[arg_discuss] The Online Performance Game. A new genre?

[Josh Diaz]

One potential predecessor you might want to look at is Revolution,
from the MIT Education Arcade
(http://www.educationarcade.org/revolution). It was distinctly more
coded (in a vaguely technical sense) than the ad-lib roleplaying of an
ARG, but it was similar historically-oriented. It was designed for
high school students to roleplay a range of citizens during the
American Revolution. The game itself was *developed* by students as
well, as they had to delve into both historical research and testing
to see what worked-- for instance, conversations took a much larger
role in the game than originally anticipated. I suspect that there is
a much larger bent towards 'accuracy', but that was part of it's
educational goal + orientation.

Sliding into video-game territory, but perhaps it's useful.

-jd

On Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 5:55 AM, Sjoerd Wennekes
<sjoerdwennekes at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

>

>

>

> I have got a few questions about an ARG I'm making.

>

> But first let me introduce myself.

>

>

>

> My name is Sjoerd, I'm from The Netherlands and at this moment I'm

> still an art student. I say at this moment, because within a few weeks

> I will receive my diploma! :)

>

> I study 'Design for Virtual Theatre and Games' at the Utrecht high

> school for the arts. My mentor is Evert Hoogendoorn, who is also a IGDA

> member, and probably also reading this... -not sure if he is a member

> of this SIG-

>

>

>

> For my graduation, I'm making an 'online performance game' (OPG).

>

> At this moment the genre doesn't really exist yet.

>

> But there are a few games that are following the same kind of rules.

>

> The most famous is 'The Soho Project'. (http://www.fictionalmedia.co.uk/2007/)

>

>

>

> The game I'm working on is called 'De Opstand'

>

> This is a Dutch name (for me being Dutch) and it can best be translated as 'The Rebellion'.

>

> The game is all about a very important piece of Dutch history, it

> covers the so called '80 years war'. In the period 1568-1648 our

> country was at war with Spain. The war was all about freedom of

> religion and self government.

>

> Players must first form a team, and then pick one of the assignments.

> All these assignments are about the 80 years war, and each of them

> covers a different event.

>

> For each assignment the teams have to make a video of there performance.

>

> Let me give an example.

>

>

> At the first of April 1572 The Beggars (those where the people who fought for freedom) recaptured the city of 'Den Briel' from Spain.

> For 15 points, film this event. Make sure you point out why The Beggars choice Den Briel, and not another city.

>

>

>

> >From this point players are free to execute the assignment as they see fit.

>

> - Are they going for spot on reenactment? Or for originality?

>

> Teams will receive points for performance, for originality and for historical correctness.

>

> It's for the players to make up if they are going for originality or historical correctness, because both is just impossible.

>

> But they always will receive points for performance.

>

>

>

> And now the questions I wanted to ask you all.

>

> - Would you like to play a game like this?

>

> In other words: can there be a future for OPG's?

>

>

>

> - Can you name some other games that might be OPG's?

>

> I know there must be a few out there, but where?

>

>

>

> - Do you have any kind of advise?

>

> All the help is welcome!

>

> I don't really care if it's just one sentence or a full written novel. ;)

>

>

> - For all of you who understand Dutch the website is: www.deopstand.nl

>

>

> Kind regards,

>

>

>

> Sjoerd Wennekes

>

>

>

>

>

> __________________

>

> --- And now, the world! ---

>

>

>

> -- Excuse my English, it's not my native language. --

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE!

> http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

> _______________________________________________

> ARG_Discuss mailing list

> ARG_Discuss at igda.org

> http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/arg_discuss

>