Time for brainstorming, me hearties. I have an idea for a real life game.
I'll plant out clues throughout my town, on various weird places. Small cards with cryptic messages. On each card is also an internet address, leading people to an anonymous site with an introduction and a forum. The whole atmosphere will be simple but secretive. There will be no obvious goal, but in order to collect more cards, you will need to solve the clues on the ones you've got, and often combine them.
The cards will respawn irregularly, so there will be duplicates. You can trade duplicates for clues you haven't found.
As the game progresses, the clues will be harder to obtain. Some may demand that you speak to people (who have been introduced in advance) or even enter forbidden areas a la urban exploring, or at least areas very difficult to access.
This challenge may have been done before, but I haven't heard of anything similar set in a real city, and I'm sure there's room for one where I live.
Now, I need your help to turn this from a concept idea to a functional game. I need help with everything from individual clues to the overall design.
What do you think, can this be interesting?
PS
The key concept of this game is the secrecy. As opposed to scavenger hunts or commercial games, this will have no advertisement, no invitations, just these clue cards which you need to find by chance.
This is a great idea.
Although it seems quite like a treasure hunt game. But it can be endless. this can give life to the whole concept.
A problem, is how are you going to hide well enough the cards, so someone off the game just be accident doesn't find them and throws them away. My son, at this stages, looks for everything in his way and tears it apart. I may just being picky...
Unfortunately another problem (which applies to me) is that I don't have time running across you town (which is London ??). But again I'm being to subjective and selfish (sp). This doesn't have to apply to everybody else...
Answer to PS: Secrecy? What about this thread? This can work even better, now that I think about it if you take the underground root...
Quote from: nikolasideris on Mon 19/09/2005 20:13:49
Answer to PS: Secrecy? What about this thread?
The very fact that you believe I live in London proves that it'll be very hard for future players to find information about this game on the internet. I might even erase the thread after all is planned.
So in this thread, let's not talk about me or where I live :)
About running through a city; well, if they wanna play, they'll have to run:) Also, emphasis will be put on solving riddles and cyphers and not random searching.
requires a very proactive approach to living life
ideas: How about you mark letters on streetname signs. Or scribble in public phone books. Mark everthing with a tag so people know it's a clue.
Its hard to keep these things timeless. If someone finds a clue on a piece of paper he will keep it. The next player will find nothing. Also I don't think you would make friends with the locals if you paintspray a clue on a wall. They might remove it, so you have to paintspray it again (and get arrested for art crimes).
Maybe you should make it a one season contest. If you don't win, better luck next season.
Before planning such a game (which I think would be really cool and fun to play, by the way) you need to decide (and maybe you already have) a few things:
-How are you going to recruit/attract players? Will they sign up somewhere, or will they just stumble upon a clue and hopefully be intrigued enough to start playing along?
-How are you going to motivate them to play? Will there be a promise of a prize? Or will you be counting on the curiosity of the players?
With these in mind, we can probably help you better. Also, knowing where you live would help us think of clues, because relating the clues to physical locations will probably be important.
Again, great idea! I'd love to play!
Make sure you don't get fined for littering or fly posting
EDIT:
Actually, I think people will be cynical and suspect that you are selling something or runnign a pyramid scheme. That's what most of the little unofficial card you find stuck to lamposts here are: "EARN 50k a year AT HOME" they proclaim.
Of course, since these schemes do actually attract people, you wil get some interest, but then it will be from the type of peopel who buy from Spam and enter pyramid schemes: do you really want their hits to your sire? Unless you ARE actually planning a pyramid-selling penis-extension scheme!
Quote from: Vince Twelve on Tue 20/09/2005 03:21:55
Or will you be counting on the curiosity of the players?
If it is random and you count on someone's curiosity, be prepared to lose many of the "hints". People may just tear/destroy them...This may also happen if you have a set "team" of players but the clues are left to be found by anyone.
