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[Fishjp]

ARGs and Politics?

[Rogi Ocnorb]

Would that be a form of "Quixotic Fiction"?

[Fishjp]

[Rogi Ocnorb]

There are just SO many ways it could be done that I don't think you'll get to any kind of consensus.

Most of us don't appreciate having political views shoved down our throats, especially when they differ from our own. So I'd imagine a big group would just lose interest when it started looking TOO political, one way or the other.

Personally, I'd keep up with it while the views being discussed/depicted align with my own Utopian desires and I wasn't aware that there was going to be a "hook" coming. (Something like, "If you've enjoyed this game and agree with Harvey Dent's stated positions, we'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to Candidate X.") Again, probably only as long as the views aligned with my own.

But, if it started out, widely known, as in support of "Candidate x", I'd look, but probably not keep up with it, regardless of my like or dislike for said candidate. I guess I'd best describe it as not wanting to get into a game within a game when I feel like one half of that pair is always 90% crap/misinformation.

[Fishjp]

Good points. I suppose it is much like any Movie Tie in ARG. If you are looking forward to the movie you will be more interested in the game. Much like I would never play a Sex In The City themed game, but others may be hoping for just that sort of thing right now.

[notgordian]

http://makeanarg.argnetcast.info/index.php?title=Main_Page

[FLmutant]

[ndemeter]

[Rogi Ocnorb]

I didn't/don't see the connection, either.

Unlike my time trying to play EE, I never felt "hopeless" during the Bush 43 years.

[rose]

I think any discussion of politically themed ARGs has to include Year Zero. If the sites are still up, it is worth a look through the story to see it, but you couldn't be more blatantly espousing a specific political worldview. In essence, and extremely simplified, the story of Year Zero was the government hunting down, repressing and silencing the anti-government forces.

[ndemeter]

Yeah but if you do that then you open the door to a lot of other similar themes.

Take the movie "Equilibrium" for example. Was there a styatement being made there? Sure. The references to political beliefs and even the giant cross at their capitol and their enforces being called "Clerics" were very much creating a picture of fundamentalism gone wrong. But the statement did not overshadow the movie in a way "The Day After Tomorrow" did for example.

An ARG can have fears of an oppresive government, shadow agents working against the players, etc without necessarily being turned into a "political" statement. After all, most Americans still believe in a conspiracy surrounding JFK's assasination.

[FLmutant]

[krystyn]

[faeryqueen21]

It seems we're in agreement that a game could have themes that would be considered more liberal or republican in nature.

I am curious as to the answer to what fish's specific question seems to be. Rather than the broad definition of the world "politics", could there be a game specifically made to "advertise" a politician?

I would think it could work similar to Find The Lost Ring. Eventually everyone knew that McDonalds was behind it, but it wasn't really thrown in the players faces. There wasn't blatant advertising. It did seem to turn a couple of people off, however. Politics is a sensitive issue for lots of people and I think knowing someone is behind it that you don't like would turn some people away. If your game is good though, and the message more subtle, I think people will play.

[FLmutant]