[arg_discuss] Alternate Reality Game Jam (Idea)

[Mike Monello]

I agree, it sounds like a good idea and perhaps it could be tied into
ARGFest somehow.


Mike
Partner/ECD
http://www.campfirenyc.com

Sent from a smart(ish) phone.

On Jul 17, 2010, at 11:22 AM, Thomas Maillioux
<thomas.maillioux at gmail.com> wrote:


> Hi John,

>

> To put it in a nutshell, I think it's a very good idea and I'd love to see

> it happen :)

>

> As you mentioned, resourc es can be discussed later and shouldn't be too

> much of a hinderance (we're all relatively well equipped computers-wise, I

> believe). Forums and sub-forums or even temporary wikis would be very nice

> to use. Google Wave can be interesting, but can also get very messy, so be

> very cautious that everyone follows certain guidelines when using it to

> avoid having a hard time finding your way around the waves in the end.

>

> That's all I can think of for now - keep us posted for the first edition of

> your Game Jam !

> Tom.

>

> 2010/7/16 John Evans <btradish at earthlink.net>

>

>> So, the independent game development community has these things called

>> "game jams".  These events usually take place over 48 hours; Game developers

>> (programmers, artists, musicians, writers, etc.) form teams to create a game

>> within the specified time period.  Sometimes the teams meet at real-world

>> locations, as in the Global Game Jam ( http://globalgamejam.org/ ); other

>> game jams are entirely on the net, as in Ludum Dare ( http://ludumdare.com).

>>

>> The whole idea of a game jam is to get people creating games.  Don't worry

>> about how good it is, don't worry about how good you are, just get out there

>> and do it.  Learn what it takes to make a game, marshal your resources,

>> learn your tools, work with other people and build confidence in yourself.

>> Also, game jams often yield experimental games that get people thinking in

>> new directions about what a game can be.  The game jams often have a

>> constraint or catalyst (the word "islands", for example, or the phrase "as

>> long as we have each other we'll never run out of problems") that get the

>> developers thinking in new ways.  And one of the largest benefits is that

>> once the jam is over, there are lots of people eager to play all the games

>> that have been produced and provide feedback.  This also helps build a

>> community around the jam.

>>

>> I'm sure you see where I'm going with this.  The above paragraphs describe

>> creating computer games, but they can apply to alternate reality games too.

>> Even if you prefer things more on the "narrative" side and less on the

>> "game", the concept still fits pretty well.  I think it'd be cool to have an

>> Alternate Reality Game Jam to get more people into creating and critiquing

>> small ARGs.  (If we can free a mime in 10 minutes, we can create something

>> interesting in 48 hours, right?)

>>

>> I could provide some basic resources, perhaps a forum with a private

>> subforum for each team.  Of course, it really is pretty easy to get

>> resources together nowadays; anyone can create a Youtube account or 70.  But

>> we can work that out later; Right now I just want to know...Does this sound

>> like a good idea?

>>

>> =====

>> John Evans

>> Chaoseed Software - http://chaoseed.com

>>

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