As for setting the game in a real city...I think only the people from your country will look, or the odd tourist...Unless you tell us what is the prize of course, ;)
I also think that the clues should be something that can be found easily, like a note but not so easily that it is blatantly obvious. A note on a coffee table is risky, a note in a book at the library is better, some handritting on a public but worthless document (telephone directory) is even better, in my opinion.
Does it have to be restricted in one region? I was thinking of locations that can be found in travelling agencies' guides, online or in school books and where a person can go or might have already gone. This way more peopel could get involved.
It is likely that there will be no secrecy. Which means that you are likely to attract irrelevant, bored people and the police might think it is a gang or something...
It is an original idea overall, but I think it will be harder to realise than you think...
Just a few things, some of which have already come up:
1. What would be the point? I don't necessarily mean a physical prize (although that's what most people seem to be assuming) just - well, you've got clues, but what are they clues
to? (Other than yet more clues, of course.) Or, would it just be a "who can collect all the clues first" thing, like a real-life-adventure-game-Pokemon, or that +Ma's Reversing (http://3564020356.org/index.html) thing that was linked a while ago?
2.
QuoteDoes it have to be restricted in one region? I was thinking of locations that can be found in travelling agencies' guides, online or in school books and where a person can go or might have already gone. This way more peopel could get involved.
I think, if the clues are actual objects you need to physically collect, then it kind of has to be limited to players from one area because if Andail/another organiser can't get to the place to leave clues, or the player can't get there to pick them up, it just seems a bit pointless.
However, it might be interesting to have a group of organisers in different places around the world leaving clues, and to encourage 'swapping' of clues via the forums.
E.g. I could post:
QuoteI'm in Liverpool, and have a clue (60) that points to Stockholm. I also have clues 3, 6, 15, 27-35 and 52. Anyone who can help PM me.
Then someone in Stockholm would either
i) trade me the answer for one of my clues (if they already had it),
ii) trade me the answer in return for a clue they had about Liverpool, or
iii) take my clue (if they didn't already have it), find the answer and share it with me (
iv) I guess would be, they just tell me, and I owe them at some later point). (I realise Andail mentioned trading clues, but since he said "trade duplicates", I'm assuming he meant physically exchanging a card with the clue written on it.) Obviously this depends a lot on trust, but you could have some sort of rating system, so anyone who wasn't playing fair would find they were out of the game.
Another advantage to a group of organisers over a one man affair is, it'd be easier to create 'distraction' material - e.g sites with information/misinformation buried in them.
3.
Quoteor even enter forbidden areas a la urban exploring, or at least areas very difficult to access
This could be the biggest problem legally, I'd say - if someone gets in trouble/injured mucking around somewhere they shouldn't be, on the say-so of some bloke off the internet. Keeping the clues 'hidden in plain sight' in public + semi-public places would probably be better.
Overall, though, I agree with what seems to be the concensus - it's an interesting idea, but I'm not sure how sucessfull it'd be in practice.
Quote from: Ashen on Tue 20/09/2005 17:25:28
I think it kind of has to be limited to one area because if Andail/another organiser can't get to the place to leave clues, or the player can't get there to pick them up, it just seems a bit pointless.
I was thinking about actual items that Andail knows about and turns them into clues or something...He can use an already existing "note" but give it a different meaning.
A physical prize is not necesary, sometimes the thought of being the winner is more than enough, but I wouldn't spend 1500 E just to go and look for a clue, that's why I mentionned different places...
QuoteI wouldn't spend 1500 E just to go and look for a clue, that's why I mentionned different places..
Nor would I (unless there was a massive cash prize, of course), nor would anyone in their right minds I shouldn't think. Which I why I said it needed to be limited to
players from a specific region - except I didn't actually say that, sorry, so I've edited my post to make it a bit clearer. In the end, I think I agree with you, I was just talking at cross purposes for a while.
