unforum

[Johnnyutah16]

[META] An Idea to Help Gain Hype/ give into Viral Marketing

[Eddy]

http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22220

[OliMango]

So you're going to make a fake site for people to believe is real? Considering that most people who are into Cloverfield post here, and just saw this thread, your plan fails.

[Eddy]

Sorry. I guess I'm stupid. I'll shut up now .

[Johnnyutah16]

NO, youre not understanding

[Eddy]

Johnnyutah16: Reading what you want to do, it sounded to me like The Effect. So that's why I referenced it. Apologies if you have something else in mind. As for being a nicer or a reformed anyone, that would be of myself. But we don't talk about that anymore.

[Johnnyutah16]

Essentially this would make us all partially IG

[Eddy]

Still sounds like what we're doing with The Effect, except for the fact that our IG mask is only skin deep (i.e. we do link to unfiction so as not to waste anyone's time).

If that's the difference, I don't suspect the unfiction crowd will be very receptive to your idea since appearing to be gamejacking was the main concern expressed at the time we set up The Effect.

Also, just in case you didn't follow the link to the blog, The Effect is current even though the thread that started it is a bit dated.

[Johnnyutah16]

its not really game jacking

[Euchre]

You are talking about placing yourself IU (In Universe) and acting as if Tagruato is real and suggesting to others that you believe it is too. To those you address you appear to be a part of that universe, and that suggests that that is actually part of the real universe, not a game universe. That would make you a hoaxer. For anyone that realizes you are dealing with IU things as if they are real and don't know who you are otherwise, you would be a gamejacker. Either way is not too favorable.

The Effect makes a point of allowing you to experience and express IU while making it clear you are not IG. It's a little subtle of a difference and a careful balance, but better than what you are suggesting here.

Why not blog as a member of The Effect and link to that, and to here? That'd prevent screams and cries of gamejack.

[Her]

[Johnnyutah16]

In Universe

[Euchre]

If you were to post the commercial you create as if it was an official one, and that it had nothing to do with a contest, yes - that'd be a gamejack.
The contest is obviously a way for us to create something IU but the interface is still like that of a normal ARG - we DO interact with the IU world, but WE aren't pretending to have any real control over it or be a proper part of it. It's pretty clear when you start following the trail that you hit a point where real people become evident, as does the fiction of the site. If you found a site from an ARG first, incidentally, then upon following any player's input it led you to that player here - you'd be able to gather from the site that you had found something fictional and NOT real. The way you propose nobody would see that transition at any point along the way.

If you went to a play where the plot was someone going to a party and you decided you were going to step on stage and start interacting as a character, you'd be doing the same as what you propose here. The way an ARG (or CF in general) is basically made, you are meant to 'stay off the stage'.

Another thing to compare this to is Star Wars fan fiction. Lucas actually welcomes the expansion of his universe, as long as it obeys a few key rules of that universe. However, you'll find that it's considered wrong by the fans and Lucas to insert yourself into the universe as a character with direct influence on it. You may role play, but YOU are not the role.

[konamouse]