View topic - Post-game Chat with PM

unforum
a.r.g.b.b

Welcome!

New users, PLEASE read these forum guidelines. New posters, SEARCH before posting and read these rules before posting your killer new campaign. New players may also wish to peruse the ARG Player Tutorial.

All users must abide by the Terms of Service.

Website Restoration Project

This archiving project is a collaboration between Unfiction and Sean Stacey (SpaceBass), Brian Enigma (BrianEnigma), and Laura E. Hall (lehall) with
the Center for Immersive Arts.

Announcements

This is a static snapshot of the
Unfiction forums, as of
July 23, 2017.

This site is intended as an archive to chronicle the history of Alternate Reality Games.

Our Esteemed Contributors

The time now is Tue Nov 12, 2024 3:57 am
All times are UTC - 4 (DST in action)

View posts in this forum since last visit
View unanswered posts in this forum

Calendar

Forum index » Archive » Archive: Chasing the Wish » CTW: General/Updates

Post-game Chat with PM

Page 1 of 1 [4 Posts]

Author

Message

Diandra
Unfettered

Joined: 27 Sep 2002
Posts: 390

Post-game Chat with PM

Dave Szulborski will be hosting a post-game chat on UF's usual IRC server.

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 2
Time: 9 pm Eastern
Place: #CTW

Don't miss your chance to ask the PM everything you always wanted to know about Chasing the Wish, except the Greywethers log-in!

Dia

_________________
You can't solve vast puzzles with half-vast ideas!

Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2003 7:36 pm

Shelina
Unfettered

Joined: 03 Apr 2003
Posts: 552
Location: Madrid, Spain

Can someone give Dave a big hug for me?
I guess I dont need to say you must ask him the Greyweathers login and
post it ASAP!! Razz

Please, post the log so those who cannot attend can read it later OK?

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 2:55 am

Guest
Guest

chat log

Shelina wrote:

Please, post the log so those who cannot attend can read it later OK?

Oh yes, pretty please! I will be away, and would love to read it. Thanx a bunch.

And another thing: please ask him about that pitcher plant labelled as a cranberry plant at aglauranj.org.... Smile

Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 3:27 pm

konamouse
Official uF Dietitian

Joined: 02 Dec 2002
Posts: 8010
Location: My own alternate reality

Posted chat (2.5 hrs)

