Return to Unfiction unforum
 a.r.g.b.b 
FAQ FAQ   Search Search 
 
Welcome!
New users, PLEASE read these forum guidelines. New posters, SEARCH before posting and read these rules before posting your killer new campaign. New players may also wish to peruse the ARG Player Tutorial.

All users must abide by the Terms of Service.
Website Restoration Project
This archiving project is a collaboration between Unfiction and Sean Stacey (SpaceBass), Brian Enigma (BrianEnigma), and Laura E. Hall (lehall) with
the Center for Immersive Arts.
Announcements
This is a static snapshot of the
Unfiction forums, as of
July 23, 2017.
This site is intended as an archive to chronicle the history of Alternate Reality Games.
  

The time now is Sat Nov 23, 2024 4:36 am
All times are UTC - 4 (DST in action)		 View posts in this forum since last visit
View unanswered posts in this forum
Calendar
 Forum index » Archive » Archive: Perplex City » PXC: General/Updates
[UPDATE] Sentinel - September 1st
View previous topicView next topic
Page 1 of 1 [12 Posts]  
Author Message
step
Veteran


Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 119
Location: Boston-ish

 		[UPDATE] Sentinel - September 1st
Quote:
View from Earth: Islington, Trellis, MC
By STEPHEN CASEY

Typically, one of Earth's most enduring games has been somewhere between mystery and legend. Although its recent resurgence can be traced to a popular British radio programme, its origins are one of its most confusing conundrums. I am of course talking of Mornington Crescent.

Soon after discovering the existence of the game in Perplex City I began to notice some parallels in the game's known history and comparable dates in the Perplex City calendar. I began to wonder if there was a more direct relationship than some of the other Earth inspired pastimes and cultural imports. In fact, I had a sneaking suspicion that it was one of the few examples of reverse influence, where Earth has received an export from Perplex City rather than the other way around.

Amazement quickly mounted as the evidence began to build for this theory. Even without a great deal of knowledge of the exact history of the Perplex City version, or how it has interacted with the history of Perplex City, I discovered significant dates in Perplex City history that have their parallels in the history and development of the game inspired by the London underground. Let us start at the beginning.

Advertisement

Jumbled though its history is, most Mornington Crescent academics agree on one part of the game's illustrious history; that is that it was invented by a small group of individuals in 1737 (AC 0). It's a hotly disputed point, not least because the London underground itself was only opened in 1863 (AC 126) and the titular station was only opened in 1907 (AC 170), but the fact that Perplex City's modern era began in that same year may go some way to explaining this academic conundrum. I postulate that that is also the year that Earth communications became bidirectional, unbeknownst even to people of Perplex City.

Obviously my research is hampered by the lack of a free flow of information to Earth, despite this I speculate that 1910 (173 AC), the 700th anniversary of the founding of the Perplex City Academy and a year of great public puzzle playing, the British Duke of Ellington was contacted by unknown Perplexians and the modern game of Mornington Crescent was born. The Ellington Rules, adopted as the first official set by the International Mornington Crescent Society (IMCS), now form the basis of the modern game.

Knowledge of and interest in Mornington Crescent in recent years is easily attributed to "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue," a radio series broadcast on the BBC radio service. I find it difficult to believe that details of the game published in "Intricate Designs" by Professor Sanjean Adamek could not have somehow leaked to Earth, and so redoubled previous interest in the game. In addition to that and suggesting more than mere coincidence, the year of publishing was also the last time a Receda Cube theft was attempted!

Encompassing all of the available information is a mammoth task. Above are only some of the details that stand out the most. However, I speculate that we Earthlings inherited the great game of Mornington Crescent from the Perplexians, and indeed that more information about the history of Earth/Perplex City may be hidden in the intricate relationship that was formed between the two civilizations as a result of this simple game.


Quote:
Iona Interviews...
Anja Marlowe
By IONA RODIE

Anja Marlowe, the new curator of the Academy Museum, has a determined jaw and the tense body language of somebody who is used to getting her way, easy or not. She welcomes me into her office with an air of reluctance; her gaze flicks to the clock as she reminds me that we have only 20 minutes for this interview, between other appointments.

