Dr. Watson's Computer: An ARG in Progress
Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 1:38 am
Note: ARG stands for Alternate Reality Game. In short, it's a story that starts with an event in real-life meant to look real, then continues the story into the fictional world of a game or movie. (i.e. 2010's Portal 2 ARG BBS. It was a BBS made by Valve meant to look like a real dial-up access point into GlaDOS, the computerized antagonist of both games. Or even the "Flynn Lives!" ARG for Tron: Legacy.)
I was thinking of making an ARG that could progress into URU, involving (ostensibly) Dr. Watson's computer, a Compaq Portable III (which is actually my own, BTW.):
I haven't gotten any ideas on how to put more depth into the story, but I think this is a start:
An explorer who explored the cavern when it was open has, by serendipity, bought on eBay, a Compaq Portable III computer once owned by Dr. Watson. It was unused by the previous buyer, since they bought it by accident and had no use for it. The computer contains a full log, notes, communiques, and even lo-res photos from 1988 (in the story, the year that Dr. Watson received the computer from an archaeology group he was working with.) to the DRC's closure in 2008. The ARG will start from an interest-hook in the uploaded (whether it be a personal log, a suspiciously-corrupted file, or other items meant to pull the player into the game.) and then continue on into the game.
Originally, this idea was going to be a simple April Fools Joke on the DRC forums saying that I had found Dr. Watson's laptop (The laptop ain't going to happen), but I like the fact that we can plug our own stuff into URU now, since it gives me a more legitimate outlet. I might still post the DRC topic if/when the ARG is finished, but I need YOUR help to do it. That is, if anyone is interested.
For now, the work I have done to de-fictionalize URU for this is a currently-incomplete personal log, and an edited Windows 3.1 title screen (with accurate time-period logo.) (Editing the startup screen is easier than you think!):
Now, some of you might say that the idea doesn't work. "Why would he use an old computer like that rather than a laptop?" Well, the issue is reliability. DOS, Win 3.1, and some older hardware are still used today rather than newer OSes and hardware, because they were built like tanks! XD In this case, a cavern is no place for a newer system that can fail just from the air it's in!
Anyways, reply to this topic if you're interested. I need some ideas, people!
I was thinking of making an ARG that could progress into URU, involving (ostensibly) Dr. Watson's computer, a Compaq Portable III (which is actually my own, BTW.):
I haven't gotten any ideas on how to put more depth into the story, but I think this is a start:
An explorer who explored the cavern when it was open has, by serendipity, bought on eBay, a Compaq Portable III computer once owned by Dr. Watson. It was unused by the previous buyer, since they bought it by accident and had no use for it. The computer contains a full log, notes, communiques, and even lo-res photos from 1988 (in the story, the year that Dr. Watson received the computer from an archaeology group he was working with.) to the DRC's closure in 2008. The ARG will start from an interest-hook in the uploaded (whether it be a personal log, a suspiciously-corrupted file, or other items meant to pull the player into the game.) and then continue on into the game.
Originally, this idea was going to be a simple April Fools Joke on the DRC forums saying that I had found Dr. Watson's laptop (The laptop ain't going to happen), but I like the fact that we can plug our own stuff into URU now, since it gives me a more legitimate outlet. I might still post the DRC topic if/when the ARG is finished, but I need YOUR help to do it. That is, if anyone is interested.
For now, the work I have done to de-fictionalize URU for this is a currently-incomplete personal log, and an edited Windows 3.1 title screen (with accurate time-period logo.) (Editing the startup screen is easier than you think!):
Now, some of you might say that the idea doesn't work. "Why would he use an old computer like that rather than a laptop?" Well, the issue is reliability. DOS, Win 3.1, and some older hardware are still used today rather than newer OSes and hardware, because they were built like tanks! XD In this case, a cavern is no place for a newer system that can fail just from the air it's in!
Anyways, reply to this topic if you're interested. I need some ideas, people!