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 Forum index » Archive » Archive: General » Old News & Rumors
Design an ARG, Cure Cancer
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Adrian
Boot

Joined: 26 Sep 2002
Posts: 69
Location: Oxford/London, UK

Design an ARG, Cure Cancer

Hi guys,

You'll probably know that I left Mind Candy and Perplex City a few months ago. I've been keeping myself busy recently, however, setting up a new company with my brother (Six to Start) and working on a new project with Cancer Research UK. It's something that I think will be of interest to the ARG community, because it's not just a new serious ARG, but it's an opportunity for aspiring ARG designers to work on a very significant project. So here's the story:

Today, I'm launching a new project with Cancer Research UK called 'Let's Change the Game' that will develop an ARG whose aim is to raise money for cancer research.

http://www.letschangethegame.org

This is a serious game with a difference. Not only will we be measuring its success *directly* through how much money it manages to raise, but we're inviting teams from around the world to submit game designs. The team behind the winning design, as chosen by judges who include Sean Stewart, Rhianna Pratchett and Jon Waite, will then be invited to develop the game.

They'll have guidance and advice from the judges, plus the full resources of Cancer Research UK; that's over 600 stores, monthly TV ads, hundreds of races and live events, and mailings going out to over 20 million people. It could be the biggest ARG, ever - and we're giving new designers the chance to create it.

As for funding, I'm donating £1000 ($2000) towards the development of the ARG. It may not be enough, and hopefully we'll get in-kind donations from other sources, but it's my belief that this £1000 will be multiplied many times by the ARG into a much larger donation for Cancer Research UK.

We're really excited about this project, not only because it has the potential to help cancer research, but it'll also help provide experience to aspiring game designers. People always used to ask me how they could become ARG designers, and I would always say that they should try and gain experience - but with such a small field, the only way to do that is through grassroots games. While people might have plenty of time to volunteer, grassroots games still cost *some* money which people often can't spare. This is a way to give lots of people experience in thinking about game design, and one team the opportunity to make a really significant game.

I'm very pleased with the way that Cancer Research UK have gotten behind this project. It's a big organisation, spending over half a billion dollars on research last year, and big organisations are prone to 'not invented here' syndrome; however, the idea of an ARG that will combine every arm of the charity has really caught on, and I think there's a real opportunity for something amazing to happen here.

Anyway, there's plenty more information at http://www.letschangethegame.org

The first round of 500-word game designs are due in on November 16th, so you have almost seven weeks to get cracking Smile

Cheers,

Adrian
_________________
Chief Creative at Six to Start
Founder of Let's Change the Game


PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:24 am
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Mikeyj
Unfictologist


Joined: 18 Oct 2004
Posts: 1847
Location: London

This sounds great! The fundraising arms of these big charities are quite competitive too, hopefully some of the others will notice the potential of the genre too.

If people want to donate for the ARG development fund how should they contact you?

Edit - Read first, comment later Mikey Rolling Eyes - if you want to donate:

http://www.letschangethegame.org/contact
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Irrelevant musings.

PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:02 am
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Lysithea
Unfettered


Joined: 04 Feb 2004
Posts: 468
Location: Australia

I agree, this sounds like a very exciting venture.

Unfortunately I'm not in a position right now to be able to consider applying for a behind-the-scenes role.

I will, however, be keeping a keen eye on further developments of this project.

Good luck. Smile
_________________
"Some people grow into their dreams instead of out of them." - Miles Vorkosigan

PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:29 am
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Uberg33k
Entrenched


Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 905
Location: Atlanta

Wow, this makes me wish I had an ounce of talent so that I could help out. Sorry I suck Sad , I'll see what I can do about a donation instead.

PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:00 am
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Shadom
Boot

Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Posts: 41

Totally cool!
I hope there ís going to be a team which I can joion (not confident enough to start my own...')

PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:33 am
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plugs
Unfettered


Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 430
Location: Behind you.

Such an awesome idea! Already gathering troops Very Happy

PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:50 am
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Rogi Ocnorb
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee


Joined: 01 Sep 2005
Posts: 4266
Location: Where the cheese is free.

