[arg_discuss] we are obsolete (RE: Copycat warning overalternative reality games)

[Steve Peters]

In all seriousness, I think I can safely say that all of us are struggling
with the same issue. In the past, entertainment has by and large been
labeled based on its medium. Book, theater, film, tv show, yada yada. It's a
lot easier to quantify. But what do you call something that can come at you
from any and all of these mediums plus more? Big Cool Thing? Gonzo
Experience? Immersive Entertainment? Extended Media Experience? That For
Which Traditional Metrics Does Not Apply But Is Really Cool Trust Me (Hmm,
not enough vowels for a proper acronym)?

Honestly, I'm not so much concerned about what I should call it as much as
just doing it, at this point. Typically, clients and potential clients
(whether marketing execs or purely creative partners) still need to be SHOWN
what an "ARG" is, so the term is meaningless for them as well. Because it's
something different. Every. Time. :)

And just to remove all doubt: I was kidding about the PEE. I always am.

On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 11:41 AM, Mike Monello <mmonello at campfirenyc.com>wrote:


> I think the name should not attempt to describe the experience, but perhaps

> just a surface description of the canvas.

>

> "Painting" describes the tool used to create it - paint, not the experience

> of seeing it, the size, or any of the other changeable aspects.

>

> Same goes for "book" or "movie" or "photograph" or "game". Even when you

> start to drill down - board game, video game, party game, etc., you still

> never describe the experience of the thing, only some of the accoutrements

> or tactics, if you will.

>

> Branding something an ARG or a PEE excludes possibilities rather than

> embracing them. I look at a name like ARG, and I think of it the same way I

> think of "Platformer" or First Person Shooter" -- it's one specific type of

> [blank].

>

> So what the hell is a [blank]?

>

> I have only questions, no answers!  ;)

>

> -Mike

>

>

> On 10/9/08 2:08 PM, "Andrea Phillips" <andrhia at gmail.com> wrote:

>

> On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 2:04 PM, Steve Peters <scpeters at gmail.com> wrote:

> > At this point, we've been referring to them as Participatory

> Entertainment

> > Experiences...

> >

>

> Wow, and I didn't think we could come up with a worse acronym if we'd

> tried!

>

>

> --

> Andrea Phillips

> http://www.deusexmachinatio.com

> Words * Culture * Interaction

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>

>

> ---

> Mike Monello

> Partner, Campfire

> http://www.campfirenyc.com

>

>

>

>

>

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