While the weekend represents quiet and solitude for many of you, alternate reality gaming does not stop for days of the week that begin with an S. We received a plethora of ARG tips, tidbits and updates through the past few days, and here are the highlights:
- Lance Weiler, a recent guest on the ARG Netcast series, has written about Hope is Missing, the ARG that was created to promote the DVD release of his film Head Trauma. His article at The Workbook Project is chock full of details and statistics about the campaign, and is an excellent read for people finding themselves on either side of the Puppetmaster curtain.
- This year marks the second time that the Trinity University’s Coates Library in San Antonio has run Blood on the Stacks, an alternate reality game that helps new students to get familiar with the school’s library. According to this entry at the SHU – Blogcause07 blog, “anecdotally the library and support staff reported feedback from students of feeling more familiar, less alien in the environment, the library was associated with fun and the staff were more approachable.” This appears to be yet another neat way that people are using ARGs to assist in a social environment.
- Thanks to a press release we received, we know how survivors of a zombie-apocalypse will find each other — Last Day’s Journal. This is a project that began in 2005 at the hands of Superfreako Productions, a two-brother team that had the idea for a television show dedicated to the concept of a post-apocalyptic zombie-infested world.
- Tony Walsh, author of the always-excellent Clickable Culture, has the scoop on a new video-based ARG called The Got which is going to be a co-production of Canadian and Portuguese creators. According to Walsh, one of the people behind the scenes is Adam Clare, who has previously worked on TorGame.
- David Varela, one of the writers for the Perplex City ARG, has written an article for Scriptwriter Magazine. The article ran in the September issue. (via Christy Dena at Cross-Media Entertainment.)
- An observant reader named Ciaran let us know about The Dead Room via the tip line: “I saw this shop whilst walking down Oxford Street in London the other day & ended up at thedeadroom.com – I’ve also found stuff on flickr suggesting that it’s going on in Glasgow as well.” The site looks creepy as can be, and might be another one of the horror-style ARGs that have become popular in recent months.
- Finally, this news item via ExperienceCurve had me in stitches. It’s a tribute to viral videos and web sites called “We Didn’t Start the Viral” — and yes, it is sung to that tune made famous by Mr. Billy Joel. The video originates from cakke.com who have a blow-by-blow of the lyrics. Listen and watch for references to LonelyGirl15, Our Colony, Slusho and I Love Bees.
Hope your week goes well, and here’s hoping that the mysterious jack-o-lantern at Why So Serious turns into something wonderfully ARGish on Wednesday.