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Doomed for implosion
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Caseys_Mom
Unfettered

Joined: 21 Jan 2009
Posts: 553

 		Doomed for implosion
Top Ten List
I have a question for the seasoned players and pm's.
What are your top ten red flag warning signs that a game is doomed to implode? Feel free to list more! It just seems there are so many "games" that have potential and yet go nowhere, or at least not far. So what are the warning signs that you take notice of?
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Missing Hallucinine and waiting on Rachel.
Lurking around in Super8 --> wiki

PostPosted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:07 pm
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BlackandBlue
Veteran


Joined: 19 Sep 2008
Posts: 92
Location: Chatsworth, CA

 		Only my opinion of course
1. Unrealistic player numbers required to "start" game (recruitment scenarios.)

2. Character interaction dwindles rapidly/stops abruptly after a short period of time, and is not replaced with some other type of narrative device, or another character.

3. Invalid emails and site URLs, that are not accompanied by some type of game related message. (If there isn't a clue in the 404 notice or that fake email "bounce" notice - or a least a wink and nod to players - it is usually a sign the PM is having huge problems.)

4. Updates change dramatically in frequency at unexpected times. This is especially a sign of immanent implosion when a trailhead starts out updating at least once a day at the beginning, and then just as the story starts to unfold, the updates stop or become so random in timing that you know something is going wrong behind the curtain.

5. The first few weeks start to show a very flimsy storyline with one dimensional characters. That is usually a sign the game was not planned out in advance and it will most likely implode.

6. Ultra-intensive graphics and character interaction immediately from a homegrown game. While it isn't always the case, this can lead to implosion because resources and man hours needed can dwindle rapidly.

7. Waiting forever for your INITIAL email/post/tweet/whatever to be recognized and responded to by the IG character(s), unless there is a dateline added as to when the game starts after the initial trailhead is dropped. (see #1)

[edited to specify that I was talking about the beginning of a game, as sometimes emails aren't answered promptly during game play for character in jeopardy reasons. LOL]

I don't have three more I can think of at the moment. Laughing
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:29 pm
Last edited by BlackandBlue on Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:31 am; edited 1 time in total
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Caseys_Mom
Unfettered

Joined: 21 Jan 2009
Posts: 553

 		Thank you for responding. The points you made a very helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to post them. Very Happy
I'm still a bit green, so there are alot of things I still haven't learned to pick up on yet.
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Missing Hallucinine and waiting on Rachel.
Lurking around in Super8 --> wiki

PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:23 pm
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konamouse
Official uF Dietitian


Joined: 02 Dec 2002
Posts: 8010
Location: My own alternate reality

 		My number 1 sign that a game will soon impload is that all character interaction happens via chat.

I dislike chat as a character interaction tool unless it really matches the character and how they would be in real life. Someone who's life is in peril is not stopping to chat online with strangers. More likely they are on the run and their internet activity is probably limited (email or blogging) to avoid being in one place for too long. Unless they are locked in a room with a computer & internet access. Then I can see they might spend all day (or hours and hours) in a chat mode.
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r u a Sammeeeee? I am Forever!

PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:37 pm
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Violet Neon
Greenhorn

Joined: 14 Apr 2009
Posts: 8
Location: Ireland

 		Nice thread Razz
I'm actually conducting research at the minute on ARGs and am working on this particular question (as part of my literature review) at the minute. I'll post my initial key findings over the course of the coming week...

PostPosted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:29 am
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