unforum

[L.Boomer]

controlled environments

[imbri]

Well, only to a degree. The internet will almost certainly always be involved to a certain degree, whether it's the websites or other internet applications. I'm also assuming that you mean to a greater extent that what we've seen so far with things such as ILB and Art of the Heist.

First there are the pervasive urban hunt type games. Blast theory does a bunch of that sort of stuff and a lot of it is really cool. But they usually don't have the world that an ARG does because of their short duration. Additionally, they utilize the internet and wireless technologies to a certain degree.

Then there's the whole 'converging media' (things like combining television and internet) issue. That's where my primary interest lies. Basically, I want to use ARGlike methods to bridge a gap between tv and computer and phone and real life. Many of my ideas are rather "simple", along the lines of Push, NV and ReGenesis, but some of my more grandiose ideas (read: super expensive and not a single lawyer would ever allow such a thing to happen) are slightly reminiscent of the Truman Show. Well, more Push, NV meets the Truman Show meets Northern Exposure meets Colonial House (or any of the PBS reality shows in that series). Essentially, a small town is heavily involved in the show. In fact, the town is usually the main character in my ideas. There would be fictional elements to the show, yet if you can go to the town and walk around and see and, perhaps, meet people that you see on the show. You can get online and see the history of the town and visit the various merchants and order stuff from their shops that would be shipped from that town. This would all occur under the backdrop of a mystery to be solved. Yet, as with anything based on a tv show, there is definitely an air of 'this is a game' yet, in classic "this is not a game" philosopy it's whether the game itself knows that it's a game... and this wouldn't.

In any event, yes, I do think that ARGs can move away from the internet, but I don't think that they'll ever be divorced.

- b

[catherwood]

[maxim]

A huge murder mystery game would be pretty amazing. Something in which people know it's a game, of course. It would have to have cash prize, and I still don't think it would be taken seriously. It's just too close to real life to be convincing, whereas the internet is already an alternate reality.

[Phaedra]

[Nightmare Tony]

and I question with a ????

IRC get togethers have more of an immediacy than a forum setup. Anyone who is actiuvely playing being in there and influencing the game right then and there. Some games have had to change their storyline based on the immediate interactions.

[Dorkmaster]

Just another couple of great points that I wanted to stick my head in the guillotine for:

1) While I think you could have ARG-like experiences outside of the internet, of course, I kind of feel that a completely out-of-internet experience could not be considered ARG. It would be simply a murder-mystery or something. It would be sweet and all, but I just don't know if I'd personally feel comfortable giving it the big rubber "ARG" stamp.

2) Rose, you know you got my ever-loving ARG heart. No love-loss intended! FIREFLIES UNITE! So let's open up ARG University! ARG-U!
(*DM starts furiously writing a fight song for the ARGU "Lockies")

3) While I also would not like to have a cookie cutter definition of ARG, I would like a box to put it in. So while I don't think we should have a hard and fast "TO BE ARG YOU MUST LOOK LIKE THIS" statement, I do think it's still safe to say 'this is NOT an ARG', and 'this is an ARG.' I think we CAN accurately describe what an ARG is and should be, without limiting the genre from future innovation. While I totally respect those who compare ARG to poetry, it's just not the same. (well, obviously, but you know what I mean) The truth is that while you can't necessarily define "poetry", you can spot the difference between it and say, a deed of trust from a house. One is utilitarian and one is artistic. (thebruce and Phaedra are hereby warned to not threadjack this by going into the whole "what is art?" thing again. ) Point is, that WE especially, should be able to say "this is ARG" and "this is not", with a degree of confidence. Not to be elitist, or to exclude, but a name (Alternate Reality Game) is useless if it defines everything.

EDIT Add-on to #3: I feel the best way to achieve a meaningful, yet non-constrictive "box" to put ARG in, would be to say "ARGs need these base things." Whatever fits that experience, whether it adds something beyond or not, would be considered ARG, even if not "mainstream"...

[Phaedra]

[krystyn]

Dunno 'bout you, but I'd rather play a well-constructed game, than discuss 'em all the time.

I'm not working on my dissertation, for cry eye!!

[Phaedra]

[krystyn]

Nope!

[Phaedra]

[Dorkmaster]

Personally, I am almost split between playing ARGs and writing (intelligently?) about them. I love philosophy and discussion (I'm a lover AND a fighter! Just more like the 8-bit theatre fighter...) So, I'm digging this thread possibly more than most. I think (while Mr. A. Hon may slightly disagree) that we're at the forefront of a unique genre, and therefore, it is up to us, the players, to set the path for the future of the games (along with the PMs of course) Not to mention, I get to find out who thinks like me, so I can know who to spare when I take over the world...

[RobMagus]

*imagines what must be going on in Dorkmaster's Fighter-like mind*

"ARGy ARGy ARGy ARGy" and "ARG-chucks, yo," no doubt.

[GuyP]