[arg_discuss] White Paper: ARGs in Publishing

[Necole Duncan]

What about the Choose Your Own
Adventure<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choose_Your_Own_Adventure>books?
I loved these books as a child, and I thought of them when I first
started researching writing for ARGs.



On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 9:30 AM, Evan Jones <evan at mysteryjones.com> wrote:


> Sure thing Michael - it sounds like you're on the right path and keeping it

> narrow to publishing will aid the project.  Just offering some suggestions

> for historical touchpoints.

>

> I'd agree that it's most appropriate that this whitepaper serve as a

> practical guide.  With that in mind (and just to stir the pot a little), is

> history the most helpful starting point?  I'd certainly argue that many

> disciplines must begin with history (why did I learn chemistry with early

> models of the atom?) - but it seems now that all of the popular books are

> focused more on 'best practices' (ostensibly from some guru).  Is anyone on

> the list able to offer themselves up as the intended audience?  It'd be

> great to ask around to see what they are seeking as a reference tool.

>

> Also - please consider all of this empty rhetoric since I feel I've

> disqualified myself by not dedicating the time to write a section as well.

> ------------------

> Evan Jones

> Stitch Media

>

> Halifax:  902.482.2157

> Toronto: 647.477.1613

> www.stitchmedia.ca

>

>

> On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 10:18 AM, Michael Andersen <mandersen at argn.com

> >wrote:

>

> > Evan: I've seen how contentious ARG Histories can be, and planned on

> using

> > the bulk of my space to concentrate on the latter sections that focus

> more

> > on implementation. Rather than presenting a definitive or comprehensive

> > history, I was planning on presenting a brief paragraph or two

> recognizing

> > that while there is some intensely innovative work going on in the space

> > over the past few years, it didn't start with the publication of *Cathy's

> > Book*.

> >

> > My intended focus is on methods of implementation and the potential

> > benefits, as I assume the purpose of the white paper is less academic and

> > more practical, with people seeking out information on what ARGs are, if

> > they work, and how to do them. If I'm wrong in that assumption, I can

> > adjust

> > my writing and research accordingly. Have any of you on the listserv made

> > use of the 2006 white paper? And if so, how? (Yes, I realize that may

> open

> > up an entirely different line of discussion.)

> >

> > -Michael

> >

> > On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 9:03 AM, Evan Jones <evan at mysteryjones.com>

> wrote:

> >

> > > Hi Michael,

> > >

> > > ARG Histories are notoriously contentious - anyone visiting the ARG

> > > Wikipedia revision page will see how challenging this curation has

> been.

> > >

> > > If you wanted to widen it out a little, you might want to toss in some

> > > 'non-linear' book concepts like Tristram Shandy, or even allude to the

> > > early

> > > days of 'epistolary fiction' like Robinson Crusoe - I've been very

> > > interested to see Adrian Hon's coverage in this area and how it may

> > affect

> > > the trajectory of ARGs in transmedia. My wife and I love the Griffin &

> > > Sabine books as well, but as you can see it's the thin edge of the

> wedge.

> > >  Pretty soon we're back to definitions again and spinning in circles.

> > >

> > > Looking forward to reading about it though!

> > > ------------------

> > > Evan Jones

> > > Stitch Media

> > >

> > > Halifax:  902.482.2157

> > > Toronto: 647.477.1613

> > > www.stitchmedia.ca

> > >

> > >

> > > On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 9:11 AM, Michael Andersen <mandersen at argn.com>

> > > wrote:

> > >

> > > > Hey all,

> > > >

> > > > A while back, Brooke mentioned it might be a good idea for people

> > writing

> > > > sections of the upcoming white paper to post their ideas for feedback

> > and

> > > > suggestions.  That seems like a fairly awesome idea to me, so below

> is

> > a

> > > > rough sketch of what I intend to be discussing with the section on

> ARGs

> > > in

> > > > Publishing.  I figure we're more likely to provide thorough and

> > (probably

> > > > even more importantly) concise coverage if we're not operating in

> silos

> > > > with

> > > > this.

> > > >

> > > > *An ARGish History:* this section will serve as a brief look back at

> a

> > > few

> > > > projects that embraced the ARG aesthetic prior to *Cathy's Book*,

> where

> > > the

> > > > ARG term started getting used for it. This isn't intended to be a

> > > > comprehensive history, but I'll refer to Dennis Wheatley's Murder

> > > Dossiers

> > > > from back in the '30s and armchair mysteries like Kit Williams'

> > > > *Masquerade* (which

> > > > I didn't read, but saw referenced in the NYTimes article on *We Lost

> > Our

> > > > Gold*).

> > > > *

> > > > *

> > > > *ARGs as Storytelling: *this section will focus on the use of ARGs in

> > the

> > > > publishing world as an integral part of the storytelling experience.

> > I'll

> > > > be

> > > > looking at implementing ARGs in publishing through the use of

> evidence

> > > > packs

> > > > (as previously mentioned, this idea goes at least back to the Murder

> > > > Dossiers), along with the trend of utilizing paired media with a

> > central

> > > > social platform (Level 26).

> > > >

> > > > I'll also be discussing how the current trend skews for this type of

> > > > storytelling working exceptionally well with children's literature /

> YA

> > > > materials and as a franchise builder since the audience is a bit more

> > > media

> > > > savvy and the transmedia elements help bridge the publication gap

> > between

> > > > books.

> > > >

> > > > *ARGs as Promotion:* I'll also discuss how ARGs have been used as

> > > > promotions

> > > > for the book's release, looking at how ARGs can drive behavior,

> reward

> > > > existing fans, and introduce the story.

> > > >

> > > > *Concluding Thoughts on Ownership: *this section will briefly

> describe

> > a

> > > > growing trend I've noticed (and analyzed in a bit more depth

> elsewhere)

> > > > towards corporate ownership of these ARG/transmedia book projects.

> > > >

> > > > Each section will be discussed in light of particular properties, and

> I

> > > > plan

> > > > on referencing *Cathy's Book*, *Personal Effects*, *Skeleton Creek*,

> > > *Level

> > > > 26*, *Clock Without a Face*, *39 Clues*, *First Among Sequels*,

> > > *Therapy*,

> > > > and *The Whisperers*. When possible and as space allows, I plan on

> > > > including

> > > > a brief description of media used and a short walkthrough of how

> > readers

> > > > interact with the book ARG type projects, incorporating statements

> from

> > > the

> > > > people behind the projects (gleaned from past interviews, TED

> speeches,

> > > and

> > > > articles).

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > So...any thoughts? Concerns? Glaring omissions? Praise?

> Recriminations?

> > > >

> > > > -Michael

> > > > _______________________________________________

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