unforum

[Sarah B]

What makes you start to play?

[myf]

There are a few things that make me think "I want to get involved in this", whether that's actively playing or lurking. For instance if it's based in the UK I'd probably be more likely to get involved than if it's based in Outer Mongolia; if it's connected to something I like (such as mythology, Sherlock Holmes or Jasper Fforde) I like feeling that I may have some useful knowledge or ideas to contribute to the effort; and sometimes there's just something about the trailhead that makes me curious to find out more!

[GhostDevotion]

I agree with myf, a familiar setting or time is intriguing for me, however, I personally am more of a fan of modern settings, or horror/supernatural in normal settings.

Generally, a small, interesting lead is all that is needed, the mistake some people seem to make is giving TOO much information, SCREAMING out how amazing their game will be. I'd prefer to see something, go "ooh, whats that?" and then follow it myself.

[jessie1326]

Ooh, Sarah, I was just thinking of starting a very similar thread!

I agree with Ghost to a large extent - what gets me playing (or seriously lurking) is most often what is not there. I (obviously) don't want to invest myself seriously in something that is going to fall apart or be uninteresting, so I'm looking for red flags. Does the beginning seem clever/original? Or did I just get followed on twitter by some guy named TR41LH34D who is spamming binary/Rot-10/anycipherwithspellingerrors? Does it seem well organized? Or is my first chat with TR41LH34D filled with random names and disconnected plot points, which then turn up 15 other twitter/facebook/myspace/blogspot/youtube accounts with no sense of which direction the PM wants us to start heading? Does it seem well-planned and thought out? Or were all said twitter/facebook/myspace/blogspot/youtube accounts created yesterday, with the bare minimum of effort/customization, and (here's a theme) full of spelling errors?

Now, I'm not saying that every game about how TR41LH34D just woke up and has been kidnapped/is dead/his wife or best friend is dead/his wife or best friend is missing/is being chased by something EVUL/is something EVUL and he doesn't know what day/year/decade/country he's in (but, miracle of miracles! here's a twitter account he found!) and the only way to save/stop him is to read the twitblogfacespace accounts of 15 of his closest friends is a bad game or will fall apart or anything. I've just noticed that the odds are much higher when those factors are present.

If a a game seems interesting despite these red flags, I'll probably lurk, but I'm far less likely to jump right in with both feet the way I do when something unusual comes along that I can tell a lot of thought and planning has gone into and where I feel like I have some sense of where the PM wants us to go right off the bat (even if I have no idea how to get there or what to do once I manage to get there). It may be selfish, but games that show off right away that they have thought about the kind of playing experience they want me to have get my attention quickly.

[DLT]

[ndemeter]

I tend to agree with jessie. The games that pique my interest have a definite trailhead (and by that I mean completely blatantly obvious trailhead, not something you need to ponder if it's a commercial for viagra), a slow and methodical ramping up so everyone can folow along, and a definite storyline that can be followed to a logical conclusion.

Games tend to lose me when there are 20 characters that all have a FB page, a tweeter account, a myspace account, a Gmail, and a chat handle. As an adult that has bills and needs to continue to be gainfully employed I simply don't have the time to check a million areas for updates. And how disappointing is it when that update is a small post from someone saying "Please stop them, they must not succeed" or something vague like that?

Anyways, my $0.02.

[Sarah B]

Thanks guys, that's really useful! It confirms a lot of what I thought, but you've managed to give me some food for thought there too.

And if new people read this, please chip in your thoughts also; I'm interested in everyone's opinions. I just couldn't resist getting involved in the conversation... I guess part of being an ARGer is loving a dialogue.

I am indeed based in the Midlands, DLT... ignore the Stonehenge on my location... at the time when I signed up here I was writing a dissertation on it, and it felt like I lived there, lol.

It's interesting that more than one of you mention Twitter as a turn off in seeing a trailhead. I wonder if that's something to do with the lack of information you get in a tweet? Or the lack of planning it takes to write one?

And whilst we're talking trailheads... do you prefer personal invitations that were clearly meant for you? Or something that clearly WASN'T meant for you, and you just stumbled upon it?

[DLT]

I think the twitter thing is that, since its gotten more popular, its become more attractive to the eyes of PMs as a way to get information out about their game and so has fast become a cliche, and so as soon as you see a twitter link it can be sort of "Oh, another twitter ARG."

Not to say used properly it can't be good, but if its your main source of info etc. it can feel that the PM lacks originality, and given that that person's (or that team's) creativity is the only thing that will drive the story they are trying to tell, if you feel they're not creative it could easily put you off.

[Caseys_Mom]

I tend to like the ones that start out with something you have to research, or gather information on. I have to agree that keeping up with a bunch of rambling blogs, twitter updates, etc. is tiring.
I usually pay closer attention for a longer time to those games that start off by sending mystery packages in the mail. The game I've enjoyed following the most was Charlotte's becoming real. I also think Levis did a great job.
I also prefer it when there's not information overload at the start of the game. I like one that gives you time to google around, and read, and think about the possibilities of the game.

Hope that has helped a bit. And good luck with your project!

[ungrim97]

As a newish ARG follower I thought I would throw in what I like and don't like.

Dislike - Hundreds of Blog/twitter updates with little advancement to the plot
- Commercial ARG's, I really do hate game and film related ARG's (See likes for why)
- Seven Bazzilion chars I need to follow.

Likes - Plausability. I love a CF that makes me unsure if it is real or just a game, I can then feel the suspense and excitement in each new post/puzzle (this is why i dislike Commercial ARG's)
- PUZZLES. And not just the nice basic binary/ROT/Base64 cyphers but proper head scratchers.
- I am also more likely to be interested by UK based ARG's (Annoyed that I missed Vannessa Atalanta )
- A Strong plot that develops well over time
- Personalised and believable responses to interaction. Whilst I know that the PM needs the contact with the player. Make me believe why the char is deciding to trust a random stranger who emailed/blogged/tweeted at them.
- Intelligence and word play (Did I mention my annoyance at missing Atalanta )

Most of all I like to get in on the ground floor. (As susch I usually check the forum as often as possible for new trailhead posts

[forgo7]

I will second ndemeter's dislike of using Facebook, I don't have a Facebook account, not do I want one thank you very much. Oftentimes it doesn't make sense to the story either.

[DLT]

That's a good point actually - the character having realistic access/means to use a certain website like Facebook or Twitter should always be a priority over using whatever site you OOGly prefer/think will be best for your game. A hole in the plot is a hole in the curtain, and that doesn't make for a very fun ARG experience, or atleast I would imagine.

[Samany]

 

[ndemeter]

Samany,

Think of it like this: If you were to go to the library what kind of book would you check out to read? Romance? Comedy? Horror even?

Now look in the News & Rumors section. Find an ARG that appeals that same interest and go for it.

[Samany]

Thanks for that! I am playing Organisation for Protection and Restoration, because I want to experience a game right from the outset. Also, wanting to get into Mercielleux... for the reality based myths. I LOVE these two games, even though I'm a contemporary literature freak in the library. Weird!