Session Start (urbox.ca.us.leaf.chat-solutions.org:#ctw): Tue Sep 02 18:00:57 2003
*** Now talking in #ctw.
<danman_d> You will then be de-voiced, and we will move on to the next person on the list.
*** Mode for channel #unfiction is "+stnr"
*** Channel #unfiction was created at Sun Jun 08 17:17:15 2003
<danman_d> I'll be logging this chat, and I'll post a log in the Unfiction forums immediately following the chat.
*** #unfiction: Permission denied, you do not have the correct channel access privileges
*** Your user mode is "+irx"
*** Mode change "+o ctw" for channel #ctw by danman_d
*** Signon by danman_d (danman_d!saturn5roc@22d996b6.38050f2d.2b3a2604.2e099bf0X, Mask: *!*@*) detected
*** Signon by diandra (Diandra!Diandra@1e706c24.3b87238b.mia.bellsouth.net, Mask: *!*@*) detected
<danman_d> Thank you for joining us and playing Chasing the Wish.
*** danman_d is saturn5rocSPLAT22d996b6.38050f2d.2b3a2604.2e099bf0X (Danny D.)
*** danman_d has has identified for this nick
*** on channels: @#ctw
*** on irc via server meteor.de.eu.hub.chat-solutions.org (Death from the skies)
*** Diandra is DiandraSPLAT1e706c24.3b87238b.mia.bellsouth.net (Diandra)
*** Diandra has has identified for this nick
*** on channels: @#ctw
*** on irc via server urbox.ca.us.leaf.chat-solutions.org (Urbox.org; The weakest Link)
*** Diandra has been idle 60 seconds, signed on at Tue Sep 02 17:10:45 2003
<danman_d> Before we start, Dave, would you like to make a statement about the infamous Greywethers login puzzle? There are loads of people wondering about it.
<ctw> Hi welcome everyone. Thanks for coming to this chat and thank you all for your support of Chasing the Wish.
<ctw> And yes I will make a statement about the greywethers log-in
<ctw> Just to prevent a ton of repetitive questions
<ctw> Just so everyone knows, the greywethers log-in will be par of the upcoming closing "Mini-quest"
<ctw> So I will not be revealing the solution tonight
<ctw> Was that a collective groan I heard?
<danman_d> I believe so.
<Diandra> I believe it was, Dave
<Diandra> both collective and unfictional
<ctw> Sorry but I promise the upcoming event will answer the questions about the greywethers log-in
*** the42guy (the42guySPLAT2e60f4af.12a06a62.dhcp.oxy.edu) has joined channel #ctw
<danman_d> Thank you Dave.
<danman_d> The first question will be from dmax, Bill is on deck.
*** Mode change "+v dmax" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<dmax> Was the cranberry bog ever supposed to be an active part of the game?
*** Varin (lurkerSPLAT1b4962bd.1a9e3c85.wi.charter.com) has joined channel #ctw
<ctw> Only as local color;the Doyles were never intened to be active characters
<ctw> And as a potential hiding place for items
<dmax> how about that incorrect pic - the wrong plant
*** monkeypants (~l33tprinc@25b55acd.330f146.milwwi.ameritech.net) has joined channel #ctw
<ctw> Ah the infamous cranberry picture
<ctw> The first picture was honestly just a mistake but it generated so much interest it was left in as a red-herring
<ctw> Or should I say purple herring
<dmax> thanks - BTW, the game ROCKED...!
<ctw> As the "purple" connection with digitalis was later made
<danman_d> Thanks dmax.
<ctw> Thank you very much
<dmax> but my wife will kill you if she ever meets you
*** Mode change "-v dmax" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<ctw> I think a lot of spouses might have that response dmax
<danman_d> Heh, yes. Thanks Dave
<danman_d> Next question is from Bill, Sin_Vraal is on deck.
<Diandra> we can ask Kona more about that, Dave
*** Mode change "+o Bill" for channel #ctw by danman_d
Dave, thanks for putting on such a great experience. I truly appreciate what a phenomenal sacrifice it is to PM something of this magnitude.
<ctw> Thanks Bill
My hat is off to you!
You hosted one other successful game before, I'd like to know what were the biggest surprises you ran into putting this together and during the actual game.
<ctw> OK these are always full of surprises and CTW was no exception
<ctw> The first major surprise was the overall pre-game response
<ctw> There were over 1000 people signed up a month before the game was ready
<ctw> And then the slashdot effect literally added 500 or so people in 24 hours
yikes
*** Mode change "-o Bill" for channel #ctw by Diandra
*** Mode change "+v Bill" for channel #ctw by Diandra
<ctw> We werent prepared for that really
<ctw> There were other surprises too, including how involved emotionally people got with the characters
<ctw> And with turing principle lol
*** Konashark (lurkerSPLAT14ef3beb.2c5db252.1b5b45e4.211e61eeX) has joined channel #ctw
*** cem (cemSPLAT1e6a17d0.7f8dc.mpoweredpc.net) has joined channel #ctw
How did you adjust for the overwhelming response?
<ctw> Other surprises too numerous to list but perhaps they will come up as we go Bill
<ctw> Well first of all I panicked
<ctw> Then I tried to recruit some more BTS help
<ctw> Then I panicked some more
<ctw> The major impact was on the interactive parts obviously as I really did not want to resort to autoresponders etc
<ctw> There were points in the game where an e-mail from Dale had to be sent to over 800 people at once.
whoa
<ctw> In response to their contact I mean, not just a blanket e-mail
*** kevinious (trilluserSPLAT342981b0.1df4f87e.client2.attbi.com) has joined channel #ctw
*** MosServ (aolisevilSPLATf8171.3a15f1cd.mrt.starband.net) has joined channel #ctw
*** onyxw (lurkerSPLAT2430b3da.18377e3c.dhnet.ufl.edu) has joined channel #ctw
<Diandra> does that answer your question, Bill?
yes, thanks
<Diandra> dave...any further comments?
<ctw> No we'll address other surprises as we go I'm sure
<Diandra> for those of you just coming in, here's how the chat works...danny
*** Mode change "-v Bill" for channel #ctw by Diandra
<danman_d> Welcome to the CTW chat with PM Dave Szulborski. I (danman_d) will be handling the questions. Please PM me with your question. I will then voice you when it is your turn.
<danman_d> Please have your question ready to go and pre-typed in your chat window so that you just need to hit enter when you have the floor.
<danman_d> This will speed up the chat for everyone. Once your question is answered, you will then have the chance to ask a follow-up question.
<danman_d> You will then be de-voiced, and we will move on to the next person on the list
<danman_d> I'll be logging this chat, and I'll post a log in the Unfiction forums immediately following the chat.
<Diandra> next up is...
<danman_d> OK, up next is Sin_Vraal, the42guy is on deck.
*** Mode change "+v Sin_Vraal" for channel #ctw by Diandra
<Diandra> go ahead SV
<Sin_Vraal> I just want to start by thanking you, Dave, and those in your posse for a truly incredible experience - my absolute favorite thing was the autodestructing email. I still have no idea how you pulled that one off. It was truly an honor romping through your interactive novel.
<Sin_Vraal> That being said though, I personally can't help but feel like there was meant to be more to the game - how much< i don't know... Did you in fact close out the game as you intended, or did it close early (respective to plot development, say) and if so why?
<ctw> Thanks for the compliments and the question and it is something I definitely want to address.
<ctw> It is a tricky question because it encompasses a few different aspects of the game however so I'll try and adress them all quickly as possible.
<ctw> Let me preface the replies by saying this though: CTW was always intended to be somewhat allegorical and mysterious, even at the end.
<ctw> Ive alwyas felt the best pieces of art whether its literature, movies or even games are the ones that leave you questioning things
<ctw> And CTW was designed to leave almost as many questions as it answered
<ctw> That being said, in one sense, the game was the lenght intended in terms of time frame; it was never supposed to go past six months
<ctw> And it ended up being exactly that
<ctw> And there was the Mars conjunction date to be contended with as well
<ctw> But, I also can't deny that there was a lot of content that didn't get addresses or included for several reasons
<Sin_Vraal> Was that originally a game factor, or was that brought in, like the power outage?
<ctw> No the Mars theme was part of it from the beginning and I was shooting for that date all along
<ctw> I was actually afraid early on that there wouldn't be enough content to make it til then
<ctw> So although it wasn't written in stone, that date was a traget all along
<ctw> target* sorry
<danman_d> Thanks Sin_Vraal...
<Sin_Vraal> I'm not quite sure he answered my question tho yet, Dan =)
<Sin_Vraal> He only seemed to preface it.
<ctw> I'm actually still going. There were also external pressures on the games end, such as the opportunity to work on some very exciting new projects.e
<danman_d> Oh, I'm sorry, please continue
<Sin_Vraal> well sorta I guess. Dave, I leave it to you if you have any more to say about it. I'm already tickled with the responses. =)
*** Ormus1 (~lurker@1383ffec.3a15f1cd.cable.mindspring.com) has joined channel #ctw
<ctw> There was just no way it could go past six months. As it turned out, I thinkm it could have ran much longer but I question whether a game should go that long.
<ctw> I'm sorry for the material that did get omitted though and some of it will see the light of day during the post game Mini Quest.
<ctw> Let me add one more thing though
<Diandra> we're all looking forward to that, Dave
<ctw> Some of the stuff that never surfaced was actually out there to be found if people discovered it or chose to explore certain avenues
<Diandra> 'cept for the GW part
<ctw> So it wasn't included because players didn't find it
<ctw> Not because the game ran out of time
<ctw> But for the most part, this stuff was all just color to the game and not vital events or plot
<ctw> OK thats it
<Sin_Vraal> Thanks Dave!
<danman_d> Thanks Dave, Sin_Vraal...
*** Mode change "-v Sin_Vraal" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<danman_d> Next question will be from the42guy, followed by Magesteff.
*** Mode change "+v the42guy" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<the42guy> First, thank you. Turingprinciple made me happy - it really rocked and made me want to go and download a bot. Anyhow...sorry the first question is a lot like some others but.....
<the42guy> Okay: What, not player caused, went wrong and what would've you done differently? Also, to satisfy hunger, if CTW were a type of soup, what soup would it be?
<the42guy> player caused i.e. GW login, btw
<ctw> What went wrong? Boy that too is quite a list.
* Diandra giggles
<ctw> I had all kinds of technical problems from server crashes to entire websites and databases lost mid-game
<ctw> I also had several BTS people leave mid-game, but only because this is such a grueling commitment and I sometimes am not the most organized leader
<ctw> It actually all started when the bulk e-mail program I used to launch the game missed half the people
<ctw> Not an auspicious beginning
<ctw> And caused me to do a lot of scrambling right from the start
<ctw> There were also problems with the voice messaging system I was using to make "mass" phone calls
<ctw> For some reason, at one point, it loaded my personal phone list
<ctw> And my family and relatives all got multiple phone calls from Sarah
<ctw> Ouch
<Diandra> hahahah
<the42guy> ooch
<the42guy> heh!
<ctw> OK enough problems for now, about the soup
*** fivecentfather has left #ctw
<ctw> CTW would have to be an alphabet soup but with the numbers 0-9 thrown in and when you poured it, it would come out in a grid pattern Smile

