unforum

[Grifter_7]

[Trailhead??] July OXM Page 74

[Jiroe]

That looks interesting, but I doubt they'd do an ARG over XBL, at least not the way they are suggesting in the article. If they decide to contact someone based on how many XBLA achievements they have, they'll probably always be contacting ST The King (the current leader in the world with achievements). If not, then it seems the game would be intrusive. How do they know that it's not just by chance that someone meets the criteria of being contacted, and maybe they don't want to play? And if they recieve a threatening message, they might not even be aware that it's an ARG, or even know what an ARG is. It seems to me that they wouldn't have a way of knowing who's playing the ARG part of the games, and who's just really good at XBLA games.

Having said that, it's a really cool idea. I'm a 360 junkie as it is. Playing an ARG on it would give me another excuse. Although I'm not sure there's anything in the article that would lead to anything. I'm trying to think of all of the XBLA games I've played and if there are any oddities about them. I'll let you know if I think of something.

[Bunnyears]

[Grifter_7]

Bunnyears = Dan Amrich

http://www.bunnyears.net

[catherwood]

That PDF scan does contain some copyrighted images, and might not last, so I thought I would transcribe just the relevant column.

[Bunnyears]

[Jiroe]

[Grifter_7]

[Max Steele]

If an ARG would happen on the XBOX or XBOX 360, it would be extremely limited.

Officially, web browsing does not occur on either of these platforms, so they would be limited to real-world interactions or content delivered over X-Box Live.

It cannot be assumed that people who have an X-Box / 360 also have a computer.

This article is a cool "What if", but it's not ready yet.

[Grifter_7]

[thebruce]

that sounds intriguing... I like the idea. If the game contacts people who hit certain achievements/milestones in various new arcade games, the gamers could receive the same message, or they could be different (though they couldn't each be unique and necessary for furthering the plot, since as we know, not every 360 owner has a computer or plays ARGs).
Kind of like PXC, there are rare and common cards, not every single individual card is necessary, but everyone working together can collect and record each card type. Same with these Arcade 'milestones'... users receive different messages, sometimes the same, but catalogued together would further the plot.

Even then it could open up to our 'regular' ARG world of general internet use, real life interaction, etc...

I can definitely see it being possible.

Though in order to retain the game's fun factor - replayability, and enjoyment for non-ARGers, I'd assume the achievements may or may not be secret, and definitely not exclusive to the ARG (as opposed to game achievements themselves), but even then, who says plot has to be furthered by users unlocking achievements? If the game is on Live, just as Bungie keeps track of game data, the game could send off info to the PMs of which gamers, for example, finds an item in an alley at a certain time, and send them a plot milestone...

possibilities are endless