Various & Sundry-New

The Haven Chronicles - My New Podcast

Lieoften@forums.unfiction.com — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 22:42:20 +0000

Hey guys, I've just released the second episode of my new podcast (The Haven Chronicles) which follows a group of soldiers as they recall their interactions on the planet Haven.

The first episode can be found here

Second Episode here

I may or may not have included some 'ARGish' assets to this project -- but at this early of a stage it might be a little bit hard to decipher anything.

UF SEKRIT SANTA '16

Pixiestix@forums.unfiction.com — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 14:18:09 +0000

UF SEKRIT SANTA '15

magnet0@forums.unfiction.com — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 23:32:11 +0000

The Black Watchmen Project

catherwood@forums.unfiction.com — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 15:41:57 +0000

During the last couple of weeks, the Unfiction forums have been sponsored by an ARG called The Black Watchmen . For those of you who missed it or didn't click on the Weekly Sponsor badge at the top of each page, the ARG was produced by the Human Equation and their goal was to create the ARG as a prequel to their fundraising campaign for a permanent and more exhaustive version, a persistent alternate reality game (PARG).

Not many ARGs in the past have successfully found funding; with a minimum goal of $100,000, Human Equation may not be making their life easier.

Over the last seven years, Human Equation has managed multiple ARGs, including The Secret World, Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade, and their grassroots project, Behind The Yellow Curtain (Qadhos), which also sponsored these forums on several occasions. In The Secret World ARG, they reached a peak of 600,000 lurkers and more than 50,000 active players who dedicated an hour or more of their time to exploring the campaign.

With this new project, Human Equation hopes to create the first successful, permanent ARG. The pledge page is still a work in progress but you can visit it here: http://www.mmorpg.com/pledge.cfm

Human Equation approached me and Unfiction to "sponsor" their topic during the pledge campaign. This was an easy call to approve as Human Equation has been a great partner to and supporter of Unfiction for many years and from what I have seen, they always produce quality campaigns.

We hope you will participate in this sponsored thread and join in the discussion about The Black Watchmen Project and this fundraising campaign. What are Human Equation's goals with this sponsored thread?

Show support to Unfiction as they have done during all of their previous ARGs!

If you played The Black Watchmen Project pre-ARG AND pledged to the campaign: Share your reasons in this thread!

If you haven't pledged: Share with us what would have made you choose to help an ARG once it was successfully funded.

For those of you who played the ARG, we hope you had fun! And for those who didn't, we hope you will find this project interesting enough to lend Human Equation your support.

Thank you!

UF SEKRIT SANTA '14

magnet0@forums.unfiction.com — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 03:09:51 +0000

Quick Questionnaire

Thunderwolf@forums.unfiction.com — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 07:55:05 +0000

A challenge to decoders.

Puppy_Zwolle@forums.unfiction.com — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 22:22:54 +0000

I just watched "Now you see me." A really entertaining movie. ARG- players will feel right at home in this flick. So much so that I found it amazing I could not find any reference to it on this forum. (Or I overlooked and I would gladly be corrected.)

Also the ARG related stuff makes me wonder about the logo used in the movie. It makes no literal sense. I mean a logo usually says something visual about what it's for. Even though (for example) for the life of me I do not know what a mermaid has to do with coffee the image is clear.

