March, 2005 | ARGNet: Alternate Reality Gaming Network

Despite the absence of a ‘big’ game currently in play, the past few weeks have revealed a sudden increase in the interest the press is showing to Alternate Reality Gaming. Combine this with the announcements of upcoming ARGs and the I Love Bees team’s soon-to-be-bestowed 2005 Innovation Award, and you’ve got some major momentum toward the general public discovering this cutting edge, innovative form of entertainment.

Those in the marketing field have been catching on to the potential of Alternate Reality Gaming for some time, as evidenced by a recent blurb in TrendCentral, a leading newsletter about marketing trends. Now, thanks to recent successes such as I Love Bees and Regenesis, the mainstream press seems to be paying attention as well.

In the past week, Alternate Reality Games have caught the interest of CNET News, The Age, and Straight.com. Earlier articles have also appeared in The New York Times, Wired and The Times Online to name just a few. Watch for upcoming articles in other major news providers as well.

So, with all of the sudden attention, what’s next for Alternate Reality Gaming? While we can’t say much about what we’ve heard or how much we know for sure, we can say this much: Buckle your seatbelts and prepare to kiss your free time goodbye!

NOTE: If you’re an ARG veteran, be sure to look for a little Easter Egg in the above CNET News article. 😉

Seems there’s lots of stuff simmering right now in the ARG world. The problem is, nothing seems to be quite breaking the surface yet. While some point to major mainstream projects, there are numerous instances of grassroots efforts struggling to launch and get attention.

Perplex City seems to be in its final stages of development, as well as getting a good amount of press. No hint yet on when the official launch will be, but a recent email and video indicate that it’s got to be getting close. Meanwhile, players are still waiting and watching for the announced Still Life Extended Reality Game to show further signs of life.

On the rumor front, there are reports cropping up about strange sightings of graffiti, posters and television bumpers all with the same slogan in Latin: “Omnium Finis Imminet,” which loosely translates to “The end of all things is near.” Popular wisdom is that this is a viral effort leading into the upcoming Spielberg adaptation of War of the Worlds or some SciFi miniseries. The photos of the graffiti do seem to be photoshopped, and are better in quality and composition than your average amateur would take, so there does seem to be something going on here.

Meanwhile, there are quite a few grassroots projects attempting to gain momentum. These include Project Ashcroft, Synagoga, Entrapment, and Albrecht Wasser. As with any indie game, play at your own risk, as your mileage may vary.

Month: March 2005 (Page 3 of 3)

ARG Gaining Media Attention

The End of the World, Rumors, and Grassroots Startups

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