[arg_discuss] ARGs for children?

[D. Cook]

I'm sure I'll get shouted down by the anti-Disnites ;) , but I've 
spent quite a bit of time pondering lately about the nature of Disney 
World.  They treat all the characters as absolutely real, to the 
degree that the person in the Mickey Mouse suit doesn't say later, "I 
was in the Mickey Mouse suit," but rather, "I was _working with_ 
MIckey Mouse."

Everything that's not roped off at Disney World is available to touch 
and play with.  When the sign at the Muppet Show 3D says "Key's under 
the mat," the key is really under the mat.  If there's an old-timey 
phone in a store, you should pick it up and hear an old-timey 
conversation.

Those who take behind the scenes tours are warned not to say anything 
about the characters not being real while "on stage," or in view of 
other guests.  If they do, their guide will play absolutely dumb.

So while there's not really a game (although they do have different 
scavenger hunts), it's definitely an alternate reality.  Obviously 
the curtain is hair-thin, but within the milieu of Disney World 
itself, the TINAG principle stands tall.

-Dee

At 8:59 AM -0700 6/29/07, despain at quantumcontent.com wrote:

>Speaking of curtains and magic circles, have any of you done an ARG

>intended for an audience under 14 years old?

>

>In education circles, they stress the importance of clearly delineating

>fact from fiction for children. Yet when children play together reality is

>a very malleable space. Fiction and reality stand side by side.

>

>Do you suppose a thick or thin curtain would be better for this audience?



-- 
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.