* Diandra groans
<danman_d> haha
<the42guy> ahh. mmmmmmm... 9 grid soup........
<danman_d> 6. Wink

<danman_d> Thanks Dave, the42guy
<the42guy> best served with a side of Del Doyle Cranberry.
<the42guy> thanks.
<ctw> Yes thanks 42guy
*** Mode change "-v the42guy" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<Diandra> I believe Magesteff is next
<danman_d> Next question will be from Magesteff, followed by cem
*** Mode change "+v Magesteff" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<Magesteff> LOL, sorry Dave...Was the difference in personality in Turingprinciple just an artifact of Bot vs BTS person replying?
<ctw> Ah the secrets of Turing Principle. Once again there a few answers for this.
*** blush (lurkerSPLATa34b1a3.231e202b.sympatico.ca) has joined channel #ctw
<ctw> For the most part, the TP AIM program was a chatbot that I monitored and inserted replies as I felt necessary.
<Magesteff> Hmmm... some days you must have been pretty busy
<ctw> But this was complicated by the fact that I also re-programmed it on the fly, and added responses based on peoples questions in real time
<ctw> So you could ask a question one minute and get a nonsense reply and then ask again a few minutes laetr and get a new programmed response
<ctw> I also added new responses every morning around 5AM est
<danman_d> Wow, early mornings
<ctw> Yes i didnt sleep much for the last nine months Danny
<Magesteff> Kewl... I thought I recognizes some of the phrases from other peopl
<ctw> Well that is the last part of it steff
<Magesteff> Thanky Dave
<ctw> Although it can't learn from other people except in limited ways
<ctw> The responses I added were based on people's input every day
<Magesteff> What would you say was the highest volume of ppl talking to TP at once?
<ctw> Steff thats hard to say because people outside the game found and started talking to turing principle through the runabot site
<Magesteff> Wow!
<ctw> TP was on a lot of people buddylists
<ctw> The program could handle about forty people simultaneously without slowing down
<Magesteff> Ah...
<ctw> But it slowed down almost every night so that gives you some idea
<Magesteff> Yep... 10 minute or so on some nights
<danman_d> Wow, impressive!
<danman_d> Thanks Dave, Magesteff
<Magesteff> Thanks
<Diandra> what was up with that "What are you wearing" stuff, Dave?
*** Mode change "-v Magesteff" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<ctw> Thanks steff
<ctw> That was regular alice chatbot programming
<Diandra> sure, it was
* Diandra winks
<ctw> I had to go through and "translate" those responses as I found them
<danman_d> Haha
<ctw> The problem was people out there was encouraging TP
<Diandra> i bet that made for some interesting logs
<ctw> I could show you chatlogs of known players having um well you know with TP
<Diandra> perhaps a fundraiser for the next game...
<danman_d> Hah!
<ctw> Any red faces out there right now?
<ctw> Because I read them all
* Diandra hides her face
<ctw> Some several times lol
<danman_d> Erm... No... What are you talking about?!?
*** Ozy_y2k (Ozy_y2kSPLAT211e61ee.cc59707.client.insightBB.com) has joined channel #ctw
<ctw> OK whos next?
<danman_d> OK, just as a reminder and for those joining us
<Diandra> that was certainly interesting
<danman_d> please PM questions to me
<Diandra> next up will be cem
<danman_d> and I'll add you to the queue
<danman_d> Ok, next question is from cem, Varin is on deck.
*** Mode change "+v cem" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<cem> First of all Wonderful Job! I know it's sort of a silly question in light of some others...but it's niggling me nonetheless, and I can't begin to tell you how much time I spent fiddling with it. Is the darn compass thing at the SOD site supposed to "do" anything? Was there anything in the plan layout? It "seemed" possibly interactive with purpose.
<ctw> OK the floorplan at SOD is part of a puzzle/game that didnt get included, this one due to time
<cem> So it wasn't there to find...or we didn't find it?
<ctw> It was going to be part of the rescue of a character at one point
<cem> Ahhh tracie?
<ctw> towards the end of the game but was omitted because of time but the good news is:
<ctw> not tracie originally, but it was going to be tracie later on
<ctw> Originally it was going to be earlier in the game and was left out then I decided to use it for Tracie but it got cut again
<ctw> But it will be part of the upcoming post game stuff.
<ctw> As one of the puzzles/games to be solved
<cem> Well that puts my mind at rest anyway:) Thanks.
<ctw> Just so you know
<cem> Well maybe my hours of fiddling with it will pay off Wink

