. In 2008, Legendary Truth was investigating the strange incidents that surrounded the Icon of Bloody Mary. Guests could log on to the Legendary Truth website and follow as clues were discovered on a regular basis, which helped shed some light on the incidents surround Dr. Mary Agana and Bloody Mary. Guests could go to the park during Horror Nights, and even search for clues in person. Basically it added a whole other level of storytelling for guests to become involved.
For Halloween Horror Nights 20, Legendary Truth cracked the secret of Fear, and even tried to warn unsuspecting Horror Nights visitors about his impending arrival. The team was also able to get their hands on a series of photos, which they quickly analyzed and discovered that they were actually pieces of a puzzle. After assembling the puzzle, they unknowingly released Fear from his lantern prison. The Collective aspect refers to the participation of the public to help assist Legendary Truth in solving all of their mysteries.
"Your thoughts, reactions and ideas are vital to THE COLLECTIVE. Information, evidence and data will be available to you (before any) for your review, analysis and response. Mass participation is essential to the success of THE COLLECTIVE. Join..."
The fictional history of Legendary Truth, starts with Private Investigator Boris Shuster in the late 1950's. He began investigating the mysterious disappearances and incidences, that seemed to accompany Dr. Mary Agana and her patients. The catalyst for this, began when Shuster hired a freelance photographer by the name of Charlie McPherson, to follow a man by the name of Frank Bennett. His wife, Diane, had suspected him of infidelity. After exposing Bennett as a cheater, McPherson makes an appointment with Dr. Mary Agana and soon goes missing. In actuality, McPherson was killed by Dr. Agana, during an extreme therapy method, to try and cure McPherson of his phobia.
Shuster decided to investigate McPherson's disappearance. While investigating further, Boris realized that McPherson wasn't the only one that has disappeared after having direct contact with Mary Agana. All in all, seven patients had either gone insane or vanished after a therapy session with her. Shuster decides to make a fake appointment with the Doctor, only to expose her evil practices. It is not know exactly what happened during Shuster's visit. Two things did happen in the aftermath of the visit though. Mary Agana was never seen again, and Boris Shuster was initially charged with Mary's murder. After it was found out that Boris was not Mary's killer, he formed the group Legendary Truth: The Collective. The group was to research the mysterious "disappearance" of Mary Agana, as well as other strange paranormal events over the years.
In 2010, Boris Shuster was mysterious taken off the staff pages on the Legendary Truth website. Shuster, also has his own file stored away, at Legendary Truth.
For Halloween Horror Nights 20, Legendary Truth cracked the secret of Fear, and even tried to warn unsuspecting Horror Nights visitors about his impending arrival. The team was also able to get their hands on a series of photos, which they quickly analyzed and discovered that they were actually pieces of a puzzle. After assembling the puzzle, they unknowingly released Fear from his lantern prison. The Collective aspect refers to the participation of the public to help assist Legendary Truth in solving all of their mysteries.
"Your thoughts, reactions and ideas are vital to THE COLLECTIVE. Information, evidence and data will be available to you (before any) for your review, analysis and response. Mass participation is essential to the success of THE COLLECTIVE. Join..."
The fictional history of Legendary Truth, starts with Private Investigator Boris Shuster in the late 1950's. He began investigating the mysterious disappearances and incidences, that seemed to accompany Dr. Mary Agana and her patients. The catalyst for this, began when Shuster hired a freelance photographer by the name of Charlie McPherson, to follow a man by the name of Frank Bennett. His wife, Diane, had suspected him of infidelity. After exposing Bennett as a cheater, McPherson makes an appointment with Dr. Mary Agana and soon goes missing. In actuality, McPherson was killed by Dr. Agana, during an extreme therapy method, to try and cure McPherson of his phobia.
Shuster decided to investigate McPherson's disappearance. While investigating further, Boris realized that McPherson wasn't the only one that has disappeared after having direct contact with Mary Agana. All in all, seven patients had either gone insane or vanished after a therapy session with her. Shuster decides to make a fake appointment with the Doctor, only to expose her evil practices. It is not know exactly what happened during Shuster's visit. Two things did happen in the aftermath of the visit though. Mary Agana was never seen again, and Boris Shuster was initially charged with Mary's murder. After it was found out that Boris was not Mary's killer, he formed the group Legendary Truth: The Collective. The group was to research the mysterious "disappearance" of Mary Agana, as well as other strange paranormal events over the years.
