Comments on: Anatomy of an Implosion http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/ Your first choice for ARG news. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:26:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Open Game Design | Blog | The Birth of Martin Aggett (Part one) http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/comment-page-1/#comment-6431 Open Game Design | Blog | The Birth of Martin Aggett (Part one) Sat, 24 Sep 2011 18:28:34 +0000 http://www.argn.com/?p=2467#comment-6431 [...] So, while I developed my own Alternate Reality Game, Martin began making friends on Facebook, gathered followers on Twitter, participated in online discussions, played several grassroots ARGs, and was even a guest on the ARG Netcast and had an article published at ARGN.com. [...] [...] So, while I developed my own Alternate Reality Game, Martin began making friends on Facebook, gathered followers on Twitter, participated in online discussions, played several grassroots ARGs, and was even a guest on the ARG Netcast and had an article published at ARGN.com. [...]

]]> By: James Serbus http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/comment-page-1/#comment-1141 James Serbus Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:26:10 +0000 http://www.argn.com/?p=2467#comment-1141 Well once i get everything up and running again (like my internet, i have to steal it from the neighbors in order to post this message) i'll write up a full-scale fail-blog on what happened. but basically 80% of the problems where technically things that i couldn't fix even if i tried. like 2 weeks into the game my laptops hard-drive crashing, (which is when i improvised and planned to do the live drop thing while the laptop was being worked on). and if you guys have anything specific you'd like to ask, I'm here to answer your questions. Well once i get everything up and running again (like my internet, i have to steal it from the neighbors in order to post this message) i’ll write up a full-scale fail-blog on what happened. but basically 80% of the problems where technically things that i couldn’t fix even if i tried. like 2 weeks into the game my laptops hard-drive crashing, (which is when i improvised and planned to do the live drop thing while the laptop was being worked on).
and if you guys have anything specific you’d like to ask, I’m here to answer your questions.

]]> By: SSJTapkar http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/comment-page-1/#comment-1134 SSJTapkar Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:06:08 +0000 http://www.argn.com/?p=2467#comment-1134 This ARG was fun, but every time Skype pops open, I just wonder when I can actually USE it again. This ARG was fun, but every time Skype pops open, I just wonder when I can actually USE it again.

]]> By: Steve Diddle http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/comment-page-1/#comment-1121 Steve Diddle Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:04:51 +0000 http://www.argn.com/?p=2467#comment-1121 James, First, thanks for the compliment on the article - I appreciate it. I know there were a lot of negative things about your efforts that I highlighted in the article (and I'm really glad you came forward in the comments to give us some more insight), but I really did enjoy the game while I played it. I especially liked some of the early videos from the PHH Interception thread that got things going in an interesting direction. You also did a lot of one on one interaction in chat - something that is nearly impossible to do in a larger scale game. You had a story premise that had a ton of promise and grabbed my attention enough to want to play along. As far as your comment about your game being an "inconvenience" and giving ARGs a "bad name"; don't be so hard on yourself. I'm living proof that we all make mistakes in game development and execution - I think the most important thing is that we share those mistakes with others and help each other learn not to repeat those mistakes. I would love to hear more about what you think went wrong from your side of the game, and how you think it could be improved. I wish you luck and hope that someday this story of yours gets out in the world so that we can all enjoy it. James,
First, thanks for the compliment on the article – I appreciate it.

I know there were a lot of negative things about your efforts that I highlighted in the article (and I’m really glad you came forward in the comments to give us some more insight), but I really did enjoy the game while I played it. I especially liked some of the early videos from the PHH Interception thread that got things going in an interesting direction. You also did a lot of one on one interaction in chat – something that is nearly impossible to do in a larger scale game. You had a story premise that had a ton of promise and grabbed my attention enough to want to play along.

As far as your comment about your game being an “inconvenience” and giving ARGs a “bad name”; don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m living proof that we all make mistakes in game development and execution – I think the most important thing is that we share those mistakes with others and help each other learn not to repeat those mistakes.

I would love to hear more about what you think went wrong from your side of the game, and how you think it could be improved. I wish you luck and hope that someday this story of yours gets out in the world so that we can all enjoy it.

]]> By: natas http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/comment-page-1/#comment-1106 natas Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:59:14 +0000 http://www.argn.com/?p=2467#comment-1106 "As for the DLImedia comment - one of the reasons why David has gotten a reputation for putting on games that implode is because he takes ownership of his games. He is one of the few people who publicly does self critiques of his “failed” games and invites others to contribute to the discussion. For that, I think he is a great “source of guidance” for aspiring game designers." I disagree. If you implode a game, then come from behind the curtain and say "Oops! I did it again... and here's my lame excuse." That doesn't give you a pass in my book and a LOT of others agree with me. I don't think imploding games can in any positive way farther the genre. I hope DLI decides to change course. “As for the DLImedia comment – one of the reasons why David has gotten a reputation for putting on games that implode is because he takes ownership of his games. He is one of the few people who publicly does self critiques of his “failed” games and invites others to contribute to the discussion. For that, I think he is a great “source of guidance” for aspiring game designers.”

I disagree. If you implode a game, then come from behind the curtain and say “Oops! I did it again… and here’s my lame excuse.” That doesn’t give you a pass in my book and a LOT of others agree with me. I don’t think imploding games can in any positive way farther the genre.

I hope DLI decides to change course.

