Alternative Reality Games (ARGs) are an ongoing internet phenomenon that’s only rising in numbers. Essentially, these games are online puzzles in which the player must solve in real time, hence the name. As the number of games grow, more and more people become inspired to make their own. However, making and writing an online ARG is harder than it looks. Over time, there comes a list of what you should and shouldn’t do and how to make your story more effective.
you want to take it in. An example of what not to do is from an online series called “My
Dad’s Tapes”. The story initially starts off with a young man trying to find out who his dad
once was using basement tapes. However, he found himself fighting against a cult of
serial killers, completely changing the story’s direction. Such sudden change in direction
turned away his audience. You’ll need to look into what types of people are your
demographic and what people might actually play your game.
2. Plan Out Your Posts/Puzzles/etc
Remember, ARGs run in real life. The story within your game must coincide with
real life time. You should also consider what format you want to use, such as using a
social media website or making a website of your own. Use your story as a base and
think of which format would work. If you want yours to be more story based, you can use
sites like Twitter, Reddit, and Tumblr. If you want something more puzzle based, usually
it’s recommended to make your own website.
3. Don’t Make Puzzles Overcomplicated
Should puzzles be challenging? Yes, but they need to be solvable as well. Think of it like
a video game, it should be difficult, but not impossible. Although not an online series, The Secret was a book that contained difficult puzzles, difficult enough that only two puzzles of the entire book were solved. If you want a successful game, you need people to be able to solve your puzzles.
4. Don’t Put Anybody’s Lives in Danger
On the other side of the screen is another living human being, one with a life and loved
ones of their own. The last thing you want to do is be responsible for something bad
happening to them because of your game. What you shouldn’t do is in the plot of an
online series named Junko Junsui. In the game, the Junsui are a race of artificially made
human beings; in real life, the Junsui are a terrorist group. The game contained real
numbers and real addresses of people living within Russia for players to contact and
released personal information of players. The fact that the people who made the game
had no regard of people’s privacy and put people’s lives at risk is horrible to think about.
Treat your players like human beings.
5. Put a Fine Line Between Real Life and the Game
This ties in with number four, you should set boundaries as to what’s in the game
and what’s in real life. Using real addresses, real phone numbers, and using a name
that’s already used for a real organization can put people in danger. Go as far as
addressing your players on what is and what isn’t part of the game, otherwise it’ll end up
like the Doomsday series. The Doomsday series was about a person traveling from the
future warning people that the world was going to end on April 30, 2015. Some people
caught on that it was a game, but others thought it was real and either started preparing
for the day or contemplated committing suicide before the day would pass. The fact that
the maker of the game didn’t clarify that the doomsday itself was a part of the game
made matters worse.
6. Have Them Wanting More
Make your story worth telling. Don’t fall for common cliches and give players an
experience to remember. Have them wait excitedly for the next puzzle, have them invest
in the character’s within the game, and have them want to tell other people about it. If you
keep the previous numbers in mind and have enough hope, maybe your ARG might
have a better chance of being successful. There’s no promises though. It’s all up to you.
- Know Your Story and Audience
you want to take it in. An example of what not to do is from an online series called “My
Dad’s Tapes”. The story initially starts off with a young man trying to find out who his dad
once was using basement tapes. However, he found himself fighting against a cult of
serial killers, completely changing the story’s direction. Such sudden change in direction
turned away his audience. You’ll need to look into what types of people are your
demographic and what people might actually play your game.
2. Plan Out Your Posts/Puzzles/etc
Remember, ARGs run in real life. The story within your game must coincide with
real life time. You should also consider what format you want to use, such as using a
social media website or making a website of your own. Use your story as a base and
think of which format would work. If you want yours to be more story based, you can use
sites like Twitter, Reddit, and Tumblr. If you want something more puzzle based, usually
it’s recommended to make your own website.
3. Don’t Make Puzzles Overcomplicated
Should puzzles be challenging? Yes, but they need to be solvable as well. Think of it like
a video game, it should be difficult, but not impossible. Although not an online series, The Secret was a book that contained difficult puzzles, difficult enough that only two puzzles of the entire book were solved. If you want a successful game, you need people to be able to solve your puzzles.
4. Don’t Put Anybody’s Lives in Danger
On the other side of the screen is another living human being, one with a life and loved
ones of their own. The last thing you want to do is be responsible for something bad
happening to them because of your game. What you shouldn’t do is in the plot of an
online series named Junko Junsui. In the game, the Junsui are a race of artificially made
human beings; in real life, the Junsui are a terrorist group. The game contained real
numbers and real addresses of people living within Russia for players to contact and
released personal information of players. The fact that the people who made the game
had no regard of people’s privacy and put people’s lives at risk is horrible to think about.
Treat your players like human beings.
5. Put a Fine Line Between Real Life and the Game
This ties in with number four, you should set boundaries as to what’s in the game
and what’s in real life. Using real addresses, real phone numbers, and using a name
that’s already used for a real organization can put people in danger. Go as far as
addressing your players on what is and what isn’t part of the game, otherwise it’ll end up
like the Doomsday series. The Doomsday series was about a person traveling from the
future warning people that the world was going to end on April 30, 2015. Some people
caught on that it was a game, but others thought it was real and either started preparing
for the day or contemplated committing suicide before the day would pass. The fact that
the maker of the game didn’t clarify that the doomsday itself was a part of the game
made matters worse.
6. Have Them Wanting More
Make your story worth telling. Don’t fall for common cliches and give players an
experience to remember. Have them wait excitedly for the next puzzle, have them invest
in the character’s within the game, and have them want to tell other people about it. If you
keep the previous numbers in mind and have enough hope, maybe your ARG might
have a better chance of being successful. There’s no promises though. It’s all up to you.