Notoriously driven and ambitious, Marlowe has become an increasingly influential name in the museum world in recent years. She has always been an advocate for challenging museum-goers to wrestle with difficult and even painful subjects. Her first mark at the Maitland Museum was the infamous "Tribal Bonds, Tribal Blood" exhibit, wherein she gathered together a compelling case that the ancient nomadic peoples of the plains participated in ritual infanticide, particularly in times of famine. So, does she plan something similarly shocking for her first exhibition as head of the Academy Museum?

Marlowe smiles at the question. "I think I can guarantee causing something of a stir, yes. There are, after all, many elements of the city's past which we are in no hurry to examine. I see it as my job to force that examination -- to turn the city's head toward those things it has turned away from and hold its eyes open."

Would she care to specify? Or to comment on the rumours that have been rife since her appointment that she intends to address the most difficult element of the city's past -- the war?

Advertisement

"Nothing is set in stone yet, of course." Marlowe raises an eyebrow. "I was only appointed very recently, after all, and my predecessor left me with a number of commitments to fulfill. ... But it's no secret that I have an interest in that period of history. My name is Anja, after all. And I have a personal connection to those people. Our family tradition holds that one of my great-great-and-on-grandmothers was captured and forced into marriage with a military officer. The city has still failed to lay to rest the ghosts of Ilja and Anja."

Marlowe refers to the ghost-children from the fable, wandering the world alone but for each other. The story first makes an appearance in 35BC, and anthropologists have suggested that they were a resonant image of their time. Marlowe, though, considers them an icon of the city's guilty conscience.

"Why is it," she asks, "that the war is still such a flammable topic? Why isn't it a part of open dialogue in the city, part of our culture and our educational system?" Marlowe's face tightens into a frown. "Looking directly at the truth and seeing it's ugly, well, that can hurt. The city has this image of its reason-driven, wise ancestors, and the truth is nowhere near that clean. It's easier to just avoid ever talking about it."

Indeed, the city has never participated in any open discussion on the war. In academia, broaching the topic has oft been considered a career-ender. The last serious attempt to address the war was by Academy fellow Roger Portson in 247, when he began railing for more than a dry list of dates and names in textbooks for college-aged students. Portson was forced into retirement within the year and shunned from public life up to the day he died. Does Marlowe fear for the future of her own career, planning such a controversial exhibit?

She smiles wryly. "I don't think I've said that I'm planning such an exhibit, have I? And even if I did so, it would still have to be approved by the Board of Trustees. But I think you can rest assured that I won't let a little controversy stand in my way."

Indeed, Marlowe's career has never shied away from controversial areas. She left the Maitland for the Academy Museum in 253, where she served as special anthropological consultant until her promotion to the top spot last week. During her tenure at the Academy Museum, she has secured her reputation for being a maverick unafraid to address uncomfortable subjects, designing exhibits ranging from corruption in the early City Council to historical mistreatment of the intellectually impaired. Since her appointment, even the faint rumours that she might plan to create an exhibition dealing with the war have drawn furious criticism from cultural pundits and civic groups. Marlowe seems to be neither surprised nor worried by these outbursts.

She nods slowly. "I guess some people think a museum is just a collection of old and interesting things to look at," she says. "I think it's important, though, to use these old and interesting things to try to understand what they mean about the world they come from. Even if it isn't nice. Especially if it isn't nice."


Quote:
KSI Lands PCL18M Contract with City
By AMBER MAI-WAN

Key Surety, Inc. has announced a PCL30 million agreement with the Office of the Council to perform a complete review of all information security systems and assess the need to upgrade or alter them. KSI spokesman Howard Angleburn said that while the office's primary and sensitive systems have been secure for years, many minor systems have been neglected as a low priority.

Under the terms of the agreement, KSI will conduct a 24-month review of each information system, its purpose, and access contingency plans. By the end of the period, KSI expects to have a complete strategy for integrating central authorisation by key and biometric data.

