Why subscribe?

I explore how cinematic experiences in virtual worlds are transforming storytelling: how narratives unfold through interactive, branching narratives.

Why “The Metaverse Is Open”?

Because the future of immersive experiences shouldn’t be locked behind corporate gates.

I believe in open tools, open knowledge, and open worlds. This newsletter advocates for a metaverse that is interoperable, creative, and constructed with ethics.

I value the open platform that has enabled the Web. How do we ensure that the metaverse is built on a similarly open ecosystem and not controlled by one mega-corporation and billionaires?

The Metaverse isn’t a product. It’s a shift in how we experience stories, spaces, and ourselves.

Who am I?

I’m Jeff Barry: educator, writer, and indie game developer.

I’ve spent the last 35 years working across full-stack development, academic libraries, digital storytelling, and college-level teaching in data science, artificial intelligence, writing, and digital culture. Now, I’m focused on one guiding question:

How will real-time graphics and generative AI reshape creativity and storytelling?

What You’ll Get

✳️ Deep dives on AI for interactive storytelling, real-time graphics, and the future of digital presence

🔁 Insights on open-source tools, development pipelines, and the ethics of building immersive environments

🛠 Benchmarks, and technical commentary grounded in real experiments and projects

📚 Essays from my forthcoming book Imaginary Presence: Avatars of Our Spectacular Selves

🔗 Curated signals and trend analysis across mixed reality, game design, and generative AI

AI Lessons

If you like this topic, be sure to watch my YouTube channel AI Lessons.