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 Forum index » Chaotic Fiction » Flynn Lives
[OT] Tron and 42 Entertainments Future
Moderators: enaxor, Euchre, spaceboy, thebruce
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Christien
Unfettered

Joined: 15 Apr 2010
Posts: 419
Location: Montreal, Canada

 		From what I'm hearing, FL seems to be the biggest/most elaborate ARG to date. It's my first ARG and I am a little worried that my new ARG obsession is peaking too soon and the next few that I play I will just feel dissapointed.

Regardless, I couldn't be having a better time. I don't post a lot, but I'm watching the forums now pretty much 24/7.

I sent off en email to 42E a little while ago letting them know that I am enjoying their work so much that not only have they guarenteed that I'll buy a ticket to the film, I'll be picking up most of the merchandise that is available as well.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:46 pm
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Shad0
I Have No Life


Joined: 20 Jun 2004
Posts: 2180
Location: Southern California, USA

 		Re: [OT] Tron and 42 Entertainments Future
Re: viral campaigns
thebruce wrote:
This thread is also a quaint summary of the general evolution of the ARG genre in mainstream entertainment. And it touches on some of the sensitive, taboo points in its growing pains, where various developers have had very different feelings about how ARGs and viral campaigns like this should progress. Depending on your philosophy of what constitutes an "ARG" vs typical "marketing", a lot of sentiments here seem to show what hits home with the target audience.

Coincidentally, I just came across this blog post on the subject of transmedia marketing. Interesting (and possibly pertinent) excerpt:

Mitch Joel wrote:
Marketing needs to up its game.

The brands that win are the brands that tell a great story. When it comes to transmedia storytelling, the brands that win are the brands that tell many great stories and are able to connect them all together. One way to get better at telling great stories, comes from understanding the structure, form and ingredients of a great story.

_________________
These were the puzzles that would take a day, these were puzzles that would take a week, and these puzzles they'd probably never figure out until we broke down and gave them the answers. ... The Cloudmakers solved all of these puzzles on the first day.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:18 pm
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FSURobbie
Guest
Christien wrote:
From what I'm hearing, FL seems to be the biggest/most elaborate ARG to date.


Mmm, not sure I agree with that, Why So Serious? was pretty huge and was far more elaborate than FL has been so far. That's not a knock against FL, it has been fantastic, but WSS? had far more player involvement/merging of realities than FL has to date and did a much better job of maintaining TINAG.

You could make the same argument for other previous ARG's/Virals (I Love Bees comes to mind) but personally I think WSS? set a pretty high standard for player immersion and sheer scope of game that hasn't been rivaled yet.

Again, just my two cents...

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:27 pm
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eolith
Unfettered


Joined: 23 Jun 2007
Posts: 623

 		There is a fairly strong limitation on ARGs though, and that is that the audience needs to be well connected with the information streams being used. Basically all require a computer to be connected with the other gameplayers. Others might require GPS, map software, instant communication methods, etc. Basically all of them require a high level of comfort with technology. This does eliminate a large portion of the potential product market, so marketing cannot be limited only to an ARG if one desires a wide market appeal.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:29 pm
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mudcatthefish
Boot


Joined: 29 Mar 2010
Posts: 23
Location: San Diego, CA, USofA

 		Cost
I posed the question of cost differences to several people within Flynn Lives while I was at Comic Con. I got a mixed bag of answers, and I am still not sure which is correct.

I originally believed that an endeavor like Flynn Lives was far cheaper. The mainstream advertising machine (commercials, trailers, radio spots, etc.) is monster business. Basically, a pay-to-play system requiring mandatory participation for a film to be considered for box-office success. Consider the cost of a single thirty second spot during any popular sporting event - the obvious example being the SuperBowl. Many people I spoke with agreed.

Others felt that this is way more expensive than a more traditional advertising campaign. Swag, content creation, mailings, and the like are expensive. Events require renting a venue, transporting stages and props - including building and tear down, hiring and managing coordinators, performance talent, and a security team adds up as well. This only scratches the surface, I'm sure.

