Author
Message
QBKooky
Decorated
Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Posts: 281
[TRAILHEAD] International Intelligence Agency (IIA) Slightly less secretive than Neurocam? A man named Mike Curry posted the following trailhead to his upcoming game, a "real life multi-player spy game" called the International Intelligence Agency, to the site Hacker News (news.ycombinator.com):
http://labs.blue74.com/
Basically, he asks for your info (name, address, and hobbies) and for $5 to defray the cost of postage. Here's the thread in which he posted the link, and also answers a few questions from other hacker news members. He says, 'The idea came out of a "What would be fun, get people exercise, and allow us to interact with others, make use of our hobbies - and add excitement to our lives?'" When one user suggested it was just a pyramid scheme chain letter, Mike (username: captaincrunch) responded "The only assurance I can give to you, that this is my creation, and like all things, you will be risking your $5.00. This may not be for everyone, but if it does sound interesting, try it."
I also found this press release for the game, which claimed it "sold tens of thousands of memberships in the first 48 hours of its release, making it the fastest-selling ARG game of all time." Also a different description from the press release: "The IIA (International Intelligence Agency) is a real life multi-player game that gives players a real life, real feel, "off computer" role-playing game. Players don't know about the actual game play, until they are engaged in the actual game."
It sounds very much in the vein of Neurocam (optional real-life missions), a connection already pointed out in the hacker news discussion. It could amount to nothing, but hey, I figured it was worth $5 to try it and see, and thought other unfictioners might as well.
_________________A clue!
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:20 am
The Core
Veteran
Joined: 29 Mar 2009 Posts: 73 Location: The Silver Mountain
I'm a little skeptical about it, especially finding this post on UF: http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=801108
I'm not sure I'm completely happy paying for this. But really, it's your own choice in the end. Let us know how it turns out
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:58 am
notgordian
Unfictologist
Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 1383 Location: Philly
My skepticism comes more from the press release's claim of tens of thousands of memberships in 48 hours -- Ycombinator gets a lot of traffic, but I don't think it gets enough to generate that high a conversion rate.
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:42 am
OBT
Boot
Joined: 11 Oct 2009 Posts: 21
I'm all for spy games, but paying money to join and to complete missions I'm not so keen on doing. I'm going to wait and see what people who have already joined say.
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:29 am
QBKooky
Decorated
Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Posts: 281
Skepticism echoed! I already coughed up my $5 just for the heck of it, and will make sure to keep you guys posted if anything interesting comes of it.
_________________A clue!
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:48 am
demonpunk
Boot
Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 61 Location: Schenecta' Dreamin' in the 518
Eh what the hell.I'm in.
I was always interested in neurocam and really regretted not being able to jump into that.
Besides what"s the worst that could happen?You lose $5 and possibly all your info to the beast that is the internet
_________________
My left hand is lightning and my right is thunder.My eyes are flame.My heart is ashes.LOOK UPON ME AND TREMBLE!
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 8:58 am
emato
Unfettered
Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 333 Location: Florida
I'm in Why not? My info is already all over the web from other 'games'.
Only thing -- usually 'we' get paid for info instead of 'us' paying to play to give info!
At any rate - I'm going for it ---
If anyone wants, I'll keep a log/blog/thread ....
/emato
_________________"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in" - Leonard Cohen
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 7:04 pm
snorkle256
Unfettered
Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 631 Location: West Central Wisconsin
I've been wondering what to do with some $$ stuck in paypal. I'll bite. I like getting mail.
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:52 pm
Angelus78
Entrenched
Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 816 Location: halifax, nova scotia
I'm curious.
_________________I can be reached at
MSN : Gabriel2448SPLAT hotmail.com
Aim:Angelus78gak
MS:Angelusgak
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:56 pm
Stiffy77
Boot
Joined: 16 Jun 2003 Posts: 34 Location: Toronto Canada
I sent my $5 m/o and a letter earlier this week and received an email today confirming that they got it.
_________________"You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man!"
Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 8:47 am
koichimal
Greenhorn
Joined: 30 Jan 2011 Posts: 5
Isent my $5 through paypal and realized that my main email wasn't attached to it. Shot the guy an email and got a response within the hour. He's watching this like a hawk...
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:33 pm
Lyoko is Cool
Veteran
Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 72
Well, that latest reply has me more interested. seems like something will happen March 14th as well, the UD: stamp is Unix time for March 14th 00:00:00 EDT
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:28 am
Angelus78
Entrenched
Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 816 Location: halifax, nova scotia
well I just got an encoded email from a:
agentservicesSPLAT iiaarg.com
Which decoded goes:(I almost mistook it for spam)
Quote:
- First contact -
- CLASSIFIED -
UD: 1297612822
This transmission is to confirm your IIA membership has been approved by the governing bodies and inform you of upcoming changes within the IIA.
Shortly from now you will be contacted and requested to fill out a profile outlining various key pieces of information to ensure the IIA has the ability to contact, inform and reward you. Using the information outlined in our next transmission you will also be able to update previously provided information and create your call-name.
Please be reminded that the IIA will never share your personal information other than your call-name with anyone, including other IIA members. Further more you should not reveal your identity to any friends or family members unless you feel their skills would be of benefit to the IIA.
- GreenGerbil [02-13-2011]
- CLASSIFIED -
_________________I can be reached at
MSN : Gabriel2448SPLAT hotmail.com
Aim:Angelus78gak
MS:Angelusgak
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 10:44 pm
QBKooky
Decorated
Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Posts: 281
I got that message, too, and in the "To:" field of the message was a huge chunk of maybe 50 people's email addresses. Trying to stay optimistic (that seems a bit of a rookie mistake to make, no? Unless it was intentional...). This should be interesting!
_________________A clue!
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:33 pm
demonpunk
Boot
Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 61 Location: Schenecta' Dreamin' in the 518
Well i hope they're sending them in blocks of 50 or something cuz i didn't get a damn thing in response except my $5 bucks taken
_________________
My left hand is lightning and my right is thunder.My eyes are flame.My heart is ashes.LOOK UPON ME AND TREMBLE!
Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:03 am
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