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Apologies email from VirtuaQuest

skilletaudio · Unfettered Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 515

Barring any unofficiality of this email, I sent this in response. I'm posting it here to make my feelings known.

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:04 pm

Max Steele · Unfettered Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 456

Re: Apologies email from VirtuaQuest

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:04 pm

avatar0 · Boot Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 11

Having been in this situation in a previous life as a web developer, VQC's plight is thoroughly understandable.

Hilariously, more than one past client of a company I worked for tried to offer us "stock" in their sure-thing bazillion dollar dot com idea after the funds dried up. Just like the Simpsons episode where the dot com issued stock on toilet paper rolls.

Here's my question - what was the promotional tie-in with COD? It obviously can't be cheap to do a project like this, so I find it hard to believe that someone would just fund a game out-of-pocket without having some tie-in to a larger campaign of some sort...

Jonny10 · Boot Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 69 Location: West Michigan

Erm, maybe that's the thing. . . they didn't fund it. Embarassed

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:42 pm

avatar0 · Boot Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 11

Well, I assume they got at least a little payment up front, but who knows what their business practices are.

I'm sure they'll be asking for a much bigger deposit up front next time.

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:45 pm

Misfit · Boot Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Posts: 20 Location: London

A real shame about this, and kind of a negative experience for my first ARG Sad

I agree with everyone else that its no fault of VQC, and it's not going to stop me playing any more of their games.

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:01 pm

skilletaudio · Unfettered Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 515

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:12 pm

blaqueice

it would be awesome if this was still in-game, have a big thing about VQC and "their client" haha i dunno, i know it is unlikely but not fully unbelievable.

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:50 pm

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tsondie21 · Decorated Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 227

my first arg also, extremely dissappointed about it, and then my second was ARGTalk which ended in a few weeks! gah!!

not taking any responsibility, but yesterday I sent a buncha domes addresses emails about just coming out if they stopped, coincendence?

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 5:02 pm

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skilletaudio · Unfettered Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 515

Im sure the VQC organizers have been agonizing about how to come forward, even without our griping. It's a standup thing to do, and if things really did go down how they describe, then they have my sympathy and my rapt attention for future games.

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 5:11 pm

Russell

VQC have systematically released a whole host of various different games which have all been fun and even the Corporate Edition versions that they let us get our teeth into (Even though it is a company team building exercise!). I am still looking forward to the next CE which should be coming soon and from time to time still look in on the evil virtucube Smile

I can understand their predicament and at least they had the guts to tell us what happened as they didnt really have to remove the curtain at the end of the day. Good work with the COD pregame and look forward to more like it!

Phew that was a mouthful Laughing

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 6:24 pm

konamouse

VQ is a top notch provider of ARG (remember THX last year?).

It was evident that CoD had some major work behind it (good website, multiple live phone call interactions). Tough luck that the corporate sponsor (I'd love to know so I can send them my own feedback, but in a polite letter of disappointment) backed out like that. Up until DomeCentral went quiet, we all spec'd that it was VQ and knew this would be good. Then, with no contact for two weeks, that was the start of the Grassroots spec.

It is pretty well known that VQ would monitor sites like UF for feedback - so they knew we were losing interest and needed closure. I'm glad we got it. I'm sure this is not the last time we'll find another VQ rabbithole.

Meanwhile, Orbital Colony has begun. While grassroots, I'm sure these folks have been working hard all year and they've had quality/experienced PMs as mentors.

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 7:01 pm

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luke · Decorated Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 244 Location: Twa

Well, this is dissapointing news. Ah well, guess I'll check out that new OrbiconCorp ARG. It looks promising for being so low budget.

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 8:01 pm

TUX8527

Yes Konamouse,

I remember THX last year, that was actually my first ARG, and this was my 2nd.

I pick ARG's to play, based on my interests, both these films are 2 of my favourites, so I had background knowledge before I even started.

I am hoping that this game has just suspended and may continue at some point in the future, even though that is very unlikely.

VTQ have not actually stated that the game is totally closed yet, so I will hold a glimmer of hope here.

I really would like to know who their client was as well, if they could'nt afford to compensate VTQ for all the hard work they put into this ARG, then they should not've started it in the first place! They must've known that they were gonna upset loads of ARGers all over the world, and also discredit VTQ in some peoples eyes.

I still have trust in them and would play another ARG created by them in the future.

Lastly, I would like to publicly thank Virtuquest for letting us know the score regarding COD.

**Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 8:04 pm

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