<ctw> It was originally intended to be remisicent of the infamous Majestic scene where everyone fails trying to break into that building
<cem> Thanks Dave... Smile

<danman_d> Thanks Dave, cem.
*** Mode change "-v cem" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<Diandra> I believe Varin is next...then....
<danman_d> Moving along.. our next question is from Varin, followed by LazarusLong.
*** Mode change "+v Varin" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<Varin> First of all, I loved the game but I am glad that it is over so that I can enjoy some of the summer Wink

You definitely kept me busy with the daily updates. Thanks Smile

on to my question... How did you feel about the graffiti that players "found" at their homes and other deviations that were player created?
<ctw> Good question and one I'd like to clear up. CTW had absolutely nothing to do with the actual graffiti that showed up at people's houses towards the end, either by actually making them or by encouraging or even suggesting that others make them.
<ctw> Dont get me wrong - I thought it was great fun
<ctw> And it made me laugh every time I saw one
*** vpisteve (~vpisteve@cc59707.25ea667f.lv.cox.net) has joined channel #ctw
*** Mode change "+v vpisteve" for channel #ctw by Buffybot
*** Mode change "-v vpisteve" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<ctw> But we did not ask anyone to do it
<ctw> It's important to mkae that clear because I know certain people felt CTW was using the boards and players as shills for this part
<ctw> And that is absolutely incorrect
<danman_d> Thanks for clearing that up Dave. Is that all, Varin?
<Varin> yep thanks dave!!!
<ctw> No one in CTW ever once planted anything on any message board to further the plot in any way or asked anyone else to do it
<danman_d> Great, thanks.
<Diandra> next up is Laz
*** Mode change "-v Varin" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<Diandra> and who's on deck, danny?
<danman_d> LazarusLong is next, followed by Ormus1
*** Mode change "+v LazarusLong" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<LazarusLong> Coming into this game as a rank newbie, and not really knowing what to expect, let me just say that playing CTW was an incredible experience. Kudos to you and all of the BTS people for a remarkable game.
<LazarusLong> As to my question, It's a little thing, but it's been bothering me for much of the game: Was the anonymous fame login for real, or just another red herring?
<ctw> The anonymous fame log-in was just to make the site seem more real and as a possible future puzzle device. Bruce's character was re-written slightly as things went and it made the log-in pretty much irrelevant
<ctw> And thank you for the great comments Lazarus
<ctw> Im glad this gaem helped get you hooked on ARGs
<ctw> By the way, one quick aside
<ctw> I want to thank all the BTS people who helped me here publicly and promise that a list of credits is forthcoming asap
<ctw> I couldn't have done it with out all the help I had
<Diandra> great...i was saying i can't wait to see who played certain characters
<ctw> And anyone who was involved BTS, please send me an e-mail with how you want your name shown in the credits, OK?
<danman_d> Me neither!
<danman_d> Thanks Dave, LazarusLong.
<ctw> BTS people are free to admit to their roles now if they'd like to
<danman_d> Let's wait til the end
<ctw> They dont have to wait for the credits to claim their share of the fame
<Diandra> that would be fun to do after this chat concludes
<Diandra> hang around and confess!
<danman_d> yes, as soon as we get out of moderated mode, we want to know!
<danman_d> Thanks Smile