This logo is anything but clear. So I assume this logo is a puzzle. But how to solve it? Let me know what you think.

~~~~~ Image was TOO BIG, added as attachment instead of embedded ~ Pixie

any ideas for a movie script?

big d@forums.unfiction.com — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 11:51:25 +0000

hey im in deep trouble....im suposed to hand half of a script in for my end of year film in film studies but im seriously fresh out of ideas....any ideas would be greatly appreciated. thanks :D

im freakin out here people ive only got like two weeks...

Orphan - Last Chance to Fund!

francinum@forums.unfiction.com — Wed, 28 May 2014 14:40:28 +0000

This week, the forums are sponsored by Orphan, a kickstarter project to create a transmedia webshow pilot by Ian Hinden. Check out the introductory video:

According to Ian, Orphan is a show about a man named Jason Diego who inherits a strange document from his father. To solve the mystery of the document, which he is told is an account of Genesis written by Eve, Jason must travel to a land unclaimed by any country and face a villain controlling an anonymous army. The production is built on Internet culture and mythology, and the whole show is an allegory for the Internet, freedom of information, security, and net neutrality. If you ask me, this theme could not be more topical or timely.

Ian likens his approach to another project that will certainly be familiar to many Unfiction members, the classic notpron. The Orphan site will function in a similar fashion and with each new episode of the web show, another part of the game will reveal itself. I am told that the Kickstarter page has some puzzles scattered around already, if you'd like a sampling of how the campaign will play out. Ian wants to use Alternate Reality Gaming techniques as a path to better worldbuilding and he wishes to tell stories with gravitas, like the comic Watchmen.

If I hadn't already backed this project when Ian approached me about a possible sponsorship, I would have done based on the above and because of the beautiful introductory video. I welcomed the opportunity to help bring Orphan to a broader audience and I hope you will join me in backing it. Unfiction has around 20,000 visitors a day and if only 5% of us throw in $10 each, Orphan would more than reach its goal. There's only a week left to the Kickstarter; let's make this happen !

If anyone else has backed this project, please chime in here. Also, I would love it if you guys would start finding and cataloging those hidden ARG elements.

Edit: Today is your last chance to help fund this project!

"ACRATARA" - New Book Series?

Pixiestix@forums.unfiction.com — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 14:00:49 +0000

Stumbled onto this twitter page earlier today. I'm a fan of sci-fi novels, so I checked out the provided link to the Facebook fan-page. Got 53 followers in the first 3 hours or so that it was created.

The story looks intriguing, kinda like a mash of present-day setting and good vs. evil action. Promising plot? The author is obviously going for a God vs. the Devil (I think)? "Elohim" being God, and "Traitus" being the devil. Traitus must be derived from "Traitor". It's probably the Author's imagined ancient language.

Looks like the author is trying to get 100,000 or so followers by June. His status says that concept arts and a book cover are coming next week. Interesting!

I wonder what Acratara means?

Because I get bored easily

natas@forums.unfiction.com — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:47:12 +0000

Just had a chat with Elvira G, a microsoft rep. Yes, I think I have ADD and/or boredom problems.

General Info
Chat start time Mar 31, 2014 7:37:04 PM EST
Chat end time Mar 31, 2014 8:34:48 PM EST
Duration (actual chatting time) 00:57:44
Operator Elvira G

Chat Transcript
info: Please wait for an agent to respond. You are currently '3' in the queue.
info: Privacy Statement
You are now chatting with 'Elvira G'.
Elvira G: Hello Jeff, my name is Elvira G with Microsoft Billing Support. Please give me a few moments as I review the information you've submitted.
Jeff: ok
Elvira G: Before we continue, can I have your full name, phone number on the account and email address?
Jeff: Jeff
EDIT: Removed personal info
Elvira G: Thank you
Elvira G: Going back to your concern, you have an issue regarding your subscription, is that correct?
Jeff: yes
Elvira G: Okay
Elvira G: Can you please expand this to me
Jeff: I wanted to cancel before they bill me in April. I sucessfully cancelled, but it seems they're going to still bill me for April.
Jeff: I don't want to use it in April. It's March. I don't want to be billed again.
Jeff: Is this some sort of April fool's joke? or is this a way to scam me out of another ten bucks.
Elvira G: No worries. I'll be glad to assist you with this.
Elvira G: Let me check on my end if you have successfully cancel your account okay.
Elvira G: Jeff, for security purposes I need to verify your account. I will be sending you a code that you need to send back to us. How do you like to receive it via text, email or through a website?
Elvira G:
Jeff: email
Elvira G: Okay
Elvira G: I have send you the code.
Jeff: 16098849
Elvira G: thank you
Elvira G: For a moment please
Elvira G: Hi Jeff, may I ask when did you cancel your subscription?
Jeff: about 15 minutes ago
Jeff: I do NOT want to be billed again. I do not want another charge on my credit card.
Elvira G: Thank you for being patient.