Advertisement

Angleburn said that the council systems are not unusual in needing this sort of security overhaul. "There are still a lot of systems out there that allow keyless access, for example with a username and password," he said. "The problem with that kind of system is that it's fallible for human reasons. People tend to pick easily-guessed passwords, such as a favourite place, or the name of a loved one. It's inherently insecure."

A written statement from the Office of the Council heralded the move as "signalling our continuing commitment to principles of efficient organisational conduct." In the statement, the office indicated that it would ensure all KSI employees performing the work would be fully cleared to have access to all potentially-sensitive information.

KSI is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centrifuge. Centrifuge shares initially climbed 3% on the PCX on the news, but soon levelled off.


News in Brief
Quote:
Take Initiative Out

Fans are already wildly enthusiastic over the latest offering from Roll for Damage, titled Take Initiative. Crowds gathered from early in the evening last night at clubs and bars throughout the city in anticipation of the midnight release. Said one fan, "This album is genius. Better than anything they've done so far." (Full text)


More News in Brief
Quote:
Owings Disputes Match

Paul Owings is formally disputing the result of his last match, which was officially marked as a loss to him. Owings claims that the final point was awarded based on a puzzle with an ambiguous solution, and that he should be awarded an extra round. The question should go to PCAG arbitration tomorrow. (Full text)


More Headlines
Quote:
# Heist Trial Scheduled
# Warner Spikes Market
# Remton Floats New Bond


Letters
Quote:
MORE PCAG COVERAGE

The Sentinel is doing a really poor job this year of covering the excitement and buzz of the PCAG championship season. It's true that the early part of the season includes far too many players to track all of them, and that it becomes easier to explain the standings as the field gradually narrows -- but that's no excuse for not even trying!
Yanis Barclay

SENTINEL LOSING ITS EDGE

I'm very disappointed that the Sentinel is going so soft on those ruffians at the Academy, who lost the Receda Cube and haven't managed to recover it yet. Where are those hard-hitting editorials I've come to rely on? Did the Sentinel lose its nerve along with its publisher?
Cheche Orlin

NO LOVE LOST

I think it's just terrible that Alejo has dropped Aurora Belle so quickly, just because she sees a sunny future together. That man is going to have to give up his childish ways sooner or later and settle down and have a family. Now that we know how shallow he is, though, we can avoid the new RFD album as the work of a selfish boor -- Aurora deserves better than this!
Hamilton Yee

Hurrah for Alejo! I'm so glad that he isn't with Aurora any more. She's too clingy for him, and everybody knows he belongs with Joya and their baby, anyway. Aurora was just an obstacle between them.
Jennifer Frye

_________________
Every step 3 brings with it new perspectives.
[Synagoga Nick: Puppy, Team Tollin, CoD: Stephen7]

PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:04 pm
 View user's profile AIM Address
 Back to top 
Seej
Unfettered


Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Posts: 614
Stephen Casey wrote:
.....the British Duke of Ellington.....

Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy

Nice article there. Very entertaining.

As for the mention in the Iona article of the war; is this the first instance that anyone's mentioned this? I can't find a mention in the Wiki timeline. Perhaps the theories (such as The Advisor's) that The Cube was a weapon has some relationship to this (and possibly the disappearance of Viendenbourg).....

PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 7:35 pm
 View user's profile
 Back to top 
Scott
Entrenched


Joined: 11 Sep 2004
Posts: 1140
Location: 390 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Rochester NY, 14624, USA

 		We know fFrom the academy site that there was a time of great upheaval and disturbance. "The period from 60BC onward brought with it renewed conflict both in the wider world and also within the Academy." are the words used. And of course There is Scarlett's old mystery man who weeps at some random stuff fFrom the year 5BC. We dont know anything more than that. You're probably right however, the sleepy village Viendenbourg "Before everything changed" may very well have some connection here.
_________________
Perplex City is a game whose only rule is: There must be a party.
Balance of Powers is a game whose only rule is: There must be a political party.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:55 pm
 View user's profile Visit poster's website
 Back to top 
Scott
Entrenched