*** Mode change "-v LazarusLong" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<Diandra> i'm sure you all have some great stories of your own
<Diandra> can't wait to hear them
<Diandra> Ormus is next
<danman_d> Next question is from Ormus1, followed by Sunny
*** Mode change "+v Ormus1" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<Ormus1> 1. yay. 2. thanks so much, this was the best experience ever. 3. was there anything in the greywether's pictures? they looked like barcodes when you played with them. 4. will this game be replayed, because dang if i didn't come in waaaaay too late, and i fear it's been ruined. 5. thanks again.
<ctw> Thanks Ormus
<ctw> No there was nothing in the greywethers logo, sorry
* Ormus1 cuts his wrist
<ctw> As far as replaying the game that poses quite a few problems but there are a couple of possible alternatives in the works
<ctw> First there are a few people planning and working on a CTW comic book for independent publication
<ctw> This will really go into the complexities of the story and cover ground otherwise not explained
<danman_d> Excellent!
<Diandra> um, don't you mean graphic novel?
*** Signoff: ZMaiden (Read error: Connection reset by peer)
*** ZMaiden has left #ctw
<ctw> Yes thanks Dia
* Diandra smiles
<danman_d> Dave, please keep us in the loop on how we can get these, when they come out.
<danman_d> Anything else, Ormus1?
<ctw> Also one of the upcoming things I am involved in is a gaming network
<ctw> That just may try and re-publish CTW in its entirety
<ctw> With added stuff actually, for a mass market
<ctw> But that's tentative for now
<Ormus1> that's everything...thanks then.
<danman_d> Great! Thanks Ormus1, Dave.
*** Mode change "-v Ormus1" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<Diandra> I actually have a question for you, Dave. I assume most of the financial burden of CTW came out of your own pocket. How much do you figure this game cost you personally...and is it too late to make a donation?
<ctw> CTW, after the donations I received and merchandise sold, cost me well over $1000 personally, which is about what I planned. It's not too late to donate or to buy merchandise though.
*** blush has left #ctw
<Diandra> wow, you are one dedicated PM...thanks
<Diandra> who's next, Danny?
<danman_d> wow, thanks dave.
<danman_d> Next question will be from Sunny, followed by cem.
*** Mode change "+v Sunny" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<Sunny> Hello Dave thanks for being here. did we miss a puzzle with the library website including the names of books, what was the most important puzzle missed besides greywethers?? Enjoyed the game, it enriched my life while it changing it. THANK YOU! AND LELELELELELLE!!!! I confess I was the Graffiti Ring Leader it was my own idea and others were of like minds when I asked them to participate, we had FUN! Dont blame management, Sorry it caused conste
<ctw> Hi Sunny, thanks for all your support throughout the game.
<Sunny> my total pleasure
<danman_d> Sunny: you got cutoff at "Dont blame management, Sorry it caused conste"
<Sunny> nation
<Sunny> for some peeps
<Sunny> lelele
<ctw> And I thought the graffiti stuff was great I just heard that some people were complaining that the PMs were using the boards and players as shills thats all, and I wanted to clear that up.
<Diandra> that's consternation, not constipation, right?
<Sunny> well
<Sunny> you must be familiar with it dia
<Sunny> right?
<Diandra> moi?
* Diandra giggles
<ctw> I proud of the record we had keeping the curtain up and playing by the rules
<ctw> Anyway, back to the puzzle part of your question
<Sunny> let me just say that i was inspired
<ctw> Thank you very much. Te most disappointing thing for me as far as puzzles involved the manuscript pages
<ctw> Originally there were nine separate pages with nine separate puzzles, all involving new sites, characters and story arcs
<ctw> You were going to meet all nine archetypes
<danman_d> wow!
<ctw> Minus Dale, Wes and Don that is
<Sunny> they were beautifully done btw the ones we saw
<ctw> But even their pages were going to reveal their identities
<ctw> Thank you the woman who made them did a great job
<Diandra> oh, name her
<ctw> Unfortunately we just ran out of time, in making the pages and in putting them in the game
<Diandra> she's quite talented
<ctw> I need to verify with her how she wants her name revealed
<ctw> But I promise to soon
<Diandra> i guess we'll find out soon enough
<Sunny> who were the nine achetypes in the story and what was the purpose of the thirteen items?
<Sunny> tap tap is this thing on?
<Sunny> lelellelelele
<ctw> OK you didn't get to meet all nine archetypes
<ctw> The thirteen items, however, are another portion of the story that we didn't fully go in to
<ctw> Here's their original intent and rationale
<ctw> Sarah, through her abilities and mystical guides foresaw Dale's suicide but not the Wish's intervention
<ctw> She had made the 13 items and sent them to Meaghan as a way to awaken meaghan to her abilities as being of the bloodline from which Dale was
<ctw> Some of the interaction with Sarah was to bring this out and help develop the concept of heredity in the "Nine"
<Diandra> kind of how the stones were used, right?
*** ZMaiden (ZMaidenSPLAT34823d30.1409f3f8.ipt.aol.com) has joined channel #ctw
<ctw> Yes but the stones were made originally to awaken the nine
<ctw> Once sarah and the mysterious "Jon" realized what was happening with them, the other items were made
<Diandra> and who was the mysterious "Jon"?
<ctw> They werent as powerful as the stones but were the best that could be done since the stones had already been made
<Sunny> well the stone woke me up lelellele....
<ctw> Jon was Trithemius
<Sunny> AHHHHHHHH
<ctw> Who was her guide and mentor
<Diandra> so THAT was his "screen name"?!
<ctw> and dictated the manuscript pages to her
<ctw> No that was how she knew him since his name was Johannes Trithemius
<ctw> At least one version of it
<ctw> OK who's next?
*** Signoff: dmax (Ping timeout: 180 seconds)
*** dmax has left #ctw
<Sunny> thanks dave
<danman_d> great thanks dave and sunny
*** Mode change "-v Sunny" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<danman_d> Next up is cem, followed by Passion_Sandra
*** Mode change "+v cem" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<cem> Did we take longer than expected to find the significance/site of STG? It seemed the characters were getting impatient. And I must say after viewing the "InteractiveWorlds/STG connection" it felt incredibly like I was being "pulled" into another dimension...watching everything fold in on itself:)
<cem> (for a moment anyway)
<ctw> Yes the STG site was actually out there to be found for quite a while
*** dmax (~dmax@1c3781d3.3702296a.ca.astound.net) has joined channel #ctw
<ctw> And it was intended to be updated a day or so after finding it, not because it wasn't done, but to give the appearance of a dynamic real site
<ctw> The Interactive Worlds site is a little bit of a different story
<ctw> It too had been there for a while
<ctw> But when people didn't find it right away
<ctw> I started re-designing it
<ctw> And wouldn't you know it was discovered in the middle of that re-design
<ctw> Ouch again
<danman_d> ouch..
<ctw> That should teach me to leave well enough alone I guess
<ctw> Anyway, the sites were designed to do exactly that
<ctw> Return a little of the WTF and what is real? factor to the game in the late stages
<cem> Smile

