[arg_discuss] Open Source ARGs

[Geneviève Cardin]

I just want to say that I agree with all Brian's comments.
I'm glad someone who speaks english better than me, has the same  
arguments as I would like to share.

My first ARG reach 90 000 users - locally (Quebec) - few hard things  
to solve, but most of all, people got involved for the experience -  
even if it's a lerking one.
To be part of something related to a tv show they liked. No one got  
frustrated  with the « overcomplexity » - actually they asked for  
more, and for most of them, it was also their first encounter with  
the genre.

I think that being a part of an ARG is like playing tennis. If you  
always play with people that hit the ball with the same strength as  
you do, you will not progress. Stagnation.


Geneviève Cardin
Baroblik communication et multimédia
Consultation, idéation et scénarisation
de sites web et d'environnements interactifs multi-fenêtres

cell : (514) 924-TOUI (8684)
baroblik at videotron.ca




On 08-08-01, at 09:51, Brian Clark wrote:


>> It seems clear by now that the single biggest audience-limiting  

>> aspect of

>> most ARGs is the inapproachability that stems from their  

>> complicated and

>> multi-tiered systems of obfuscation.

>

> I'm not sure that I agree with that, Mark, or maybe my goal isn't  

> to have

> everyone involved interactively in the same way. I'd argue the  

> "classical

> ARG" design limitation is the same as the "classical MMPORG" design

> limitation:

>

> How do you provide the constant stimulation that the "heavy user"  

> population

> wants without closing the door of progress on the more "casual user"

> population?

>

> I'm not trying to diminish your point, though: I think many ARGs  

> suffer that

> overcomplexity, or an inability to layer that back out into

> understandability.

>

>> A large majority of people who have any initial contact with an ARG

>> stop "playing" before long because they are unable to grasp what is

>> going on, what they should pay attention to, what is a good use of

>> their time, and so on.

>

> I'd argue instead that the large majority of people who have any  

> initial

> contact with an ARG never start "playing" it. There is a role of  

> spectators

> among the audience of the genre.

>

>> The once-popular notion that ARGs are popular BECAUSE they are so  

>> hard

>> to follow has by now surely been set aside as untrue, and yet still

>> most ARGs today are in need or more clarity and less confusion.

>

> I'm not sure that was ever a popular notion: I've never for a second

> believed that "hard to follow" was what made ARGs popular. Or is  

> your test

> for player that they understand every wrinkle?

>

>

>

> Brian

>

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