In 2010, Boris Shuster was mysterious taken off the staff pages on the Legendary Truth website. Shuster, also has his own file stored away, at Legendary Truth.
For HHN 23, Legendary Truth returned, but adopted the Horror Unearthed style of game play from HHN 22. Legendary Truth was "investigating" the Legions of Horror from the previous year. Playing the game was almost identical from Horror Unearthed.
WEBSITE
Player's were to login to LegendaryTruth.com, instead of Horror Unearthed. Once logged in, player's found the Legendary Truth mansion, which was made up of multiple levels. Some levels were restricted, but were unlocked over the course of the event. One such level, housed the Legion Vessel's which were locked in containment chambers. Over the course of the event, each chamber was unlocked and like Horror Unearthed, players could click on the Vessel's play the online games.
ONLINE GAME PLAY
Each Legion Vessel had two games associated with them this time around. One game was the same from Horror Unearthed, plus a new game. Each game awarded player's ten points for a win. Game point values did not change over the course of game play, unlike Horror Unearthed. However, towards the end of game play, CRO's (Collective Remote Operatives), or people just playing at home and not in park, were given extra points for winning online games. Some CRO's were given exclusive access to certain parts of the Mansion as well, that CFO's could not access.
IN PARK PLAY
Playing in park was virtually identical to Horror Unearthed. Player's would scan their RFID card at a scanner located at the exit to each house, and receive points and online badges. RFID cards for Legendary Truth, were not free this time, and if one decided not to get a card, they could get a free RFID sticker placed on their Frequent Fear Pass. If you purchased a Frequent Fear Pass, you were automatically eligible to play in Park.
TASKS
Just like Horror Unearthed, there were certain tasks that were given for player's to complete. Digital online badges were once again rewarded for every achievement accomplished. Tasks usually involved completing all eight houses in a certain order, which were figured out via clues. There were also scanners located in various windows around the park, and were usually tacked on for good measure to complete certain tasks. Other tasks included finding certain "characters" that are part of the Legendary Truth mythos, where you could even ask questions about the evolving Legendary Truth storyline. One such storyline, involved the mysterious PS, who was leaving cryptic videos on the Horror Nights website, and their true identity.
TWIST
Legendary Truth implemented some "special" tasks and cards, to shake-up game play. On certain nights, Legions gathered in the park a picked a representative. The person picked, was given a special card, which they could scan before scanning their regular RFID card at the exit of the houses. The "special" cards did a few things. One such card was a Multiplier card, which multiplied their points, as well as other Legion members who entered the House and scanned their own RFID card, within a certain time frame. Smaller Legions were given more points, and larger legions were given less points, as well as a shorter time frame to get those points. Another card was the Jekyll & Hyde card. CFO's who participated with the Jekyll & Hyde card, would risk either losing 10% of their overall score, or gain 10% of their overall score every time they scanned.
FINAL NIGHT
The last night of in park play, had all player's gather in the streets of New York. Within the facade of one of the New York buildings, two "characters" from the Legendary Truth mythos, were seen eating and conversing with each other. After, the CEO of Legendary Truth, Dr. Calvin Thorncastle, gathered on the Blues Brothers stage with other members of the Legendary Truth team, to thank all of the operatives who helped investigate the Legions of Horror. Art & design member TJ Mannarino, came on stage to thank the player's as well, and tell them that game play would continue throughout the year (the website was active all year). When that was completed, another figure, Kwong Fong, handed out Fortune Cookies with an encrypted message inside. Decrypted, the message reads: "Beware the horror within."
WEBSITE
Player's were to login to LegendaryTruth.com, instead of Horror Unearthed. Once logged in, player's found the Legendary Truth mansion, which was made up of multiple levels. Some levels were restricted, but were unlocked over the course of the event. One such level, housed the Legion Vessel's which were locked in containment chambers. Over the course of the event, each chamber was unlocked and like Horror Unearthed, players could click on the Vessel's play the online games.