And it did:) Thanks
<danman_d> It sure did... Thanks Dave and cem!
<ctw> I can't tell you how many people have tried to sign up for STG and sent resumes to InterActive Worlds.
<Diandra> sounds like you may have your next project ideas
<cem> too funny...
<danman_d> haha, wow! That's how you know you've been successful Smile

<danman_d> OK, moving on
*** Mode change "-v cem" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<danman_d> Oh, before I give the next question
<danman_d> Dave, could I ask you to post a link to the CTW store
<danman_d> as well as a link to somewhere where players can donate?
<danman_d> A couple people were confused about where to go.
<ctw> OK there are actually several CTW stores some from different sites
<ctw> The main one is (Link: http://www.cafepress.com/chasingthewish)http://www.cafepress.com/chasingthewish
<ctw> Donations can be made through PayPal
*** Ormus1 has left #ctw
<ctw> I will make sure a button is added back to the info page at (Link: www.chasingthewish.com)www.chasingthewish.com yet tonight for those who want to use it
<danman_d> Thanks, I believe the other stores can be found by searching cafepress.com for "chasing the wish"
<ctw> Yes
<danman_d> OK, the next question is from Passion_Sandra, Varin is on deck.
*** Mode change "+v Passion_Sandra" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<Passion_Sandra> First, thank you for letting me play in your "world" for a few months.....
<Passion_Sandra> You said that one of the things that surprised you was the way some of us got emotionally
<Passion_Sandra> attached to characters. Does that have an effect on the BTS people? Also, did any
<Passion_Sandra> of the players interaction with characters change the game in any way?
<ctw> Yes player interaction definitely influenced the game in several ways and touched the BTS people as well
<Passion_Sandra> Care to elaborate? Smile

<ctw> Yes. A couple of examples are Bruce and Phyllis.
*** Sin_Vraal has left #ctw
<ctw> Both of these characters started off as being "bad guys"
<Passion_Sandra> Really? LOL
<ctw> Not evil like Don Marzano
<Passion_Sandra> boo hiss
<ctw> But flawed in very human ways intentionally
<ctw> Bruce was supposed to be very much out for himself and money
<Passion_Sandra> I thought the turnaround by Phyllis was most remarkable - and seemed completely natural.
<ctw> But players seemed to doubt whether he was really bad and coaxed him to be good
<Passion_Sandra> Some of us weren't too sure about him.
<ctw> Phyllis was always intended to go through changes as JD died and things came to light
*** Signoff: Ozy_y2k (Quit: )
*** Ozy_y2k has left #ctw
<ctw> But she wasn't going to be nearly as central as she was until I found someone who played her perfectly and the players took a real liking to her
<Passion_Sandra> You hit on a gem.
<ctw> Every character was intended to go through their own metamorphosis to some extent
<ctw> But Phyllis really blossomed thanks to the BTS person playing her and the players interaction with her
<Passion_Sandra> Thank you - (and can I ask - what's next?) Smile

<ctw> You're very welcome and I can't go into details about future projects except to tease you with a few quick things
<Passion_Sandra> A quickie?
<Passion_Sandra> Smile

<ctw> I am working with people involved with a couple different major entertainment companies, as in like TV networks etc
<ctw> And am in negotiations to develop games for two different TV shows as well as several other projects
<ctw> I am working hard on taking ARGs and their concepts mainstream
<ctw> While building myself a career doing something I love
<ctw> I will have some more concrete details very soon I promise
<Passion_Sandra> Best of luck. Would like to see another game like this someday.
<Passion_Sandra> Thank you.
<danman_d> thanks Dave, Passion_Sandra
<ctw> Thank you
*** Mode change "-v Passion_Sandra" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<danman_d> next is Varin, Myssfitz is on deck.
*** Mode change "+v Varin" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<Varin> My question is somewhat like Passion's. Were you surprised how we took to certain characters and didn't to others? Did it surprise you that not all of us trusted or liked Dale completely in the beginning?
<Diandra> oooh, interesting question
<ctw> No actually Dale was intended to be aloof, quite and hard to understand. He was supposed to be different and I intentionally wanted people to choose whether or not they wanted to help him or not. In one way it was supposed to parallel how people came to understand and accept the "supernatural" elements of the game
<ctw> It was also supposed to symbolize in a way how Dale came to discover himself throughout the game
<ctw> He didnt like himself very much in the beginning either
<Varin> I'm glad it was meant to be that way Smile

I felt kinda bad for not liking him so much
<ctw> In many ways, it was the supporting cast that were intended to be the focus
<ctw> To symbolize how we as average people, not exceptionally gifted like one of the nine, still found meaning and purpose in the deeper aspects of life
<Varin> yay average people!
<ctw> The concepts embodied by the nine cease to exist without our belief and help
<ctw> Does that make any sense at all?
<Varin> yes it does Smile

