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[kmduke]

[META]Experience review/rating

[Cavalos]

Well, I'll post my two cents on the subject:

I don't consider the Lost Experience an "according-to-Hoyle" ARG, and I don't think it was ever really intended to be one. It's more of a somewhat interactive story designed to compliment the TV show in its hiatus with some ARGy elements added to it.

Look, the Experience seems designed to draw in people from all walks of life with an interest in the show, not just ARGers. It simply isn't fair to judge it in terms of an ARG or the expectations of an ARG audience, since much of the target audience probably has no idea (or even cares) what an ARG is anyway.

To me, the best way to enjoy the Experience is just to follow the story as it unfolds, and as it relates to the show, as best as we can. That's what I'm trying to do, anyway, even though I'm an ARG newbie who'd like to increase his experience in ARG fundamentals.

I'll admit that certain promises seem to have been made involving the alternate reality aspects of the game that have not been entirely fulfilled. The fact is, though, that not everybody wants to solve ROT ciphers or IM with obscure characters.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I view the whole thing as more of an intricate interactive viral campaign rather than a straightforward ARG. Anyway, that's just my opinion.

[theShaggy]

You're largely right, this wasn't intended to be a full-fledge ARG.

However, each successive act slowed down and dropped a lot of logic and intensity, culminating in a Willy Wonka campaign. The first act gave all people everywhere a chance to solve puzzles, to watch some interesting information, and to get a sense that there was actually SOMETHING going on. Following up on big-ass revelations (like the DHARMA acronym) and the like, you went into Act II which, while began slightly shaky, had moments of greatness followed by huge flops of consistency (map of Thunder Bay?). People lost interest because there was nothing to do, but yet the producers tried to make it seem like there should have been. This came across as being patronizing, and felt the effects of that.

And now, act III, we're relegated to a stretched out, pointless "Hey find this code so you can learn about the Evil Plan that's brewing." There has been no other information, all the characters we've learned about and met (the ROT/Mandrake Wig, DJ Dan, etc) have disappeared, and Rachel hasn't given us any updates. Basically, it feels like the PMs said "Okay, so we've spent all this time building the story, we... aw crap, we still have a month and a half to fill. Let's forgo everything else and let them look for candy bars." And this candy bar thing has no real point to being there, and the producers didn't think far enough ahead to organize distribution at places without, y'know, being arrested.

There is a marked difference between making a light ARG for people of all walks (the original LOST online stuff was a light ARG) and making a good, consistent game which non-ARGers can still follow.

Besides, if Alias had a few of them that were successful, why should this one have been any different?

Bleh, that was too much drivel, sorry.

[Ruuku]

I'm hoping that they have realised that the intrest has dropped so much, then give us some "Oh Em Gee, that was some amazing **** right there" Moments. I kinda liked it when THF.org was around, but TLE is now a 'Check one per day' ARG

[ixalon]

"What is an ARG?" almost as hotly debated as "What is art?"

I like shaggy's term "ARG Light". Technically it is an ARG; the fictional element is presented as reality and we communicate with the characters. However I agree, since the first act it's lost a lot of the elements which make it feel like a proper ARG i.e. the majority characters have been forgotten or are non-communicative, and there have been very few puzzles involved in the hunt for the video fragments.

The only thing keeping it going are the 2.5 moles (Speaker, The Lost Ninja, and partly The Other Girl) but hopefully now Act 2 is nearly over, Act 3 will pass quickly and we'll get back to some real ARG action!

I'm going to one of the Manchester live event this week; I highly doubt any of the characters will turn up but it'll be fun to meet other players.