unforum

[catherwood]

[thebruce]

The way I see it, it would be an [label] (w/respect to cather ) FOR the virtual character, but just another part of the game in real life. So in sense, both views are right. An ARG would be an alternate reality for the one calling it an ARG. For us, it would need to be within our own reality, whereas if it took place in an existing, self-contained virtual world, it would be an ARG for characters in that world, in that character's reality, though for us who are playing that character, it would essentially still just be a part of the game (since our wall is already broken down, knowing we're playing a game).

In a sense, a 'virtual' PM might have more freedom to make the virtual ARG that much more covert and/or real (to the virtual character, and ultimately the real player) because there wouldn't necessarily be any real life danger or legal issues involved... eg, a virtual ARG could convince a player's 'real' character to murder (in the virtual world), they could have the freedom to choose an action that the real player might otherwise not choose in real life; so a virtual ARG may in essence have less inherent moral barriers (to the character) than a real life ARG may have to a real person.

So again, to us, an ARG contained in a virtual world wouldn't be considered an ARG in its traditional sense, but it could still be to the character in that virtual world, and its PMs may have more freedom for players' (virtual characters') actions and choices. But at the same time, it would be more restricting in that it couldn't involve the real world, because that would break its 'reality' to the character (like an ARG asking one of us to trascend space and time, in real life). A virtual world ARG would need to be entirely contained in the virtual world of its players' characters, just as a real world ARG (in its classic sense) would (and really could, only) be contained in our real world.

Anyway, long story short, I'd side with Steve in that an ARG, as it pertains to us, would only involve our real world, and not be considered an ARG if it were totally contained in a virtual world. But, it could be considered an ARG to the character if it were entirely contained in the characters' world. It just wouldn't be an ARG to us since it's already a part of the virtual world's game, the virtual reality.

IMHO

[vpisteve]