[arg_discuss] ARGs for children? McGonigal and Disney mentors

[Kristian Leth DR UNG TV]

A rare peep from me:

I think the mention of Disney and the childhood stories here illustrate that the Imagineering people are collective godfathers of the ARG genre. I mean, as discussed below, they deal with so many of the issues that make or break ARGs. Plus it involves both the storytelling, the (relative) ubiquity and the interactive elements that we define ARGs by. They just have a different target audience than most of us. (Or do they?)

Admittedly their focus is the roleplaying part of the game, not the gameplay part, but my point is that instead of trying to see Disney's Imagineering people as distant cousins, we should perhaps try and regard our own genre as an attempt to expand their theme park (alternate) reality to an adult audience. An audience whose ability to wholeheartedly roleplay is diminished and whose ideas of theme park walls and admittance fees are much more evolved and - well - adult, so as to shatter the illusion of an alternate reality.

This would give us an advantage in terms of a much needed toolset (and mentors! Give me mentors!). 

Jane McGonigal's dissertation ( http://www.avantgame.com/mcgonigal_dissertation_chapter_1.pdf) outlines Winnicott's theory of children using transitional objects (toys or props in most forms) as means to make play revive the "experience of magical control" which we as infants perceive we have. (Quote: "The baby wants to feed; magically, the mother's breast appears to satisfy that desire.") When we grow older we imbue toys with these magical properties, since we have found out that we are ourselves part of a causal and not-always-magical REAL world (where things don't just miraculously appear to answer our needs). These transitional objects (toys) retain some of the magic we found out we didn't posess (superpowers etc) and by doing that help us accept the reality where we are not gods. Helps ud grow up.

That's why Disney Imagineering works. The props all remain magical *even when we're not playing along*! That's why kids feel magical when they're in Disneyworld, and that - according to the theory - helps them grow up and live in this world. But...

Winnicott: “It is assumed that the task of reality- 
acceptance is never completed, that no human being is free from the strain of relating 
inner and outer reality, and that relief from this strain is provided by an intermediate area 
of experience which is not challenged (arts, religion, etc.). This intermediate area is in 
direct continuity with the play area of the small child”. 

McGonigal: "In other words, even in 
adulthood, we take up transitional phenomena that allows us a temporary relief from 
reality and returns to us some of the satisfaction of magical thinking, while still engaging 
with physical artifacts."

Alongside all the adult toys that do magical stuff and "really do sing and dance when I turn out the lights", this is where ARGs come in. Disneyworld for grownups. So what we're doing is we're imagineering for adults. There's the history of our strange genre.

All quotes in this mail are from Jane's dissertation. If you want to read the four chapters that are online, go to http://www.avantgame.com/mcgonigal_dissertation_chapter_1.pdf ... We should all, really.

OK,
Kristian

-----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
Fra: arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org på vegne af Hugh Davies
Sendt: lø 30-06-2007 17:09
Til: Discussion list of the IGDA ARG SIG
Emne: Re: [arg_discuss] ARGs for children?
 
Getting back to Wendy's original question, I am not familiar with any ARG's
that are aimed at under 14's but I have a promising possability of being
able to develop one later this year through my job, and I would welcome any
thoughts or suggestions.

Indeed, a significant hurdle is that education institutions are not keen on
blurring lines of reality with kids. Like the restriction of access to the
Internet which is rife- even in universities, its a duty of care that is
more about the protection of the institutions than the students.

I think that kids like adults have a pretty inate sense of reality and make
believe.

When i watch my mum play out make believe scenarios with my nephews and
neices, Its amazing to see how easily they role play and how the world they
create is a sand box where they can tease out ideas, possabilities and
fears.

And how quickly they can snap back into the real world.

On 6/30/07, Christy Dena <cdena at cross-mediaentertainment.com> wrote:

>

>

> Re: Disney approach.

>

> I agree, I think the Disney approach is a great model. Indeed, I've been

> looking at 'imagineering' and theme park design in general for what I

> believe to be highly-applicable techniques to cross-media design.

>

> Check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_Imagineering

>

> For books & lots of resources, check out: http://www.themedattraction.com/

>

> Best,

> Christy

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org [mailto:arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org]

> On

> Behalf Of D. Cook

> Sent: Saturday, 30 June 2007 02:19

> To: Discussion list of the IGDA ARG SIG

> Subject: Re: [arg_discuss] ARGs for children?

>

> 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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