[arg_discuss] arg list

[Christy Dena]

I really like the idea of the ppt Mike. It could be uploaded onto SlideShare
and embedded on an ARGology page -- so that is easy. And it is something
people can easily put into their own slideshows etc. We could have the
ARGology & ARG SIG insignia on each slide.

As to your question about the intended audience: I'll reveal my initial
impetus to share a list of companies/brands that have commissioned ARGs, and
anyone can add the goal they think would be helpful. 

I've found there are some clients (companies, agencies) that are new to
ARGs. Shock! Horror! So, I've had production companies contact me, wanting
to assist them with helping to win their pitch. Of the many strategies used,
is an overview of the brands that have commissioned ARGs. 

Then I thought, as I usually do, that rather than myself and my own clients
being the only ones to benefit from this approach, the whole area could be
benefit. It just may help someone get a job. It just may help another ARG be
created. That is why I do the ARG stats etc. It helps ARGs get created. But
that is also why I create resources on the creative side of things, because
I believe they help people see ARGs as an artform too. 

And yes, there are other things clients need too. That is why, Brooke, I
commented to you in Twitter that story summaries, mediums used, length of
project, stats, player responses, innovative/stand-out techniques etc would
be great in the ARGdb. I've been personally working on this information for
a while but the massive and self-correcting knowledge of collective
intelligence is the ideal.

Anything that assists the craft and industry of ARGs is surely under the
purview of the ARG SIG. If not, I can easily work with some folks and put
these resources elsewhere. But I really don't think anyone has a problem
with the ARG SIG creating such resources. 

So, let's get on with it! :)

Best,
Christy

-----Original Message-----
From: arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org [mailto:arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org] On
Behalf Of Michael Monello
Sent: Tuesday, 7 April 2009 00:26
To: Discussion list of the IGDA ARG SIG
Subject: Re: [arg_discuss] arg list

Without stepping into the definition issue, I'd like to know what is the
goal of this list and who is the audience? Is it a resource to CMOs, brand
managers, marketers and potential clients to show them what has done and
perhaps inspire more new projects? If so, then I think a more effective
approach would be a self-guided, nicely designed PowerPoint presentation
that is uploaded, properly tagged, and attributed to the ARG Sig to
SlideShare. Something that a forward thinking member of a brand team might
be able to present to others would be more effective at the above goal, but
I don't know the goal of this exercise.

Before we even get into what the content is, we should probably look at who
the audience is and then determine what the format/content should be. If I
had clarity on at least that level, I feel like I might be able to
contribute and I imagine others would as well.

Best,

-Mike

On 4/6/09 10:12 AM, "Brian Clark" <bclark at gmdstudios.com> wrote:

Christy, I guess I just feel like we've been down this road before. Such
lists exist or could be supplemented. It includes stuff that could stimulate
debate, and doesn't include stuff that could stimulate debate, but doesn't
really by itself add much to the body of published knowledge.

Cristy wrote: "I'm trying to be diplomatic here and suggesting that a
curated listing may do a better job of avoiding the 'what is an ARG'
debate."

I understand that, but then the curator is cementing the definition anyway
by that curation. This is part of what has gotten us into the situation we
are, IMHO, and could prove counter-productive. Instead, to me, it feels like
clarity to labels is something fairly appropriate for the SIG to tackle ...
and the SIG working together on something seems to also be what the SIG
needs. What we need is a new way to work on that problem, rather than just
another list.


Brian

-----Original Message-----
From: arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org [mailto:arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org] On
Behalf Of Christy Dena
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 9:57 AM
To: 'Discussion list of the IGDA ARG SIG'
Subject: Re: [arg_discuss] arg list

Hey Brian,

Perhaps I wasn't clear. I don't think we should use the list of all the
projects Hugh listed. Instead, I'm suggesting a selection of those on Hugh's
list and elsewhere. Although there is a lot of disagreement about what
qualifies as an ARG, I think we're in agreement that Hugh's list includes
non-ARG projects (Hugh was most likely making a broad sweep for the first
draft).

I'm trying to be diplomatic here and suggesting that a curated listing may
do a better job of avoiding the 'what is an ARG' debate. That discussion is
important -- and has been a good reawakener, as Brooke says, about the ARGdb
-- but a definition of an ARG does not need to be determined for these
resources.

Best,
Christy

-----Original Message-----
From: arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org [mailto:arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org] On
Behalf Of Brian Clark
Sent: Monday, 6 April 2009 23:21
To: 'Discussion list of the IGDA ARG SIG'
Subject: Re: [arg_discuss] arg list

Not to take away from Hugh's list at all, but I personally think we're once
again dodging what "it is" so you'll end up with "a list of brands that have
commissioned something that someone thought was close enough to being an
ARG."

If:

Christy: "The aim is to provide information for companies who are
considering commissioning an ARG."

How does this help accomplish that?

-----Original Message-----
From: arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org [mailto:arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org] On
Behalf Of Christy Dena
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 8:18 AM
To: 'Discussion list of the IGDA ARG SIG'
Subject: Re: [arg_discuss] arg list


Hello Hugh: Well I don't think you expected to have created such
controversy! I can see you've done a lot of work in putting that listing
together. Fantastic. :)

I actually don't think we need to figure out some clustering system for this
resource (elsewhere, yes, that would be interesting). The intention behind
the Brands resource is to show there are many companies/brands that have
commissioned ARGs. What is important therefore is the company/artist and
producer or service and how many ARGs they have commissioned. Microsoft, for
instance, have commissioned ARGs on several occasions. It is not a listing
of ARGs for media properties (eg: A.I.) but the companies that commissioned
them (eg: Microsoft). The aim is to provide information for companies who
are considering commissioning an ARG.

A quick scan through some of my files reveals some big names around the
world: McDonalds; Microsoft (Game Studio); NBC; CBS; AudiUSA; Bungie
Studios; MTV Brazil; Superinteressante; Deutsche Telekom; EMI Germany; RTL
(German Television Broadcaster); Droemer Knaur Verlag (German publisher);
Microsoft Germany; Nokia; NBC Universal; Fantasporto (Portugal); Swedish
Television (SVT); ABC; Yahoo!7; BBC; Sony; Activision; Electronic Arts; ABC
Family Television; General Motors.

So, rather than list ALL branded entertainment ARGs (and waddle into the
murky water of what is an ARG), I suggest a page that purports to only
offering a sampling.

The same with the independent ARGs. I think a sample listing of independent
ARGs like Sammeeeees, Eldritch Errors, Chasing the Wish and their sequels,
Lockjaw, Metacortechs and so on would be enough. The aim of this resource is
not to offer a comprehensive listing of independent ARGs (there are other
great resources out there as we know!), but to show how ARGs exist outside
of branded entertainment...and that there are high-quality, successful and
artistically diverse independent ARGs out there! So, what about an arbitrary
number, say 15?, of independents that are representative of older and more
recent ARGs. Suggestions?

This is how I would recommend progressing.

Hugh, how do you feel about this approach? I would work with you to assist
with the sampling...and whomever else would like to be involved! We could
utilize (and cite) yours and existing ARG databases and go from there.

Wohoo! Thanks Hugh for taking the time!

Best,
Christy

-----Original Message-----
From: arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org [mailto:arg_discuss-bounces at igda.org] On
Behalf Of marcus.helm at gmail.com
Sent: Friday, 3 April 2009 21:04
To: arg_discuss at igda.org
Subject: [arg_discuss] arg list

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.
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---
Mike Monello
Partner, Campfire
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