An alternate reality game ( ARG ) is an interactive narrative that uses the real world as a platform, often involving multiple media and game elements, to tell a story that may be affected by participants' ideas or actions.

The form is typified by intense player involvement with a story that takes place in real-time and evolves according to participants' responses, and characters that are actively controlled by the game's designers, as opposed to being controlled by artificial intelligence as in a computer or console video game. Players interact directly with characters in the game, solve plot-based challenges and puzzles, and often work together with a community to analyze the story and coordinate real-life and online activities. ARGs generally use multimedia, such as telephones, email and mail but rely on the Internet as the central binding medium.

ARGs are growing in popularity, with new games appearing regularly and an increasing amount of experimentation with new models and subgenres. They tend to be free to play, with costs absorbed either through supporting products (e.g. collectible puzzle cards fund Perplex City) or through promotional relationships with existing products (e.g. I love bees was a promotion for Halo 2, and the Lost Experience promoted the television show Lost ). However, pay-to-play models are not unheard of.

ARGs are now being recognized by the mainstream entertainment world: The Fallen Alternate Reality game was recently awarded a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Achievement for an Interactive Television Program.

See also

• Verisimilitude

Notes

1. ^ Stacey, Sean (10 November 2006). "Undefining ARG". Retrieved on 2007-02-19.
2. ^ McGonigal, Jane (2003), "A Real Little Game: The Performance of Belief in Pervasive Play" (PDF), Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA) "Level Up" Conference Proceedings , <http://www.avantgame.com/MCGONIGAL%20A%20Real%20Little%20Game%20DiGRA%202003.pdf>  
3. ^ Cloudmakers. "Puppetmaster FAQ". Retrieved on 2007-02-19.
4. ^ Stacey, Sean (22 September 2002). "Unfiction Terms of Service". Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
5. ^ Hanas, Jim (25 January 2006). "The Story Doesn't Care: An Interview With Sean Stewart". Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
6. ^ Stewart, Sean. "Alternate Reality Games". Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
7. ^ "The Rise of ARGs", Gamasutra (2005-05-09) . Retrieved on 2007-02-19 .  
8. ^ "Dreadnot". SFGate.
9. ^ Dena, Christy (22 May 2006). "Designing Cross-Media Entertainment" (PDF). Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
10. ^ "TIME Best & Worst of 2001", TIME Magazine (2001-12-24) . Retrieved on 2007-02-13 .  
11. ^ Dena, Christy. "Top ARGs, With Stats". Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
12. ^ "The Buzzmakers", East Bay Express (2005-05-18) . Retrieved on 2007-02-13 .  
13. ^ "Signs of Intelligent Life: A.I.'s mysterious and masterful promotional campaign", Slate (2001-05-15) . Retrieved on 2007-02-13 .  
14. ^ Stewart, Sean. "The A.I. Web Game". Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
15. ^ Lee, Elan (2006), "Check Your Joystick At The Door", Montréal International Game Summit  
16. ^ "Cloudmakers Yahoo! List". Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
17. ^ "Testing the Waters", Unfiction . Retrieved on 2007-02-19 .  
18. ^ "A Conspiracy of Conspiracy Gamers", WIRED (2001-09-19) . Retrieved on 2007-02-19 .  
19. ^ Miller, Jim (November 2004). "Exocog: A case study of a new genre in storytelling". Retrieved on 2007-02-19.
20. ^ "Ilovebees.com Link to Halo 2 Release Confirmed", Alternate Reality Gaming Network (2004-07-23) . Retrieved on 2007-02-19 .  
21. ^ "42 Entertainment: I Love Bees". Retrieved on 2007-02-19.
22. ^ "I Love Bees Game A Surprise Hit", WIRED (2004-10-18) . Retrieved on 2007-02-19 .  
23. ^ "2004: In a Word; The Year of (Your Catchphrase Here)", The New York Times (2004-12-26) . Retrieved on 2007-02-19 .  
24. ^ "Metroid Prime ARGishness", Alternate Reality Gaming Network (2004-10-20) . Retrieved on 2007-02-19 .  
25. ^ "I Love Bees Two", Alternate Reality Gaming Network (2006-03-07) . Retrieved on 2007-02-19 .  
26. ^ "Ilovebees-Inspired Artwork to Raise Money for Charity", Alternate Reality Gaming Network (2004-12-09) . Retrieved on 2007-02-19 .

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