[arg_discuss] arg list

[Brian Clark]

Annika, here's the best short historical "how we got here" that I can
muster: many of the people involved are here in this list and will
undoubtedly critique my over-simplifications.

The term "alternate reality game" was coined by fans in an attempt to
describe the style of game Lockjaw was -- that group, in turn, drew much of
their inspiration from having been players of "The Beast" (but this
happened, this naming, after that experience was done.) After that, many
others here got "drawn into this crap" (j/k) by having segments of that fan
base (especially at Unforums.com) latch on to other work that was "like
that". You're could here many similar stories from some of us about the
first time we got labeled "puppetmasters" despite having prior, similar
work. So another functional description of the definition "anything that
survives Unfiction's scrutiny of being similar". I'm arguing all of the
prior in deference to the community of fans and indies: genres tends to get
named by the fans, not the creators.

But it means there never was a formal definition, only an ongoing debate and
redefinition. As a developer, I'm more fascinated by the variety of models
than the need for them to all fit one definition ... but, it would be nice
to let ARG maintain some traditional definition and an acknowledge some
larger umbrella term.

And ponies would be nice too :)

-----Original Message-----
From: arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org [mailto:arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org] On
Behalf Of Annika Waern
Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 3:13 PM
To: 'Discussion list of the IGDA ARG SIG'
Subject: Re: [arg_discuss] arg list

I must admit that I am a bit confused about the core definition even,
especially after hearing Frank Lanz talk about Chain Factor at GDC.

Annika Waern

-----Original Message-----
From: arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org [mailto:arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org] On
Behalf Of Brian Clark
Sent: den 3 april 2009 12:04
To: 'Discussion list of the IGDA ARG SIG'
Subject: Re: [arg_discuss] arg list


>I don't know, and it's probably a matter of semantics, whether

>you want to distinguish "ARG" from "ARE".


We've done such a great job of answering the "what is an ARG" question that
we're totally qualified to add "what is an ARE" and "how is an ARE different
than ARG" to the pile.

My personal opinion, we lack an umbrella term. Makes it hard for me parse
out meaning in statements like:


> one could argue "games" like Cloverfield were AREs as well


I think that starts to overextend the ARE label as I understand it. There
was the "hope by the fans" of an E at the end of the AR (which in this case
was just F.)

But I can imagine some umbrella that would contain it.

-----Original Message-----
From: arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org [mailto:arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org] On
Behalf Of David Flor
Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 11:54 AM
To: Discussion list of the IGDA ARG SIG
Subject: Re: [arg_discuss] arg list

Added the ones I was involved with or are directly familiar with
(White Island, for example), as well as went through and edited some
that I was very familiar with as a player.

I don't know, and it's probably a matter of semantics, whether you
want to distinguish "ARG" from "ARE". The Lost Experience was
self-labeled as an "ARE", and one could argue "games" like Cloverfield
were AREs as well.

And do you want to list ARGs that have been announced but not launched
yet, such as our own "Rachel's Walk"?

Tnx & Rgds...
David Flor
Darklight Interactive
"Omne ignotum pro magnifico"

On Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 6:04 AM,  <marcus.helm at gmail.com> wrote:

> I've shared a document with you called "arg list":

>

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pE0znztln2kmQruQyplrzeA&inv=arg_discu
ss at igda.org

>

> It's not an attachment -- it's stored online at Google Docs. To open this

> document, just click the link above.

>

> As mentioned earlier this week, I have begun compiling spreadsheet of

> ARG's towards getting a listing of the all the brands that have worked

> with ARGs as well as a listing of independent ARG's for ARGology.

> Its attached here as an Excel spreadsheet and is very much in the draft

> stage.

>

>

> I urge one and all to cast an eye over it, correct mistakes and fill

> any missing info including the many games that I appologise for not

> including already. Im also open to persuasion about what constituties

> and ARG as there are likely to be some contentious inclusions.

> _______________________________________________

> ARG_Discuss mailing list

> ARG_Discuss at igda.org

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

>

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