On March 19, Digital Deadwood (www.digitaldeadwood.com) was quietly launched on the Internet, connecting Deadwood’s businesses and history to the world in a completely new way. Since then, creators say response to the site has been enormous – so big that it’s been tough to keep up.
“We’ve done very little advertising other than word of mouth, and we’ve already logged almost 900 registered accounts from around the world,” says Tom Griffith, president of TDG Communications, the Deadwood-based firm that created the site. “All kinds of businesses in Deadwood are coming to us and asking how they can get involved."
Digital Deadwood, which was partially funded by a grant from the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission, goes beyond ordinary websites. Using an interface reminiscent of a video game, visitors to the site create a customized character, which they then use to navigate the recreated streets of Deadwood.
“There are all sorts of websites that let people read about a place and perhaps view some panoramic photos,” explains Monte Amende, creative director at TDG Communications. “But to our knowledge there’s never been anyone who has digitally recreated an actual location on the Internet and given it interactivity, education and entertainment – and then made it all free.”
Although the site has been a “beta” (test) version for the past several weeks, TDG staff says Digital Deadwood will officially launch version 1.0 in late May. Working together with Orangeview.net, a programming company based in Vancouver, the company expects to continually add new features and upgrades to the site with a view to major expansion.
“Digital Deadwood is the flagship – the first website of its kind,” says Nyla Griffith, TDG’s vice-president. “But we can apply this to any visitor destination on the planet. Digital Deadwood is just the start. In all seriousness, Deadwood could be the focal point of a complete change in the way people research and book travel on the Internet.”
May 14th, 2004 - On March 19, Digital Deadwood