[arg_discuss] Design a Game, Cure Cancer

[Steffen P. Walz]

hi adrian,

what a wonderful idea - congrats to the influential partner.

the idea for using ARGs & pervasive games for institutional  
fundraising purposes is quite fascinating. back in 2005, we were  
commissioned to create a pervasive game with ARG elements for our  
university's fundraising body, the ETH Zurich Foundation. for a  
number of reasons, we dropped the concept in the protoyping phase.  
playing in swiss public spaces, esp. once gameplay includes chance /  
lottery elements, easily conflicts with law...

but you can still have a look at some material at my website at  
http://spw.playbe.com. click on pervasive (or play), then go to  
"Fundraising Game" and scroll down for some videos, and a storyboard.

br,
spw

Am 01.10.2007 um 12:02 schrieb Adrian Hon:


> (That's the snappy line for the press release, anyway)

>

> Today, I'm launching a new project with Cancer Research UK called  

> 'Let's Change the Game' that will develop an ARG whose aim is to  

> raise money for cancer research.

>

> http://www.letschangethegame.org

>

> This is a serious game with a difference. Not only will we be  

> measuring its success *directly* through how much money it manages  

> to raise, but we're inviting teams from around the world to submit  

> game designs. The team behind the winning design, as chosen by  

> judges who include Sean Stewart, Rhianna Pratchett and James  

> Wallis, will then be invited to develop the game.

>

> They'll have guidance and advice from the judges, plus the full  

> resources of Cancer Research UK; that's over 600 stores, monthly TV  

> ads, hundreds of races and live events, and mailings going out to  

> over 20 million people. It could be the biggest ARG, ever - and  

> we're giving new designers the chance to create it.

>

> As for funding, I'm donating £1000 ($2000) towards the development  

> of the ARG. It may not be enough, and hopefully we'll get in-kind  

> donations from other sources, but it's my belief that this £1000  

> will be multiplied many times by the ARG into a much larger  

> donation for Cancer Research UK.

>

> We're really excited about this project, not only because it has  

> the potential to help cancer research, but it'll also help provide  

> experience to aspiring game designers. People always used to ask me  

> how they could become ARG designers, and I would always say that  

> they should try and gain experience - but with such a small field,  

> the only way to do that is through grassroots games. While people  

> might have plenty of time to volunteer, grassroots games still cost  

> *some* money which people often can't spare. This is a way to give  

> lots of people experience in thinking about game design, and one  

> team the opportunity to make a really significant game.

>

> I'm very pleased with the way that Cancer Research UK have gotten  

> behind this project. It's a big organisation, and big organisations  

> are prone to 'not invented here' syndrome; however, the idea of an  

> ARG that will combine every arm of the charity has really caught  

> on, and I think there's a real opportunity for something amazing to  

> happen here.

>

> Anyway, there's plenty more information at www.letschangethegame.org

>

> The first round of 500-word game designs are due in on November  

> 16th, so you have almost seven weeks to get cracking :)

>

> Cheers,

>

> Adrian

>

> --

> Adrian Hon - mssv.net

> Chief Creative at Six to Start - www.sixtostart.com

>

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>


__
Steffen P. Walz
ETH Zurich
Game Design Research                        Department of Architecture
Phone +41 44 658 16 36                       Chair for CAAD, HIL E 15.1
E-Mail walz at arch.ethz.ch                     CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland

http://spw.playbe.com (my playce)
http://wiki.arch.ethz.ch/twiki/bin/view/Main/SteffenPWalz (academic)