In 2007 this kind of work was not being collected and discussed and was largely unknown to mainstream media. I felt there was a need for there to be an archive of examples and a location where trends in online and interactive drama could be discussed. I had observed that each wave of innovators was often unaware of work that had been done before

I had started my first web drama in 1999, magic-tree, which was published in 2001, but it was the arrival of video hosting sites like Boreme in 2002 and Youtube in 2005 that marked a step change in the number and popularity of web dramas. Vonviral also documented alternate reality games (ARGs) and dramas created on the new platforms like Facebook (2006), Twitter (2007) and mobile devices (2007).

By 2013 there was less need to continue adding series. Transmedia was now ubiquitous. Many of the practices pioneered in these dramas had become common practice for mainstream media and corporations. Vonviral may now serve less a description of a new way of working and more a pre-history of transmedia. It was moved from the Ning platform, thus closing the participatory and social media elements of the site, in January 2016.

Rik Lander, January 2016.

Vonviral was originally hosted on the members area of BoreMe.com. It was relaunched on the Ning platform in October 2009 and a blog was added

WELCOME
Posted by Vera von Viral on October 22, 2009

My name is Vera von Viral and I'm pleased to use the ning to invite you to a virtual tea party. Instead of Victoria sponge, tea in china cups and a generous glass of sherry I offer my suppository of webisodes and social dramas. When I reached an age when I could no longer straddle the world I turned to the web for a new hobby. The first flickerings of online narrative caught my eye as the new Minnellium dawned and I began collecting them in a biscuit tin.

Now, kind Mr Rik Lander is helping me create a social network where everyone who makes or loves this exciting new story form can gather to plot and amass debate. So please join in!

I am old enough to remember the first days of cinema. I clearly recall running screaming from the music hall as a train came towards us. Of course, it wasn't really there! Innocent times, yes, but the small, stuttering images of today's web dramas will one day seem just as quaint and simple.

Will my grandchildren, Vince, Violet, Vague and Vixen work with the great auteurs of hyperactive drama as I did in theatre and cinema? Or is web drama like the magic lantern of yore - a short lived craze and obscurious curio? I look forward to seeing what perspires.

Take care, dearie. Ta ta for now.

Vera