unforum

[Shadow E. Coyote]

 This is not a game? Then why all the rules?

[SpaceBass]

Re: This is not a game? Then why all the rules?

[krystyn]

colonopenparenthesis

[Cryptfiend]

[konamouse]

Bottom line - this sandbox has some rules - aka "Terms of Service".

It's conveniently posted at the top of the page.

This is a board for DISCUSSING the ARGs, not playing them out with characters in here. This place is not suppose to exist in the reality of the characters. Characters are not suppose to know uF exists (they think they are real, in here we talk about them being fictional characters). In here we help eachother solve puzzles, share information and discuss the meta of the alternate universe in which the characters exist.

That's the rules as put forth when this place was first created. It's been questioned ad naseum and always been upheld.

Like visiting someone else's playground, it's polite to play by their rules, not yours. You would want the same respect if they visited your home.

If you want to have posted dialogue with players and characters, please create a separate place on the internet for these types of interactions.

[teh_lisa]

[thebruce]

I picture Michael Scott planning the surprise booze cruise...

Stanley: Michael...
Michael: Stanley...bo banley.
Stanley: I need to know-
Michael: Banana fana fo fanley.
Stanley: What we're doing.
Michael: Me mi mo manley.
Stanley: You said bring a toothbrush.
Michael: Stanley.
Stanley: Is this an overnight?
Michael: Maybe. The suspense is just so exciting, isn't it?
Stanley: Should my wife tell her boss she's not coming in tomorrow?
Michael: Maybe, I don't know.
Stanley: Not maybe, yes or no.
Michael: Well, no, but... okay, don't spoil it for everybody. All right? But we are going on a booze cruise on Lake Wallenpaupack.
Stanley: In January?
Michael: It's cheaper.


The idea of an alternate reality game having absolute no rules really is contrary to gameplay. Or rather, it's a different -style- of gameplay being attempted here, and it does not compute, at least by the genre covered at this site. It authors confusion, and as shown in this game, unrepentent and untrackable hijackability. The people who have fun are the ones who are willing to shrug off uncertainty and trust for the sake of the unknown, spontaneity.

We like to know the people who run a game are in control of a game. Thus, a necessary outcome of that process is a place players can communicate with each other freely, without uncertainty of what's 'real' or not. At the very least, it gives the PMs an opportunity to provide an example of their trustworthiness by allowing players that space, that one place where they know that 'real' is 'real'. So, outside UF, in theory anything can go, depending on how the PM wants to play out their game. But removing all rules altogether either throws trust out the window, or it's simply not the kind of game played at UF.

If y'all haven't already, I'd strongly recommend reading Dave Szulborski's book This Is Not A Game (I know, Star, you have a venomous distaste for that term) - I'm reading through it right now, and it's really, really good. Heck I'll loan you my copy when I'm done if you want

[ndemeter]

God, reading Star's and her guest's replies to my posts brings forth such an urge to reply and continue the arguments such as "the TOS is clearly posted here" and "since I'm a mod in these forums I read everything so I was indeed forced to watch Star blatantly break the rules"...

But who cares..

It is rather obvious that a clear philosophical difference exists between myself and Star in terms of how a game should be run and within what boundaries (or with no boundaries in her case). And since I no longer care to continue a discussion here that has become clearly META I just want to say that causality dictates that I no longer trust Star and I respectfully opt out any of her future projects.

[jamesi]

[vpisteve]

Re: This is not a game? Then why all the rules?

[rose]

Some various thoughts:

1. The TOS of any internet site are there for a reason. Even if you don't agree with the reason, you are violating the rules of the site when you break the TOS.
2. One essential reason that unfiction can't allow characters to post is that players need a place to post free of the input/scrutiny of the PMs. If you've played any games, you will understand why that is true. Even games that have in-game forums are discussed here on uf, because players here know that they are talking to other players - not the PMs.

We have enough issues with guest posts being assumed to be hints or solves from PMs (see TIMM). If the PMs were allowed to post here, every solve, every solution and every spec posted might be thought of as coming from them. The game would be totally manipulated by input from PMs who the players mistakenly thought were players. Also, the PMs can then act as shills promoting the game under the cover of being players.

3. There is no question that Star was misleading/shilling the players through some of her posts (see above). Example: she posted photos on her blog of the package that thebruce got...but those photos weren't taken by thebruce- so she had to have gotten them from someone else. That person had to have been one of the creators of the game. Yet, she still claimed not to know who was behind the game. To me, that is enough to eliminate any trust I had given her.

4. Just because you haven't met a person live, face to face, in person, doesn't mean you don't know them. I suggest that if you can't tell the difference between having a relationship with real people and interacting with fictional characters(even characters as powerfully human as Melissa from ilb), maybe you're the one who needs to rethink what ARGs are about.

Examples: I've played games with enaxor, drizzjr, sapagoo and sidtheduck (among others). I've never met them, but I trust them completely. I consider each of them a friend and would do anything to help them that I could if they ever needed me or my support.

I organized the first ARGFest-o-con in NYC having only met one other person from this forum (bagsbee). Clearly not meeting any of the unfiction crowd in person didn't matter to me. I felt they were my friends and people I wanted to spend time with, despite never having met them, or any of the speakers, before.

[Gupfee]

Re: This is not a game? Then why all the rules?

[rose]

/me takes her time and energy elsewhere. Gupfee, I didn't see your post until after I posted.

[Shadow E. Coyote]

 WOW

[teh_lisa]

Re: WOW