I was THIS close to posting an idea about setting up a grassroots fund for games with real potential and then Adrian hits us with this.

Awesome! While I'm not a good enough writer to even consider forwarding an idea, I'd love to be part of a team. I'm pretty good at research, continuity and puzzle design and can provide a voice of reason when things get a little "out there".

I lost my mother to cancer when I was 10 and have a certain passion about cancer research funding. It should be pretty easy to generate very high levels of passion and interactivity for the players in this. Visiting my mother in the hospital are still some of my most vivid memories. Add a bald child, a sinister drug company executive or two and a cure from across the galaxy and there's something for everyone. Wink
_________________
I'm telling you now, so you can't say, "Oh, I didn't know...Nobody told me!"


PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:08 pm
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ALISDAIRPARK
Unfictologist


Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 1646
Location: Everywhere else

If a team's being pulled together, I don't have much techie skills, but do have:

> A good imagination (with a couple of idea for ARGs already kicking about in my dome)
> Pretty good writing skills (well, I can spel)
> I don't need much sleep so fitting this round a full time job is cool
> Project management skills (it's my job)
> Reasonable with puzzles, from being around here for a while
> Have a really bad sense of humour (bad as in puntastic and twisted) which I think a good ARG should have.
_________________
Absorb what is useful <> Reject what is not <> Add what is uniquely your own
Playing : http://cerebrumachine.com and http://www.westunfictionopia.info

My charity page: http://www.justgiving.com/alisdairpark3


PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:02 pm
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Shadom
Boot

Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Posts: 41

Mhh seems that "we" would have enough members but no leader...

Perhaps we can start totaly democratic team? No leader but deciding everything together?



BTW. abaout me:

Pros:
-moderate skill in image and audioediting.
Basic skills in HTML/Java/Flash.
- german so I can write/speak it perfectly.
- roleplayer since 1998 and a fan fiction writer (all german).
- studying 'Politics and Economy in East-Asia with focus on Japan'. Due to that I can speak an write more or less in Japenese.
-good with acting (but I can't go to USA so this will probably not count except for phone calls)
- a lot of free time.
- different timezone (Germany!)


Contras:
- Germany . So no possibility to go to somewhere you are.
- new to the Arg scene.
- native German speaker, so i'm not perfect in English.

PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:33 pm
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ALISDAIRPARK
Unfictologist


Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 1646
Location: Everywhere else

I'd say in the spirit of Unfiction that no leader is the perfect way to go, as long as we have some overall organisation/ coordination (I'm happy to do that as long as everyone is OK with me ragging on them Twisted Evil )

BTW...I've come up with the germ of a brilliant idea... (pun intended, told you my SOH was bad)
_________________
Absorb what is useful <> Reject what is not <> Add what is uniquely your own
Playing : http://cerebrumachine.com and http://www.westunfictionopia.info

My charity page: http://www.justgiving.com/alisdairpark3


PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:43 pm
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plugs
Unfettered


Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 430
Location: Behind you.

If anyone is looking for a team member then, count me in!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:16 pm
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AtionSong
Unfettered


Joined: 29 Aug 2006
Posts: 352

I've gotten a few ideas too, a few story related and a few good ways to raise funds. Should we start a separate forum where we could form teams and discuss ideas, or do PMs, or what?

PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 7:10 pm
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Adrian
Boot

Joined: 26 Sep 2002
Posts: 69
Location: Oxford/London, UK

Cool to see a lot of people excited about the project Smile

Just a quick note, I've had a few people ask about donating money to the development fund. I'm not actually seeking donations since I'd rather people save that for the game itself, but a couple of people have insisted, so the development fund is now over £1200, or $2400. It will probably go up a bit more in the coming weeks.
_________________
Chief Creative at Six to Start
Founder of Let's Change the Game


PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 7:19 pm
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Will 2.0
Unfictologist


Joined: 22 Jun 2007
Posts: 1431
Location: Burlington, Vermont

I've got experience in the field but I don't think I can handle much more but if my help is needed I'll damn well jump in!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 7:35 pm
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Shadom
Boot

Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Posts: 41

Forum would be a nice one..

PostPosted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:28 am
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