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Daeld

Potential Problems with Interactive Rabbit-holes...

**Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:45 am

Nighthawk

I've never made phone calls, but I have sent out mailings. And my mailings have, so far, screamed out "this is for a game!"

I am very hesitant in using the phone as a PM because I've already seen how it can be as a player. I've had one PM call me at 11pm on a weekday accusing me of being a Russian spy, and that was kind of hard to explain to the wife (who was asleep next to me at the time).

Also Project Abraham called me numerous times at random with a bogus caller ID. That was a recorded message, and if I didn't hear it at the time the message is lost.

Reaching out in to the real world is difficult if it's not (a) obviously a game, and (b) in a controlled environment.

**Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:19 pm

_________________
"Omne ignotum pro magnifico"

Daeld

**Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 5:40 pm

kwool · Veteran Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Posts: 121 Location: Iowa

I'll be honest: for the most part, I really do not like phone calls for games.

Firstly, they can be somewhat difficult to manage and set up.

But most importantly is that the call only occurs once. If it is missed or ignored, it will not happen again. And since many people regularly will not answer phone calls from unknown or unfamiliar numbers, the success rate with phone calls seems to me extremely low. And then there are people who simply don't like to use the phone (myself included).

All in all, it's something that I would exercise caution before and during use.

But that's just my opinion! Smile

**Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:35 am

PsychoticKitten

Living in Canada I have a hard time with games that require phone numbers. I think it's a great idea and everything but I can't justify weird calls and potential long distance charges. Sad

**Posted:** Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:32 pm

_________________
If I cried everytime someone did something stupid i'd have been dead due to dehydration a long time ago.

Daeld

Yeah, having to call as a player is a pain. In the Ennead, there was only one player who was able to reliably call the number (San Diego to Vancouver Shocked

)

What I had in mind was SMS through the internet, but I'm reconsidering.

Thanks.

**Posted:** Sat Sep 12, 2009 6:49 am

kwool · Veteran Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Posts: 121 Location: Iowa

Oh, SMS is totally different from voice calls for me. I used it in the game I just PM'd (Institute for Future Medicine) and feel it worked rather well. It must be used carefully, however, and not all too often, since many people have a limited number of texts.

You can check out the thread here to see how I used it, how players responded, etc. It's in the archives. Also, PM me if you have any specific questions!

**Posted:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:45 pm

_________________
Kyle
Cuento Productions
creator of Aguatero Industries and The Institute for the Future of Medicine

Daeld

Thanks! I'll have a look.

(nice job on institute btw!) Worshippy

**Posted:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:13 pm