<Diandra> it humanizes everything
<danman_d> Thanks Dave, Varin.
<danman_d> Is that all, Varin?
<Varin> yes thank you
<danman_d> Great, thanks.
*** Mode change "-v Varin" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<danman_d> OK, next we have Myssfitz, on deck is KyraB
*** Mode change "+v Myssfitz" for channel #ctw by danman_d
<Myssfitz> Sorry, didn't realize it was so long.
<danman_d> Before you ask your question, Myssfitz
<Diandra> myssfitz, we need your question
<danman_d> After Myssfitz will be KyraB, followed by dmax
<Myssfitz> IThey're in there.
<Myssfitz> Ha
<danman_d> Dmax will ask the last question of the night.
<Myssfitz> Who was the guy who passed us the mask?
*** LurkerUnivExp (~lurker@1a9e3c85.306c6d51.il.sprintbbd.net) has joined channel #ctw
<ctw> OK the man who handed off themask was none other than me, in my Alfred Hitchcock cameo appearance
<Myssfitz> And you didn't tell us!!!!
<Myssfitz> Cool
<ctw> I drove over two hours to meet you in New Jersey with the mask
<Myssfitz> I drove over tow hours too to a non-existent place. Smile

<ctw> I really wanted to say Hi to everyone but, the curtain had to stay up!
*** Signoff: the42guy (Ping timeout: 180 seconds)
*** the42guy has left #ctw
<Myssfitz> I know. It was nice to meet you.
<ctw> Same here.
<Myssfitz> And for my man. page, Primoris, isn't that still unsolved?
<Myssfitz> and will it be part of the post game?
*** Sin_Vraal (~Sin@20db5883.f8171.dyn.optonline.net) has joined channel #ctw
*** Signoff: danman_d (Ping timeout: 180 seconds)
<ctw> There were two pages that didn't include puzzles just Latin
<ctw> One was the "Title" page so to speak and the other was like a contents page
<ctw> The three that had puzzles were all solved
<Myssfitz> Thanks Dave!!
<ctw> Thank you for all your help and support
<Diandra> thanks myssfitz
<Myssfitz> Any time.
*** Mode change "-v Myssfitz" for channel #ctw by Diandra
<Diandra> next is kyra
<Diandra> followed by dmax, the last participant
*** Mode change "+v KyraB" for channel #ctw by Diandra
<KyraB> This was my first ARG and all I can say is Wow! Thanks! I'm hooked. - We seemed to reveal a ton of websites near the end-game (so many that I couldn't keep up), how many of them did we actually "finish"? How many more of them did we completely miss and is there one in particular that you had hoped we would stumble across but that we didn't? (Sorry I know that's like 3 questions in one...)
<ctw> Kyra thanks for playing CTW and Im glad it got you hooked
<ctw> I do regret that some of the websites at the end weren't given a chance to be fully explored.
<ctw> While to some small extent it was intentional - I was trying to duplicate the rush of finding sites and activity that accompanies the start of a game.
<KyraB> i think you succeeded there!
<ctw> I had in my mind that it would be somehwat symmetrical that way - a bunch of sites right at the beginning and right at the end
<ctw> But unfortunately
<ctw> as I started to develop the end game sites I realized that there was some really good content there and wish i had more time to delve into it
<ctw> But, it was really meant to be just a start for the players, showing them which direction to go in to discover more about the meaning behind the CTW material
<ctw> Without giving a theory or explanation for everything
<KyraB> I was quite amazed at the amount of information I gathered & learned
<ctw> As far as the site I regret most not developing further
<ctw> It would be Search the game
<Diandra> do you have a followup question Kyra?
<KyraB> Was there any site that we totally missed?
<ctw> I originally intended that to have a full online Beta test to participate in, including a real GPS puzzle t o solve
<KyraB> oh wow. that could've been great!
<ctw> There were a couple of sites missed but I cant give them away now; I'm using them soon
<KyraB> Thanks for the time spent with us Dave. What an experience.
<KyraB> Smile

