On this week’s show, co-hosts Michael Andersen, Marie Lamb, Sean C. Stacey and Jonathan Waite are joined by special guest Evan Jones of Stitch Media. Recently, Evan has written blog posts about a return to play, and we go over the details of this personal journey with Evan. Evan also reveals a bit of information about some new projects that are in the works from Stitch Media.
Links from the show:
- Stitch Media
http://www.stitchmedia.ca - Stitch Media blog
http://www.stitchmedia.ca/blog - Activision’s Viral Campaign for Singularity Starts with a Bang
http://station.newteevee.com/2009/01/31/activisions-viral-campaign-for-singularity-starts-with-a-bang/ - Mir-12: Viral Marketing for Singularity?
http://www.argn.com/2009/02/mir-12_viral_marketing_for_singularity/ - www.mir-12.com (Unfiction forum thread)
http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=27450 - HBO Orders Song Of Ice and Fire Pilot
http://www.cinemablend.com/television/HBO-Orders-Song-Of-Ice-and-Fire-Pilot-13371.html - Readers build vivid mental simulations of narrative situations, brain scans suggest
http://www.physorg.com/news152210728.html
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3 Comments Received
February 5th, 2009 @3:15 pm
On the discussion about nearly-but-not-quite-ARGs – I’m enjoying the Watchmen content. I know it’s not a full game, but the occasional updates of good quality content is keeping me entertained, and not draining my time nearly as much as a full-on ARG. And I’m not even posting in the thread for it.
February 6th, 2009 @4:43 pm
Well, I just came back from listening to this episode, and wow, the discussion that ensued really shifted my way of looking at ARGs. Truly, I’m looking forward the next Netcast.
February 6th, 2009 @8:45 pm
Excellent Netcast, guys! One comment about the discussion of superfluous backstory arcs. While I absolutely agree that everything that’s published should NEED to be there (the gun on the mantelpiece idea), I do think there needs to be some “dead end” content, with a caveat:
Part of what makes an ARG fun is the exploration of the world. Phone number? Call it! Email address? Send one off! Just that fact that a recent fictional newspaper had a subscription phone number that did nothing but further the atmosphere of the world and point people to the website was something new players thought was the coolest thing in the world.
I think that there should definitely be side alleys (some people would call them red herrings, I guess), but it’s important *not to do too much*. My goal is to always tell *some* story in each and every phone number or autoresponder. Whether it’s a little character development, or background effects that give context, I think that’s the key. Definitely don’t want just “hey it’s me, leave a message,” without there being something more. It’s a matter of fair indicators to players.
I like to compare the arc of an ARG to a labyrinth. Without multiple doors to open or forks in the road to explore, it’s just a twisty hallway leading from beginning to end. Where’s the fun in that?
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