Well, first of all, nobody will know about this until they find a clue. A few will become curious, and they might check out the website. A few will understand that this is a game, and work out how it's played. These people will probably find a value in pursuing these clues without demanding a prize. That's at least how I think some people work, the challenge, the desire to find out what's in the end of this mysterious game, what will eventually happen, I think that might be enough.
It's not gonna be a in the tabloids after two weeks, more likely will there be no activity whatsoever for months, maybe a year. I'll just keep re-planting these clues as they disappear, or maybe increase them if the activity remains zero.
Some of you might be under the impression that I will try to reach out to a as huge an audience as possible, and create some great incentive to make people play. But this is only a game for a specific, very small group of dedicated mystery-solvers.
See it more as an interesting project than some sort of commercial publicity stunt, in order to to get famous.
Also, there will be virtually no illegal activity, like graffiti or littering. I might use washable chalks, which you can use successfully if you grind it and paint with a roller over masks.
Quote from: Andail on Tue 20/09/2005 19:08:20
I'll just keep re-planting these clues as they disappear, or maybe increase them if the activity remains zero.
Now that couldÃ, work...Locally, of course.
Attracting a large audience, thirsty for publicity, is indeed a bad idea, they could go to a reality show instead. But there is a possibility to attract people who read too much into things and expect a real prize. Mystery hunters and puzzle lovers are more likely to join, but what about treasure hunters, for example?
I still think it is a feasible idea and I 'm kind of disappointed of the fact that you intend to keep it close to home. But you should be prepared to dedicate a lot of time and energy supervising your "map" and this may get frustrating and depressing and have you thinking about your "players"Ã, all the time ...
Sorry if I sound pessimistic. I guess I read too muchÃ, fiction for an amateur gamerÃ, :(
Personly I think this is an unfair idea to post on AGS, we members come from all over the world, I come from far western canada I've heard of people from austrailia. in fact if you look at the map, there are people from all OVER the place. having a "real world" game is unfair for the rest of us. Just beacauise we cant get to were you are doesn't mean were not "dedicated" it just means we are a internet community. and there are limitations due to this medium.this is also our advantige, it allows us to connect from all around the world. please, as a moderaitor I hope you relise this.
respectfuly yours
lo_res_man
Quote from: lo_res_man on Tue 20/09/2005 20:18:44
you look at the map, there are people from all OVER the place.
That;s why I proposed real places from all over the world that should be accessible via various methods (web, guides, TV etc) for those who can't travel.
But I still can't see how this thing will remain secret, even if it starts in 10 years from now without any of the AGS forums contributors notices. Word will spread sooner or later...
Lo_res_man, calm down, mate!
I'm just posting an idea, for people to help me brainstorming, I don't see how that is unfair!
If you would post about how you're gonna arrange a game of poker next weekend, people could join in and discuss poker in general or whatever, but I doubt they'll whine on you for being unfair, since they're so far away!
This is not for ags:ers, probably not one player will have heard of ags. It's for random people in my home town. I just turned to you since I need inspiration and ideas.
Quote
it just means we are a internet community. and there are limitations due to this medium.this is also our advantige, it allows us to connect from all around the world. please, as a moderaitor I hope you relise this.
I have no answer to this! I agree wholeheartedly, but I don't know what I've done to deserve such a lecture!
OH COMMUNITY, HAVE I FAILED THEE??
Quote from: Andail on Tue 20/09/2005 20:50:28
OH COMMUNITY, HAVE I FAILED THEE??
No I don't believe you have mate... :)
I think that everybody in this thread (including me) would love to play and see that they can't, which makes them furious and envy that they don't live close to you. I'm serious!
An idea would be to actually put in the game people from all over the world.
Instead of having one guy organising the whole thing have a lot.
Find one from Portugal, one from Germany, one from Greece etc and plan clues all over Europe (and why not the whole world, even though I don't see a lot chinese people, but of course australia and Japan could take part).
