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 Forum index » Meta » General META Discussion
Defining an ARG
Moderators: imbri, ndemeter
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thegreatpablo
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Joined: 11 Jul 2007
Posts: 62

 		Defining an ARG
to define or categorize an ARG. I got to thinking about the issue and figured I'd post my thoughts here.

When you look at other game types, often times, they share a lot in common with each other. For instance, if you compare Neverwinter Nights with a Table Top RPG, you'll find that a lot of the rulesets are the same, the storyline is one that could be presented in either format, etc. So what is it, then, that sets them apart?

I think the key, for me, to this is making a distinction between Game Types and Genres. In already established markets, there are dozens of Game Types. Table top RPGs, video games, board games, card games, the list goes on. Within each game type there are multiple genres. Horror, role playing, action, strategy, etc. I'm fairly certain it's understood what differentiates one genre from the next (or if not, I think that's another discussion). On the flip side though, not much discussion is presented around what differentiates game types. At it's most basic core, I think the primary difference is the interface that's used to play the games. In this case, when I say interface, I'm referring to the tools provided to players that allow them to interact with the game.

For instance, with video games it's usually an input device of some sort (keyboard, mouse, controller, etc) a monitor and a console or computer to run the game. For table top games the interface is your character sheet, rule books, dice, etc. With ARGs however, there is no standardized or defined interface beyond "the real world", which is an interesting characteristic and one that's mostly responsible for its name.

It seems to me that there's been an awful lot of discussion regarding what aspects of a game define it as an ARG or not, and I'm starting to feel that too much emphasis is being put on trying to box games into what people think is an ARG, rather than spending that time and energy in defining genres within the ARG game type.

Anyway, I'm mostly spewing forth drivel. I'm not terribly good at getting my point across, but hopefully you're able to understand my meaning here...and more than anything, I just wanted to discuss this aspect of ARGs. So, thoughts?

PostPosted: Thu May 15, 2008 3:16 pm
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konamouse
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Joined: 02 Dec 2002
Posts: 8010
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 		Always great to see some thinking. I can't access the article from work (www.unfiction.com is blocked) but SpaceBass wrote a great piece on Chaotic Fiction last spring that you probably want to read.

I believe there was a wonderful thread of discussion around the same time (somewhere in the META forum).

Chaotic Fiction thread
Should ARGs be called Alternate Puzzle games?
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PostPosted: Thu May 15, 2008 6:53 pm
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thegreatpablo
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Joined: 11 Jul 2007
Posts: 62

 		I read over that article, and it goes into a great bit of detail, but it never really touches on the interface, which I believe is the defining characteristic of a game type (of more traditional games). Perhaps I need to reconsider what's used to define game types as this is a new realm all together, but it sure seems to fit.

PostPosted: Thu May 15, 2008 7:01 pm
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Rogi Ocnorb
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Joined: 01 Sep 2005
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konamouse wrote:
I can't access the article from work (www.unfiction.com is blocked)


And I thought our firewall rules at work were wacky. Shocked
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PostPosted: Thu May 15, 2008 7:34 pm
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rowan
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Joined: 12 Apr 2004
Posts: 1966
konamouse wrote:
I can't access the article from work (www.unfiction.com is blocked)

Nice to know I'm not the only one with that problem. I also find it really funny what other ARG websites I can't access (argn and varin's & imbri's personal sites) and what ones I can (mysdirection ftw!)
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PostPosted: Thu May 15, 2008 7:54 pm
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Star Spider
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Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 148

 		I think you make a great point about various gaming genres being defined by their interface. I think as a whole that is the way things are generally defined. When we say 'video game' everyone can agree that there will be some sort of screen and controller used to interface to the game. I think this is a great way to get an over view definition of ARG's. In fact I think this tool of definition will make it easier for me to define ARG's when trying to explain it to people.

Genre is another story altogether. Traditionally we can talk about the way the term genre is used with movies for example: Horror, comedy, romance, etc... You mentioned the terms 'role playing and strategy' and I think this would not fit in a genre defining so much as it might be something like a play device or form of play.

So perhaps we might have another section to work within for definitions opening up. Game definition - overall, genre and form of play (which is where the role playing, strategy etc... might fit in)?

PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 6:19 pm
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Nighthawk
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee


Joined: 14 Jul 2007
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Rogi Ocnorb wrote:
konamouse wrote:
I can't access the article from work (www.unfiction.com is blocked)


And I thought our firewall rules at work were wacky. Shocked


My OWN website use to be blocked at my office because it was considered "gaming".
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PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:03 pm
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Euchre
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Joined: 29 Aug 2007
Posts: 3342

 		Re: Defining an ARG
thegreatpablo wrote:
With ARGs however, there is no standardized or defined interface beyond "the real world", which is an interesting characteristic and one that's mostly responsible for its name.

This is an absolutely spectacular way of putting it. This is the same conclusion I was coming to when you started to speak of the interface. I'd love to point this out to *some* who kept insisting things like Cloverfield weren't an ARG. Brings whole new meaning to TINAG, doesn't it?
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PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 9:55 pm
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