ONLINE GAME PLAY
Each Legion Vessel had two games associated with them this time around. One game was the same from Horror Unearthed, plus a new game. Each game awarded player's ten points for a win. Game point values did not change over the course of game play, unlike Horror Unearthed. However, towards the end of game play, CRO's (Collective Remote Operatives), or people just playing at home and not in park, were given extra points for winning online games. Some CRO's were given exclusive access to certain parts of the Mansion as well, that CFO's could not access.
IN PARK PLAY
Playing in park was virtually identical to Horror Unearthed. Player's would scan their RFID card at a scanner located at the exit to each house, and receive points and online badges. RFID cards for Legendary Truth, were not free this time, and if one decided not to get a card, they could get a free RFID sticker placed on their Frequent Fear Pass. If you purchased a Frequent Fear Pass, you were automatically eligible to play in Park.
TASKS
Just like Horror Unearthed, there were certain tasks that were given for player's to complete. Digital online badges were once again rewarded for every achievement accomplished. Tasks usually involved completing all eight houses in a certain order, which were figured out via clues. There were also scanners located in various windows around the park, and were usually tacked on for good measure to complete certain tasks. Other tasks included finding certain "characters" that are part of the Legendary Truth mythos, where you could even ask questions about the evolving Legendary Truth storyline. One such storyline, involved the mysterious PS, who was leaving cryptic videos on the Horror Nights website, and their true identity.
TWIST
Legendary Truth implemented some "special" tasks and cards, to shake-up game play. On certain nights, Legions gathered in the park a picked a representative. The person picked, was given a special card, which they could scan before scanning their regular RFID card at the exit of the houses. The "special" cards did a few things. One such card was a Multiplier card, which multiplied their points, as well as other Legion members who entered the House and scanned their own RFID card, within a certain time frame. Smaller Legions were given more points, and larger legions were given less points, as well as a shorter time frame to get those points. Another card was the Jekyll & Hyde card. CFO's who participated with the Jekyll & Hyde card, would risk either losing 10% of their overall score, or gain 10% of their overall score every time they scanned.
FINAL NIGHT
The last night of in park play, had all player's gather in the streets of New York. Within the facade of one of the New York buildings, two "characters" from the Legendary Truth mythos, were seen eating and conversing with each other. After, the CEO of Legendary Truth, Dr. Calvin Thorncastle, gathered on the Blues Brothers stage with other members of the Legendary Truth team, to thank all of the operatives who helped investigate the Legions of Horror. Art & design member TJ Mannarino, came on stage to thank the player's as well, and tell them that game play would continue throughout the year (the website was active all year). When that was completed, another figure, Kwong Fong, handed out Fortune Cookies with an encrypted message inside. Decrypted, the message reads: "Beware the horror within."
While Legendary Truth was mostly absent from HHN 24, the final four nights it was brought back for a brief experiment in technology. The team created a new app, which utilized Bluetooth technology (no cards or scanners required) throughout the park. Players would roam the streets, coming into contact with Scareactor's, who would affect a meter on the app known as the Spectrum Response Gauge (SRG). Your meter would go up, or down, depending on if you encountered a bad Scareactor, or good Scareactor. Each Scare Zone and house, also represented the 6 different Legions. Your meter would also be affected, as you entered the houses as well.
As players roamed the Scare Zones and Houses, they would earn seals which corresponded to each Legion. For example, if you roamed the Bayou of Blood Scare Zone, you would earn the Cerebin seal. However, if you roamed around their too long, and encountered too many bad Scareactor's, your SRG gauge would go down. Sometimes after earning a Legion seal, a warning message would pop up on the app, telling you to quickly exit the area to avoid coming into contact with Bad Scareactor's, representing that Legion.
In addition to this, as players walked the park, 6 "touchstones" were located in various sections of the park, which corresponded to each legion. To find these touchstones, over in Sting Alley a poster appeared every day. The poster contained the location of the various touchstones, but players would have to decipher the poster to find them. The touchstones would change locations, and the poster would be the key to finding them as they changed.