Why make it so small. Have a team of 10-20 people all over the world, plan clues (even the same ones) to different parts of the world and throw people into the chase.
One advantage of this is that there could be time limitations, as the first to come up with the clue will commence first and so on...
And all comunications could be done, any way possible. Internet, mobile phones, whatever.
With all the things that go on in my life, it's imposible to take part in this, but I'd really love to...
Hope I helped a bit...
Quote from: Andail on Tue 20/09/2005 20:50:28
This is not for ags:ers, probably not one player will have heard of ags. It's for random people in my home town. I just turned to you since I need inspiration and ideas.
Im sorry if I came off a little strong, and i agree IS a neat idea for those in yor home town, but coudn't you post this in a more local forem? we agsers love brainstorming, but why tell us about it? if you ARE from from london im sure you can find a few people in your comunity who can keep this a secret and still brainstorm. my apoligies,
yours, just as respctfully,
lo_res_man
I think Andail posted it here to ask us for ideas and comments on how to develop this 'Real Life Quest'. Surely a group of adventure gamers has better ideas for something like this, instead of a group of random people from Andail's home town?
Personally, I find this idea neat. The whole 'searching websites for clues' idea reminds me of game In Memoriam. Good luck with it, I hope you actually get it done!
Since I'm better at asking questions than coming up with solutions:
1)Is this just an endless trail of clues that people follow just for the thrill of puzzle solving, or is there some end to the trail?
2)What's at the end of the trail (if there is one)?
3)What happens if someone just randomly stumbles upon the penultimate clue? (In other words, how do you get them to start at the beginning?)
I do think that having it connect to a website would be excellent. If each new clue gives you a unique website to go to, you could monitor progress that way. For example, if someone stumbles onto the page for clue 4, you know that you have to go out and replace clue 4.
I'd say that the answer to my above question 3 would be to make these clues impossible to interpret without having seen the previous one. Maybe each clue contains a hint at the location of the next clue as well as a key to deciphering or understanding it. This way people have to start at the beginning.
As for the beginning, you'll want to put it in a very public spot. Perhaps take out an ad in the newspaper with some cryptic clue, or possibly just a website address with no explanation as to its purpose. That'll get a number of curious people started... the question is, how many people will continue? (I know I would!)
One other suggestion: Work a story into it.
Lo_res_man: I'm turning to you because of the very fact that you do not live in my hometown. If I turned to people in my town, this wouldn't be as secretive anymore.
The good thing with you guys is that you're specialist in clues and puzzles, and that none of you will have the unfair advantage of being able to participate.
Vince, I've thought of two possibilites; 1) there is no prize, just an announcement on the website who's made it, or 2) there'll be no end, just new clues and puzzles.
People stumbling across harder clues further into the game will be no issue, they'll just deem themselves even luckier. If they choose to cooperate, they will share their clues on the forum, or maybe trade it for other clues. Some puzzles could be designed so that you need a number of clue-cards combined.
Andail, I don't know how aware you are of precedents for this idea. You might be interested to know that this and similar things have been done many times before, presumably with varying degrees of success. Perhaps you should have a look at previous examples for inspiration and lessons. Other things you might want to check out include alternate reality games (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_Reality_Game) (basically the same thing, but tends to be more internet-based) as well as games like Missing: Since January/In Memoriam and LARPs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larp) (some of which resemble what you're describing).
There are also a number of campus games you can get inspiration from. MIT is famous for its puzzling community, with elaborate Easter Egg hunts and hacking (in the MIT sense) challenges. At Carnegie Mellon they have an annual daylong puzzle race called PuzzleStorm (http://www.livejournal.com/users/mr_wright/tag/mystery+hunt) (best link I could find).
Finally, there have been a number of ubicomp experiments into using "augmented reality" devices (e.g. a cell phone with GPS locator) to overlay gameplay onto the real world, and these games often involve puzzles.