Posing the question in this manner assumes an either/or scenario. In the case of Tron Legacy, all of this is being done in addition to an already massive marketing campaign including a lineup of high-quality merchandising.

It will be interesting to see if/how the balance of promotional dollars are effected by the success of Flynn Lives.

And just WOW! I never even considered television...
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The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
Albert Einstein

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:31 pm
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mudcatthefish
Boot


Joined: 29 Mar 2010
Posts: 23
Location: San Diego, CA, USofA

 		Agreed
eolith wrote:
There is a fairly strong limitation on ARGs though, and that is that the audience needs to be well connected with the information streams being used. Basically all require a computer to be connected with the other gameplayers. Others might require GPS, map software, instant communication methods, etc. Basically all of them require a high level of comfort with technology. This does eliminate a large portion of the potential product market, so marketing cannot be limited only to an ARG if one desires a wide market appeal.


Yep, but I am sure that 42 Entertainment takes the target audience into consideration when they design the overall side-story and gaming technology. The delivery methods can be tailored accordingly.
_________________
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
Albert Einstein

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:34 pm
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Mikey3211
Boot

Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Posts: 10
thebruce wrote:


However, for a campaign of this scale, that'll quickly add up, especially with cross-border/international and delivery fees. In the grand scheme though, I'm sure it's piddly. =)


absolutely - how much is one 30 second prime time TV ad cost these days on a major channel in a major city?

Here in Australia it's somewhere in the vicinity of $100k. Multiply that by every city an Australia (even allowing for bulk rate discounts) and you're looking at millions per week. Add to that the costs for each country they want to promote the movie in, and the costs are massive!

Compare that to the costs of this ARG, including the 'Flynn's Arcade' events at ComiCon, and all the loot and postage, plus all the time and effort on 42E's part - and I think that Disney still hasn't even spent the equivalent of one national Prime Time TV advertisment.

Compare that with the number of people here on Unfiction alone that are definitely seeing the film purely because of the wonderful (and greatly appreciated) efforts of 42E, with friends.

I love this ARG and want to see more of them in the future Smile

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:39 pm
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ArtGuy 84
Boot


Joined: 03 May 2010
Posts: 30
Location: Pennsylvania

 		This is my first ARG as well. I heard about the Why So Serious campaign when it was nearing the final parts of its run before the movie reached theaters. I was a bit let down that I didn't get in on it when it first started, lol. The Flynn Lives ARG has really drawn me into the overall mythology of the universe. I'm sure that Disney and 42E will still have some very cool surprises for us before the film is finally released. From what I have heard, Disney is really seeing the potential of this movie and is in the planning stages of designing some sort of attraction for the parks to tie in with the films. It would be amazing to be able to ride a light cycle through a virtual environment or derez a program in a disc match. Knowing how the Imagineers push boundaries, the final product will be very cool stuff.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:52 pm
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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.

 		In the grand scheme of things the FL player-base is minuscule.
Even if there are 10,000 people following the game at various levels of involvement, it pales to the (minimally) hundreds of thousands that'll see a spot on TV. The higher level of interaction in marketing afforded by an ARG will come, in time. How long is the question. I don't think I've ever heard as much rumor coming out about how a game might be affecting a major sponsor's bigger plans as this one has. I think Disney may be seeing that it's really not that hard to develop significant buzz using ARG precepts. Or, maybe they're just spending a lot, across the board, for this film/franchise. Hoping the shotgun approach pays off. I just haven't seen a lot of the more traditional cheerleading outside movie trailers and now, some merchandise.

Oh... And almost without exception, if you've played more than one game, they're like first loves. You always have a tender spot in your heart for your first, even if it wasn't all that great.
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I'm telling you now, so you can't say, "Oh, I didn't know...Nobody told me!"


PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:06 pm
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Lightning257
Veteran

Joined: 05 Oct 2009
Posts: 70
AlanOne wrote:
Although I have been waiting almost 30 years to see this movie, I stumbled upon the ARG by pure accident. I just thought that the Flynn Lives website was just for promotion. I had no idea what it was all leading to!