Elvira G: As I can see right here in my end that your subscription has been cancel. You may enjoy using your product up until the end of the subscription okay.
Jeff: I know it is cancelled, but are you still going to bill me again in April?
Jeff: Are you even listening to what I'm telling you?
Elvira G: No Jeff, you are not going to be billed this April because your paid subscription is until April 12, 2014.
Jeff: Ok. thank you Tammy
Elvira G: Welcome
Elvira G: Is there anything else I can help you with?
Jeff: Yes, Charlotte, I also want a discount on my XBOX Live account.
Elvira G: For a moment with that please
Jeff: I want a full year subscription for twenty bucks. I have a newspaper clipping coupon, but i dropped it on the wet kitchen floor because my girlfriend just got done mopping and I slipped and the cat ate most of it.
Elvira G: This issue will be best handled by our Accounts and Billing Phone Support Team. Please request a callback using "Click to Call".
Elvira G: 1. Sign in at the Commerce website ( http://commerce.microsoft.com ).
Elvira G: 2. Click Help , and then select Getting Help .
Elvira G: 3. Click Customer Service .
Elvira G: 4. Select the problem product type.
Elvira G: 5. Select Category .
Elvira G: 6. Click Request a Call .
Jeff: I don't want to call anybody.
Jeff: I just found out that our phone plan is actually run by a defunct mafia subsidiary out of Jersey City, and I don't want any part of their shenanigans. In the meantime, I'm only using my email and in emergencies a paper-cup stringy setup with the crazy cat lady neighbor
Elvira G: click here
Jeff: I'm leery of ominous "click here" links. They scare me. Last time it ended up taking me to a nudey site. I don't like that.
Elvira G: In this link you will be redirect to Accounts and Billing people who can process your refund okay.
Jeff: How much is a year subscription to xbox live? Maybe you can just send me the difference out of your own personal checking account? That would be satisfactory
Elvira G: For a moment with that please
Jeff: I have to make pee.
Elvira G: Thank you for being patient.
Elvira G: Jeff, the one year subscription for xbox live is $59.99
Jeff: Ok, so will you be sending me $40 bucks in the mail?
Elvira G: Kindly click on the link so that you can now process your refund okay.
Jeff: I don't see a link, and I'm afraid of getting a computer virus from clicking links from total strangers, just as much as kissing girls I've only met a few moments at the local dive bar. Just sketchy if you ask me. I once got a bad rash from doing that. Stupid Budweiser.
Jeff: So, you can just send a check or money order. Are you ready for my address? Do you have a pen ready?
Elvira G: In as much as I what to make the refund for you I can't do that because it's not in my support. As I've check your account you are eligible for one. What you have to do is to follow the instruction I have given you okay. So that you can now process a refund otherwise I cannot do other than that.
Elvira G: Hello, are you there? I have not received any response from you.
Jeff: What can you do for me? I've recently blown my paycheck at the local casino against the advice of my girlfriend. She doesn't like me to gamble. She also doesn't like swiss cheese, because she thinks mice live in the holes. That's just silly if you ask me. Mice aren't that small. Speaking of mice, would you like to adopt our cat? It pees everywhere like a baby without a diaper on. Disturbing and a bit smelly.
Elvira G: Is there anything else I can help you with?
Jeff: Yes, please. The cat/mouse situation is one that needs immediate attention. Did you not get my previous message?
Elvira G: No thanks.
Elvira G: :)
Jeff: Well dang. Do you have a survey I can fill out? I don't think you really care about my problem and would like to let someone know.
Jeff: Are you there Samantha?
Elvira G: Yes I'm here. It's ELvira
Jeff: Oh. I'm very sorry Elvira. It's a good thing you corrected me. That way I know the correct name to look for when I get my $40 dollar refund check from your personal account.
Jeff: How should I spend the money? Would you suggest I bet on red or black?
Jeff: I really should go pee... I heard holding it for too long causes bladder infections.
info: Your chat transcript will be sent to natas123487@yahoo.com at the end of your chat.
Jeff: hello???
Jeff: Katherine???
Elvira G: I'm sorry for the inconveniece.
Elvira G: Again, kindly go to the link that I provide you or call 1-800-642-7676 for the refund okay.
Jeff: ok... Bye Jessica!
Elvira G: Again, thank you for contacting Microsoft Accounts and Billing. Have a great day!

[interesting] eterni.me

catherwood@forums.unfiction.com — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 20:07:20 +0000

Steve Peters posted this link on twitter with the question "Real? Or ARG?" So I took a look and it's interesting. Feels like a response to everything going on with social media in general.
http://eterni.me

It also doesn't (yet) look like an Ad Camp - so if it is an ARG, I think we have an interesting grassroots on our hands. Can I just say YaY!!!

APP - an immersive movie experience

catherwood@forums.unfiction.com — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:54:21 +0000

[OT] Is there a thread to just talk off topic?

Pixiestix@forums.unfiction.com — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 01:42:31 +0000

I was wanting to hear about some of your guys' stories of filming for your series, or just anything else. If not, would it be ok to create a thread for this?

UF SEKRIT SANTA '13

thebruce@forums.unfiction.com — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:43:09 +0000