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[Mekanik]

META -- ARGs and "chatter pollution"

[ScarpeGrosse]

Moved to META (heh. almost typed "MEAT") from ARGs With Potential.

(Personally, getting information/spoilers/etc is why I use google in the first place.)

[imbri]

If you set up the puzzles correctly, that shouldn't be a problem in a typical ARG. For example, create puzzles and situations based on broad or popular topics instead of requiring a search based on character and company names unique to the ARG.

Also, while there are some ARGs that benefit from individual or small group play, most are designed to be experienced in larger collaborative groups. Googling and finding spoilers leads one to these groups. Thus it's as much a benefit as anything.

Really, the only time that I see this is a big issue is when the game is designed to be replayable, such as ReGenesis and Missing: Since January (more Adventure Game than Alternate Reality Game, but a decent example in this case). Many Missing players complained of that very issue - googling for info as required by the game itself led players to spoiler sites. Poor design decisions led to that issue. ReGenesis, however, has solved the problem by not allowing their sites to be indexed by the search engines (beyond, even, simple no-follow parameters to requiring registration to even view) and by providing players a collaborative space in-game to keep them off of public spaces such as unfiction. That's not to say that the solution didn't create it's own problems such as not allowing lurkers or interested parties from exploring before registering - making it both difficult to attract new players through casual viewing and difficult for blogs and news sites (such as ARGN) to discuss or point to interesting aspects of the game, which are two of the largest methods of hooking players on an ARG. That cost, however, must have been worth it to the design team as the game was designed for a specific audience and not a general internet audience. And, as such, may be something worth considering.

[Mekanik]

Gold!

[Rolerbe]

[Chewy]

[Mekanik]

Ta