So, I too am now an ARG nut! But, I've always been a Tron fanboy since the original was released. Can't wait to see what else is coming. I'll bet that 42E will be doing stuff right-up until the release. And because there will be two more films after Legacy, methinks there will be much, much more in the coming years.

Sheesh! Its enough to make one's head spin! Very Happy


Although it's easier said than done, try to prepare yourself (this goes for all of the first time ARG'ers here) for the conclusion of FL. Once the movie comes out, FL will come to a dead stop. No more updates, no more puzzles, codes, events, etc. The game becomes addictive (hence the constant checking of the forums to see if anything is new), and very quickly you'll be wishing (and hoping) for just one more update, but it never comes. This happened with Why So Serious, and the withdrawal was excruciating at times.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:21 pm
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stinji
Decorated

Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 270

 		yeah, i can already feel myself getting bummed when I check the various sites and nothing is new. Kinda having comic con withdrawls. Want the game to start up again.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:43 pm
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eolith
Unfettered


Joined: 23 Jun 2007
Posts: 623

 		That was the big thing with the Halo 3 ARG, the slow updates. Waiting for something new. They need to make ARGs so that there are little pieces revealed fairly often.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:59 pm
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mudcatthefish
Boot


Joined: 29 Mar 2010
Posts: 23
Location: San Diego, CA, USofA
Lightning257 wrote:
The game becomes addictive (hence the constant checking of the forums to see if anything is new), and very quickly you'll be wishing (and hoping) for just one more update, but it never comes.


I guess that would explain why I am shaking uncontrollably, and having hot and cold flashes all the time! Wink

Lightning257 wrote:
Once the movie comes out, FL will come to a dead stop. No more updates, no more puzzles, codes, events, etc.


Yes, probably true... that is... unless Disney allows 42E to oversee a select group of at-home interns (possessing the proper skills and enthusiasm, of course!) to keep this storyline moving forward in timely bite-size doses. At least until the next Tron film is ready for the real deal. I am sure plenty of folks around here would be willing to work for free, just for a chance to be a part of something they are really passionate about (raising my hand so high my shoulder dislocates).

If video games like LittleBigPlanet can thrive with player-generated content, so too should a dedicated ARG community.
_________________
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
Albert Einstein

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:22 pm
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AlanOne
Veteran


Joined: 03 Jul 2010
Posts: 73
Location: Santa Barbara, California - USA

 		Wow! It makes me proud to have found an entire sub-culture within the ARG community. I've been a gamer (not just video games, but any game) for my entire life and never saw this coming. I believe the vets here in what the say: it'll be like Crack withrawls. But I'm here to stay, when (and if) The Tron ARG does go away, I'll keep playing the next one.

Oh, and for those of you who are still not sure about Tron, and it's future, think again! The amount of dough Disney is throwing down, Tron will be a staple for my childrens children!

Special thank to Unfiction and 42E for time well-spent!

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:13 pm
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djchristensen
Unfettered


Joined: 29 Oct 2008
Posts: 453
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
AlanOne wrote:
Wow! It makes me proud to have found an entire sub-culture within the ARG community. I've been a gamer (not just video games, but any game) for my entire life and never saw this coming. I believe the vets here in what the say: it'll be like Crack withrawls. But I'm here to stay, when (and if) The Tron ARG does go away, I'll keep playing the next one.

Oh, and for those of you who are still not sure about Tron, and it's future, think again! The amount of dough Disney is throwing down, Tron will be a staple for my childrens children!

Special thank to Unfiction and 42E for time well-spent!



like crack for sure, here is just small list as to what I have participated in, and 42E, has put on the best games for us to follow. Those who participated in Project Abraham, that game was fun, but very hard

I have participated in quite a few, and in no order
Hex 168
Cloverfield
The Dark Knight
Hetfet.org (Hellboy 2)
Project Abraham (resistance 2)
Shark Weeks Viral for the Discovery channel (thank you FSURobbie)
The Institute for Human Continuity (2012)
Skynet Research
and now Tron Legacy and Super 8

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:30 pm
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