]]> By: James Serbus http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/comment-page-1/#comment-1080 James Serbus Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:58:45 +0000 http://www.argn.com/?p=2467#comment-1080 Also: forgot to say, great article man... Also: forgot to say, great article man…

]]> By: James Serbus http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/comment-page-1/#comment-1079 James Serbus Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:46:12 +0000 http://www.argn.com/?p=2467#comment-1079 Hey guys, I would like to say that, besides the things you stated which were the result of a my idiocy, there were several larger problems that got in the way of this ARG. Part of it was the fact that, the day after launch, my partner in crime quit on me, forcing me to work on this whole thing basically by myself. and then to make things worse and complicate the process, My laptop's hard-drive, camera's memory stick, and several other things crapped out. leaving me like a fish out of water. Not wanting to abbandon this... love child of mine... I tried my best to keep it going, which probably wasn't the best idea. this is when I planned the live event--i just happened to chose a very bad day (I should have researched the fact that there was a huge job fair type thing in manchester that day.) and when it was rescheduled i think it basically lost everyone's attention. And then on top of that i was an idiot and didn't spend five minutes out of my time to create a new youtube account for the myself (or even use one of the several other little known accounts i have). I do plan on resurrecting this once i get better... machinery, budget, and other such items, however that will not be for a while. sorry for the inconvenience and for giving ARG's a bad name. Forever Forsaken, James A. Serbus Hey guys,
I would like to say that, besides the things you stated which were the result of a my idiocy, there were several larger problems that got in the way of this ARG.
Part of it was the fact that, the day after launch, my partner in crime quit on me, forcing me to work on this whole thing basically by myself. and then to make things worse and complicate the process, My laptop’s hard-drive, camera’s memory stick, and several other things crapped out. leaving me like a fish out of water. Not wanting to abbandon this… love child of mine… I tried my best to keep it going, which probably wasn’t the best idea.
this is when I planned the live event–i just happened to chose a very bad day (I should have researched the fact that there was a huge job fair type thing in manchester that day.) and when it was rescheduled i think it basically lost everyone’s attention.
And then on top of that i was an idiot and didn’t spend five minutes out of my time to create a new youtube account for the myself (or even use one of the several other little known accounts i have).
I do plan on resurrecting this once i get better… machinery, budget, and other such items, however that will not be for a while. sorry for the inconvenience and for giving ARG’s a bad name.

Forever Forsaken,
James A. Serbus

]]> By: ARG Netcast, Episode 92: Everything Between It And Quick | ARG Netcasts http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/comment-page-1/#comment-1062 ARG Netcast, Episode 92: Everything Between It And Quick | ARG Netcasts Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:17:57 +0000 http://www.argn.com/?p=2467#comment-1062 [...] Anatomy of an Implosion http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/ [...] [...] Anatomy of an Implosion http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/ [...]

]]> By: Steve Diddle http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/comment-page-1/#comment-1050 Steve Diddle Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:50:57 +0000 http://www.argn.com/?p=2467#comment-1050 @labfly Thanks for the encouragement Jan, I appreciate you taking the time to contribute to the discussion. I think you've hit on the leading cause of ARG implosions - launching a game with the story idea still inside your head. Just because a game designer spends a lot of time thinking about the story doesn't mean they are ready to launch a game. Getting the idea is the easy and fun part of the process - actually creating the requisite content and fully developing the story as well as the detailed backstory is the demanding part. As for the accountability and safety issue - that's probably going to be the subject of my next feature... @labfly Thanks for the encouragement Jan, I appreciate you taking the time to contribute to the discussion. I think you’ve hit on the leading cause of ARG implosions – launching a game with the story idea still inside your head. Just because a game designer spends a lot of time thinking about the story doesn’t mean they are ready to launch a game. Getting the idea is the easy and fun part of the process – actually creating the requisite content and fully developing the story as well as the detailed backstory is the demanding part.

As for the accountability and safety issue – that’s probably going to be the subject of my next feature…

]]> By: labfly http://www.argn.com/2009/06/anatomy_of_an_implosion/comment-page-1/#comment-1043 labfly Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:12:20 +0000 http://www.argn.com/?p=2467#comment-1043 great article, martin :) imploding games is not only horrible for the players but it really takes its toll on the genre. i understand that stuff happens, but i have an enormous problem w/pms who chronically half create args only to have them implode. and wanna-be pms, an "idea" for an arg should never be a green light to launch an arg. the idea is one tiny bit of the process. before you launch a game you should be prepared to finish the game. have a beginning middle and several endings. have content. have a lot of content. have a design to your story/game. although i'm a huge fan of the curtain, it is one reason i would like to see some sort of pm i.d.-ing w/mods. i.d.-ing ourselves may end SOME of the implosions. no curtain to hide behind. (the other reason being safety - but that's another conversation) and cheers to a great topic, martin. great article, martin :)

imploding games is not only horrible for the players but it really takes its toll on the genre. i understand that stuff happens, but i have an enormous problem w/pms who chronically half create args only to have them implode. and wanna-be pms, an “idea” for an arg should never be a green light to launch an arg. the idea is one tiny bit of the process. before you launch a game you should be prepared to finish the game. have a beginning middle and several endings. have content. have a lot of content. have a design to your story/game. although i’m a huge fan of the curtain, it is one reason i would like to see some sort of pm i.d.-ing w/mods. i.d.-ing ourselves may end SOME of the implosions. no curtain to hide behind.
(the other reason being safety – but that’s another conversation)

and cheers to a great topic, martin.

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