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grimace · Boot Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 39

Article on Metacortechs & Lockjaw

**Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2003 6:00 am

Marl64

Thanks, I did.

**Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2003 7:26 am

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Marl
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Omnie · Entrenched Joined: 07 Oct 2003 Posts: 772

Wow, what an awesome article. Thanks for posting. It makes me kind of sad that it plays up the conflict between Matrix fans and ARGers so much...it was only a big deal around when the leak happened and people got suddenly disillusioned (yeah, me initially included in "people"). I guess it's a tribute to the awesomeness of the game that people on the Matrix forums still regularly become convinced that it is WB-made. Although it's been a long time since I read anything but the Metacortex threads on those forums...heh.

But how cool is this? "It became the most successful ARG ever." Did it seriously? Are they just not including the Beast, or was this really more successful? If it was...wow. You guys deserve some presents or something.

**Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2003 11:53 am

Wolf · Decorated Joined: 26 Sep 2002 Posts: 292

Somebody else can probably address the numbers better than I can, but yeah, based on what we knew of Beast our numbers hit higher. I still remember being amazed the first time the chat room went over 100 people! Shocked

**Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2003 12:37 pm

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AnthraX101 · Entrenched Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 797

**Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2003 12:40 pm

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Ozy_y2k

Actually, not to rain on our own parade, but my suspicion would be that in terms of raw numbers, the Push, Nevada game probably had more sheer participants (as defined as "people who checked out one of the in-game websites at least once and maybe kinda-sorta half-tried to solve a puzzle") than either us OR the Beast, simply by virtue of the fact that it was: (a) heavily promoted on a major American television network, as opposed to the typical ARG which conducts its activities in near-silence; and (b) was tied to a substantial, and quantifiable, cash prize, which, no matter HOW rosy your view of human nature might be, is still the greatest motivator of them all when appealing to people's sense of self-interest. However, Push's player base (with a few notable exceptions) also tended to burn out or lose interest a lot faster than you guys did, not just on the game but on the concept of ARGing in general.

But I can't say any of this for certain, since LivePlanet and ABC have never made the number data associated with the Push game public. So I just gotta work off of instinct.

Still, it was fun to read this article, and I wouldn't change anything about Mu even now, in retrospect, not even to capture a few more eyeballs here and there.

**Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2003 1:45 pm

Insomniac · Decorated Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 234 Location: 01

Wow, after reading this I picked up a copy of the Guardian today and boom a whole page on this ARG thing!

**Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2003 5:16 pm

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vpisteve

Hey, I'd be happy to pay somebody to send me a real live copy of the actual non-web article. PM me if you're in a position to help a guy out. Very Happy

**Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2003 5:23 pm

Insomniac · Decorated Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 234 Location: 01

**Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2003 6:15 pm

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"I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad.
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had."

Ozy_y2k

Oh, just mail it to him care of Arnold Q. Niehoff....um, I mean, Schuffhaus....er, that is, Wongm....ah, hell. Just fax it to him. Twisted Evil

**Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2003 7:20 pm

krystyn

I'd like a real live copy, too. Please?

I had just assumed it was only in the online version, like when we were in Wired.

**Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2003 8:08 pm

SpaceBass

**Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2003 8:26 pm

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imbri

**Posted:** Fri Dec 12, 2003 12:43 am

Insomniac · Decorated Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 234 Location: 01

Aww poor PMs. I'll try my hardest to get copies for you all, call them Christmas presents!

PM me with addresses if you're interested. Very Happy

**Posted:** Fri Dec 12, 2003 8:02 pm

_________________
"I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad.
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had."