[arg_discuss] ARGs for children?

[Alex Jarvis]

Yes, In a world such as Disney, you find the true "Drink your Ovaltine"
message hidden in plain sight- the 'hair-thin' curtain is not even perceived
by the young mind, whose goal is maintaining this reality in whatever form.
It is almost like Christmas and Santa- the reality 'must be true' due to the
gifts under the tree - Disney 'must be real' because you are standing in it,
the world reacts, and it is better than your reality. Might as well buy a
piece to take home, eh, mom and dad?

As for traditional ARG's for children- I believe we create them all the
time, but they have never been classified as such-  santa, Easter, alot of
it is too fluid for a younger child to comprehend. TINAG stands up, but in a
different fashion in my opinion- because a child is so open to the world,
TINAG becomes " Why would it be a game?"

-Alex

On 6/29/07, D. Cook <me at addlepated.net> wrote:

>

> 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.

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-- 
Alex Jarvis
Ludology Student
http://ludologistjarvi.blogspot.com/