unforum

[taozero]

[discussion] Meta Sites

[Darkstar]

Well, I think meta sites help the game, if the game is big enough for them. They are a great way of getting new people into the genre, and sites such as ruaware.org help people show others what an ARG exactly is. If someone asks you why the hell you're getting calls from angels at 6am (meheheh) then you can just point them in that direction with one link.

Also, when we see a meta site, we use it, but once the game is underway we tend to forget about it. Which is a good thing. I don't think it detracts from the experience at all, it's just a different way of starting a (hopefully) good game.

My thoughts.

[Nightmare Tony]

At the signpost up ahead...

the next stop...

the Twilight Zone.


Seriously, depending on the game, I like a meta as well. Wildfire meta didnt detrract either. It can also host up the trail or wiki links if needed, and keep a running tab of puzzles going on and sites and things. so it can also bring players up to speed.

[C_Brennan]

As much as I hate meta pages (though I am apt to use them) I use them because of the legal mumbo jumbo. I am not a large corporation like Audi or Mind Candy or Microsoft, and so I feel a little vulnerable when I'm making a game. I like to make sure that the rules are specifically stated, and the explanation is put forth about the game.

I feel this way because there's not only alot of old players who understand what to do and what not to do in ARGs, but there are the new people who are wandering around aimlessly. And God forbid that one of these new people does something they shouldn't, and that puts me in trouble because I created the game. This way, with the meta site, I can put down the ground rules and say, "Look, I told you. So if you do something stupid that I told you not to do, you can't sue me, because I told you." If it wasn't for sue happy people, I'd steer clear of meta sites.

And, on another note, using a meta site can keep your players up to date with the status of the game's creation (so you aren't waiting on your toes for infinity, like Perplex City) without having to cover it up and be totally hush hush. This way, if people are expecting your game (such as the sequel to Project Gateway) you can keep them happy and in the know, and they can go play other games to their heart's content while they wait for yours.

And, as was said before, it can help teach new people what the game is about, how it's played, and maybe it can also be a small taste of what is to come, so players can decide if they like the world or not and not be disappointed when you get into the thick of things and feel as though they wasted time.

So, if a small break in the reality of the situation can keep my rear away from being sued and my players happy, then I will take that small break.

[Varin]

[imbri]

Re: [discussion] Meta Sites

[Phaedra]

Re: [discussion] Meta Sites

[rowan]

An interesting thing about the Heist meta sites are that they weren't there in the beginning - they sort of evolved as the game went on.

At first it was just a small little blurb on stolena3. Then a message went up on the sa3 boards. Then even later the www.artoftheheist.com site came up in its current form.

To me it seems that the meta information grew as the auidence did. More and more people, who weren't at all familiar with this idea, came and needed to be told exactly what it was. It allowed them to feel safe about trying to track down a stolen car. With ILB (and even The Beast) just a few minutes of looking on the site would tell you that "this is not real" but with the storyline of Heist, if you hadn't heard of ARGs, how could you really be sure unless someone told you?

[rose-not logged in]

Meta sites

[FLmutant]

[krystyn]