unforum

[Aaronr808]

Whats so great about ARG's

[SirQuady]

Re: Whats so great about ARG's

[faeryqueen21]

Well said SirQuady! I love the friends I've made on unFiction. Some are twice my age, and some are half. It's a place where diverse people can come and interact with each other on common ground.

As far as other "rewards" go. I've played a couple of ARG's with these. I won an iPhone and a gift bag from Covet. That was sweet. I am also currently playing What Is This Game where there will be a winner who gets a part in a movie sort of based around the ARG storyline and where it goes. That's pretty sweet as well. That being said, I will only play an ARG if the story is compelling. Prizes and swag are merely bonuses.

[Rekidk]

Nothing is more interesting to people than other people. That's why the community is such an important aspect in ARGs. To be honest, if I had to play ARGs by myself, I probably wouldn't play them. It just wouldn't be as much fun without other people to solve puzzles and discuss the story with.

[Rogi Ocnorb]

I came for the puzzles...
And I stayed for the people.

I've learned so much from the folks around here.
And...
A nicer online bunch, you just won't find.

[LordIllidan]

Yes. As pretty much everyone else has said above, it's the interaction with other people, both players and characters, that really make an ARG fun.

[catherwood]

This thread seems to be drifting into a discussion of solo play versus group play, so let me fully admit to threadjacking right now. Over on a blog mainly devoted to virtual worlds and 3-D environment, they too are wondering what makes MMO games different than solo play.
http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2008/04/did-we-ignore-t.html
This entry interested me not from the ARG perspective, but it did mention a term I've heard used in ARG discussions:

[Big_Larry]

[faeryqueen21]

[Nighthawk]

Different people gather different things from ARG, as is the case with any fiction.

Some people, like myself, enjoy the feeling of accomplishment, be it through puzzles or plot resolution.

Others like the roleplaying aspect, the feeling of being a part of the story as it progresses. They become part of the reality, embracing the "TINAG" concept, making the story progress through their direct input.

Others do it as a learning experience. Prior to my involvement with ARGs, I knew nothing about encryption systems, or audio and video manipulation, or image processing, or several other things. In some cases, like VITD and Rivard Project, there's historical information that is sometimes fascinating.

Prior to becoming a PM myself I was very poor at graphic design, artistry and 3D rendering, but I feel I'm becoming significantly better at it as a result of my own game's development. As a PM I have developed sites and processes I would have never done for any other reason, giving me that same sense of accomplishment. Also, even though I've been a programmer and in the computer industry for over twenty years, I don't recall the last time I've learned more about the history of computers than when I was involved with LGL.

[happojapo]

I understand ARGs as an avanced form of cinema, "Web 2.0 movies". Directly linked to the tradition of storytelling.

More than what motivate people to play an ARG, I am concerned with which elements of the game keep people playing.

What could be the pattern of a succesful ARG, i.e. storyline, challenging puzzles, forums community involvement, etc.

[Aaronr808]

The possibilities of your community

[pancito]

I assume you are talking about 'just folks' communities, because many of the types you speak off already exist. They're called research instituitions, corporations, governments, etc. The type of problems you mention require a lot of expertise. I learned how to use an Enigma machine playing VITD, but I wouldn't have a clue as to how to build one or set up a Benchley Park situation. It may be that the best we can do is educate and raise awareness, like World Without Oil did. And, some ideas for possible solutions might come out of a situation like you describe, but people go to school for 20+ years for a reason.

[natas]

[Nighthawk]