ok sorry i'm eager. heehee
<ctw> Thank you Kyra
<Diandra> and thank you Kyra for your questions
*** Mode change "-v KyraB" for channel #ctw by Diandra
<Diandra> dmax, you're next
<Diandra> and you're the last question of the night...although Kona asked if she could make a comment at the end
*** Mode change "+v dmax" for channel #ctw by Diandra
<dmax> What kind of real-life doc played Kendra? She did a good job, although it felt like her involvement was truncated a lot. Was she intended to have a different "destination" in the game?
<ctw> Yes actually Dr. Kendra was supposed to be the major female character in the game, and go through this process of rejecting her hard science background and learning to believe in the CTW world.
<dmax> that was what i was expecting, then she sorta vanished
<ctw> Several things happened to change that, mostly time constraints on my part and coordinating with the person playing her
<dmax> I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get to do some BTS work. Sounds like you needed the help. Was it my breath?
* Diandra laughs
<ctw> I also decided to give some of her focus to Phyllis because of the great job the BTS person did with her
<ctw> No dmax the coordination of the BTS team was a major undertaking
<Diandra> it's nice to know that the BTS people who did well were rewarded...with more work!
<ctw> I honestly regret I couldnt involve more people as I originally envisioned
<dmax> Well, I'm available if you ever need someone.
*** danman_d (saturn5rocSPLAT22d996b6.38050f2d.2b3a2604.2e099bf0X) has joined channel #ctw
*** Mode change "+o danman_d" for channel #ctw by Buffybot
[danman_d] Your BOOTY is a wonderland...
*** Signon by danman_d (danman_d!saturn5roc@22d996b6.38050f2d.2b3a2604.2e099bf0X, Mask: *!*@*) detected
<dmax> just let me get my divorce papers together...
<dmax> cause i know i;ll need them
<Diandra> and i think that's prolly it for you dmax LOL
<Diandra> thanks
<ctw> Just coordinating the daily interaction of those I had was next to impossible. Thank you for your offer though. I may take you up on it soon
<dmax> I get to be the one that lives
<Diandra> thanks dmax and dave
*** Mode change "-v dmax" for channel #ctw by Diandra
<Diandra> kona has something she'd like to say
*** Mode change "+v konamouse" for channel #ctw by Diandra
<konamouse> just wanted to say what a pleasure it was to have played this game, to have met you, and to have had the opportunity to play a small part in this netventure. and i want to thank my hubby for allowing me to have multiple personalities.
<ctw> You were great Kona, thank you very much.
<konamouse> wave hello to my ctw widower, konashark.
<konamouse> one question.
<konamouse> what was the purpose for the stB pages???? did we always find the "end' pag?
<Diandra> Dave, I also want to say thank you...for everything. The great game, the great people I met while working with you on this, the great stuff you gave us in Las Vegas...so many things
<konamouse> page?
<ctw> Hi konashark I promised you it would be done as soon as I could get it finished
<ctw> And thank you Diandra, for all your help and support
<ctw> The ST Beregonne pages were what were originally behind the greywethers log-in
<ctw> But because it wasnt solved they had to be brought out another way
<ctw> When I did that, I put something else behind the greywethers log-in
<ctw> As a prize for the player who solved it
<ctw> Well no one did so now it's part of the mini-game
<ctw> The SB pages were alkways supposed to go to the smalldene site though
<konamouse> how?
<ctw> Which, by the way, was also there since the beginning of the game
<ctw> Since greywethers said "smalldene" in his one phone message
<ctw> The final SB pages once solved led to smalldene kona
<konamouse> how? this part went over my head.
<ctw> Once you had worked your way through the "streets" of SB, greywethers revealed the other site and other name to you
*** Signoff: dnbmathguy (Quit: )
*** dnbmathguy has left #ctw
<Diandra> does that answer your question, kona?
<konamouse> so then the pictures at the end of each 'leg" didn't have more meaning?
<ctw> Well yes in the sense that each "leg" was a different aspect of man's understanding - religion, art, science, etc
<ctw> Greywethers was trying to educate you to the different methods man uses to try and comprehend the world around him and the "meta" aspects of life
<ctw> Each a different facet of the true picture
<Diandra> i think kona is asking about the final solve for it...how GW would have revealed the smalldene site...the mechanics of it
*** LurkerUnivExp has left #ctw
<Diandra> how the puzzle would have worked
*** Aveen[a] (~Aveena@31478372.7795dbe.client.attbi.com) has joined channel #ctw
<ctw> Well that basically was exactly as it played out - once the rest of the SB stuff was solved, greywethers revealed his other "home" to you
<Diandra> via email?
<ctw> Smalldene wasn't part of a puzzle solve. more like the reward for solving them all
<Diandra> okay kona, thanks for your question
*** Mode change "-v konamouse" for channel #ctw by Diandra
<Diandra> I want to thank everyone for coming
<danman_d> thanks
<Diandra> hoopefully we all have a better understanding of CTW
<danman_d> im sorry my connection cutout at the end!
<ctw> Yes me too, a couple quick notes before I go
<Diandra> thank you Dave for giving us more time by being here tonite
<danman_d> But thank you very much for coming, Dave
<ctw> The postgame Mini-Quest is tentatively set for Sept 14th
<ctw> And will be a one day/night event
<Diandra> Mark your calendars
<danman_d> Excellent, I'm looking forward to it
<ctw> There will be unseen material from CTW
<ctw> And prizes/swag will include
<ctw> Left over stones
<ctw> There were three sets actually made
<ctw> But I am keeping one and some have been given out
<ctw> A few remain though
<Diandra> Where can we find the specifics when they are ready to be announced?
<ctw> A couple of other valuable items meant to be part of the realworld stuff that didnt make it
<Diandra> ooooh
<ctw> And some production materials from the game such as the actual disc travel notebook etc
<ctw> Details will be posted on the CTW main site this week
<danman_d> Great, thanks Dave!
<Diandra> anything else we need to know before we end this chat?
<ctw> I also greatly encourage everyone to fill out the feedback form at CTW
<danman_d> oh, one last question i had:
<ctw> I'd like to know as much as possible what everyone thought
<danman_d> armrodb, ghouth, and sonoer
*** LC_away has left #ctw
<danman_d> will that be part of the postgame?
<ctw> sarmoung brotherhood danman
<ctw> a very obscure reference
<danman_d> Thank you! Smile

<ctw> an easter egg of sort for those who got it
<ctw> and some people did
<ctw> OK thank you everyone
<danman_d> Great, thanks Smile

<danman_d> Going out of moderated mode

_________________
'squeek'
r u a Sammeeeee? I am Forever!

Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:34 pm

Display posts from previous: Sort by:

Page 1 of 1 [4 Posts]

Forum index » Archive » Archive: Chasing the Wish » CTW: General/Updates

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
You cannot post calendar events in this forum