If players located each of the 6 Legion touchstones, they would receive the "Master Seal." Starting on the second night of game-play, if players achieved the Master Seal, they were granted access to a special, secret experience. While the special experience is to remain mostly secret, it allowed Legendary Truth players to test new technology, that may be utilized for future game-play. The experience also forwarded the deeply robust Legendary Truth storyline, which players were given new details about during the experience.
As players roamed the Scare Zones and Houses, they would earn seals which corresponded to each Legion. For example, if you roamed the Bayou of Blood Scare Zone, you would earn the Cerebin seal. However, if you roamed around their too long, and encountered too many bad Scareactor's, your SRG gauge would go down. Sometimes after earning a Legion seal, a warning message would pop up on the app, telling you to quickly exit the area to avoid coming into contact with Bad Scareactor's, representing that Legion.
In addition to this, as players walked the park, 6 "touchstones" were located in various sections of the park, which corresponded to each legion. To find these touchstones, over in Sting Alley a poster appeared every day. The poster contained the location of the various touchstones, but players would have to decipher the poster to find them. The touchstones would change locations, and the poster would be the key to finding them as they changed.
If players located each of the 6 Legion touchstones, they would receive the "Master Seal." Starting on the second night of game-play, if players achieved the Master Seal, they were granted access to a special, secret experience. While the special experience is to remain mostly secret, it allowed Legendary Truth players to test new technology, that may be utilized for future game-play. The experience also forwarded the deeply robust Legendary Truth storyline, which players were given new details about during the experience.
CORRESPONDING LEGION HOUSES & SCARE ZONES
FROM DUSK TILL DAWN- STRENGOIT
THE WALKING DEAD: END OF THE LINE- KEREZAN
AVP: ALIEN VS PREDATOR- CEREBIN/MASCHORIAN
DRACULA UNTOLD: REIGN OF BLOOD- STRENGOIT
GIGGLES & GORE INC.- MORPHAN
HALLOWEEN- KEREZAN
DOLLHOUSE OF THE DAMNED- MORPHAN
ROANOKE: CANNIBAL COLONY- BACCANOID
MASKERADE: UNSTITCHED- MORPHAN
THE PURGE: ANARCHY- MASCHORIAN
BAYOU OF BLOOD- CEREBIN
FACE OFF: IN THE FLESH- BACCANOID
THE WALKING DEAD: END OF THE LINE- KEREZAN
AVP: ALIEN VS PREDATOR- CEREBIN/MASCHORIAN
DRACULA UNTOLD: REIGN OF BLOOD- STRENGOIT
GIGGLES & GORE INC.- MORPHAN
HALLOWEEN- KEREZAN
DOLLHOUSE OF THE DAMNED- MORPHAN
ROANOKE: CANNIBAL COLONY- BACCANOID
MASKERADE: UNSTITCHED- MORPHAN
THE PURGE: ANARCHY- MASCHORIAN
BAYOU OF BLOOD- CEREBIN
FACE OFF: IN THE FLESH- BACCANOID
Legendary Truth 2015, took a similar approach to the year before. The game was mostly absent from the event, but was brought back on the final weekend. The investigation took teams of six Collective members on a search, where they came into contact with evidence, people, and in some cases, even vampires. The investigation culminated at the Legendary Truth mansion. While there, it was revealed that perhaps someone in the Legendary Truth organization was responsible for letting Jack the Clown, out of Fear's lantern, and maybe even all of Fear's minions.
Also similar to the year before, Legendary Truth was used as a way to test future technology, which could be utilized by Universal in the future. People participating in gameplay, were asked to sign NDA's before moving forward with their investigation.
After investigating the Legendary Truth mansion, Collective members were taken to a room, surrounded by "evidence." People were left to their own devices, to try and unravel the mystery on their own. Legendary Truth 2015 was more story based, than game based. It was more similar to the very first investigation in 2008.
Also similar to the year before, Legendary Truth was used as a way to test future technology, which could be utilized by Universal in the future. People participating in gameplay, were asked to sign NDA's before moving forward with their investigation.
After investigating the Legendary Truth mansion, Collective members were taken to a room, surrounded by "evidence." People were left to their own devices, to try and unravel the mystery on their own. Legendary Truth 2015 was more story based, than game based. It was more similar to the very first investigation in 2008.
