10. Characters are well played both on video and via their emails. Psyche!
9. Play the game, get a T-shirt.
8. Thursday night trivia game always leads to a video.
7. Ima Spoocheeeee sends smoocheeeees to distract Mr Alan Johnson.
6. Puzzles that don’t make you feel dumb.
5. Great soundtrack.
4. Online séance and a singing nun in the shower.
3. You can’t help but smile when you say “Spoocheeeee”, “Sammeeeees” and “hoopsssssthoo”.
2. Higg’s is so sexy when he’s all fired up.
1. We have our own cool slogan: SAVE THE FIVE, SAVE THE WORLD
Often we chat in #sammeeeees about why we are enjoying this ARG. This is an ARG with a great story; great characters; and puzzles that are not overly complicated. Maybe its the responsiveness of the PMs in addressing our concerns. When we got upset at the idea of players having to choose sides, the PMs made sure we knew that we should stay on one side and that there would be an in-game method to avoid the evil Mr. Alan Johnson from getting inappropriate information. When we voiced our concerns about having to pick someone to hold the Spoocheeeee disc pieces they had a character provide us with an idea on how to do it in a fair manner. And when a potential gamejacker showed up, the PMs used the most appropriate character to deliver a message that kept us from falling for it.
We have become emotionally invested in these characters. Many of them because of the videos where personalities are very apparent. But also through their email interactions that are consistent in tone and match the character profiles. These PMs have tried to spread the wealth; responding to newcomers to the game, but maintaining continuity. They have responded to players interjecting our own personal bias and seem to have fun with teasing relationships that have developed. Characters even react to player life events and remember personal preferences. Several sent Birthday wishes to one of the players on MySpace this week.
Throughout the game players have been sent t-shirts and each package has a simple clue to a new blogspot that advances the story. Every Thursday we get a fun puzzle/trivia quest that yields a new video and from that another trail of websites and contact information with new characters. While one major character is partial to Cyndi Lauper, we’ve also had a modified “Mack the Knife”, “California Dreaming” and now we are deep into the music of “Les Miserables”.
While this game has been labeled ‘grassroots’, the PMs have been very professional in its execution. We have had live meets set up (in character), timely updates, and a very tight curtain (well, I have some suspicions, but haven’t wanted to pursue them). Our new players say it’s well paced and although the PMs give out hints for solves (when we’re a little slow on the update), they don’t come right out and tell us the answer – they find appropriate in-game means. The players have great respect for these PMs and we hope they are at ARGFest so we can show off our “Friend of Peeps” shirts wearing our Tin Hats.