Joined: 11 Sep 2004
Posts: 1140
Location: 390 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Rochester NY, 14624, USA

 		Actually -- at the risk of double posting -- what i fFind odd is the fFact that the academy museum's primary mission is to study the period of time before the modern era. However, by all accounts, that era wasnt all that nice, and really noone wants to even think about it. (Though, I suppose the war was only the second half of one century - there are millenia on which to study otherwise.)
_________________
Perplex City is a game whose only rule is: There must be a party.
Balance of Powers is a game whose only rule is: There must be a political party.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:59 pm
 View user's profile Visit poster's website
 Back to top 
sledgecallier
Unfettered


Joined: 19 May 2005
Posts: 414
Location: Behind the Sofa...

 		There have been mentions of a time of upheaval around the time the cube was found but I think you are correct that this is the first mention of a specific war.
_________________
SledgeCallier.
'We're gonna need a bigger boat!'

My cards to trade at Perplexcitytrades

PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:59 pm
 View user's profile
 Back to top 
number9dream
Decorated


Joined: 22 Apr 2005
Posts: 222
Location: Newcastle, UK

 		Most interesting 'View from Earth' yet, imo. Smile

Have been trying to decipher the rules of that damn game for months, didn't even know that i could get radio 4 on my DAB, Embarassed
_________________
Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:40 pm
 View user's profile
 Back to top 
Spankit
Decorated


Joined: 22 Apr 2005
Posts: 219
Location: Hooville....Wahoowa!

 		Don't forget:
Quote:
Corrections
In the article "Commuters Delayed," we incorrectly specified the stations affected by the service failure. Service was interrupted along the Amber line, on the Amandier, Quadrant Park and Trellis Gate stations.


Quite the mistake for a reporter to make.
_________________
"A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought." - Lord Peter Wimsey
232/333

PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:46 am
 View user's profile AIM Address
 Back to top 
SteveC
Unfettered


Joined: 05 May 2005
Posts: 381

 		lol, thanks for the compliments on the article. I've got a problem now though, should I abandon "duke" (doonesbury character, left) and take on my new avatar of honour?

PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 5:35 am
 View user's profile
 Back to top 
sledgecallier
Unfettered


Joined: 19 May 2005
Posts: 414
Location: Behind the Sofa...

 		I'd go with the new Avitar. Smile

Idea By the way, has anyone searched for anything on the net for Roll For Damage? Maybe a website or downloads? Idea
_________________
SledgeCallier.
'We're gonna need a bigger boat!'

My cards to trade at Perplexcitytrades

PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 7:42 am
 View user's profile
 Back to top 
ParityBit
Decorated


Joined: 17 Oct 2003
Posts: 168
Location: London Above
sledgecallier wrote:
Idea By the way, has anyone searched for anything on the net for Roll For Damage? Maybe a website or downloads? Idea


Yeah, wasn't the new album, 'Take Initiative' supposed to have been released yesterday?

I'm waiting for it to appear in the iTunes new music email. Smile

PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 8:48 am
 View user's profile
 Back to top 
BrianEnigma
Entrenched


Joined: 05 Oct 2003
Posts: 1199
Location: Pacific Northwest

 		Also: Ryan Klein is back as the Advertising Manager and Tanika Rogers dropped from that position to Senior Sales Manager.
_________________
Y0 Resources / VP Wiki / PXC Catalog / Metacortex

PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 11:23 am
 View user's profile Visit poster's website
 Back to top 
Mikeyj
Unfictologist


Joined: 18 Oct 2004
Posts: 1847
Location: London

 		I'm glad we finally had confirmation of the war that was specced away ages ago...I'm going to be self-referential and remind people of this which was some of our earlier evidence
_________________
Irrelevant musings.

PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:00 pm
 View user's profile Visit poster's website
 Back to top 
Display posts from previous:   Sort by:   
Page 1 of 1 [12 Posts]  
View previous topicView next topic
 Forum index » Archive » Archive: Perplex City » PXC: General/Updates
Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
You cannot post calendar events in this forum



Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group