The essayist then says the following.
"ARG game masters have described one of the pathologies of players as apophenia, or seeing connections that aren’t 'really there'—that the designers didn't intend—and therefore pursuing red herrings. In one game, in which players had to look for clues in a basement, some scraps of wood accidentally formed the shape of an arrow pointing to a wall. Players believed it was a clue and decided they needed to tear down the wall to find the next clue. * * * The puzzle that today's media consumers are trying to solve is the world, and interpretations are more or less up for grabs as long as they fit the story.
"In a world in which we all play alternate reality games, we each pile up superabundant facts, theories, and interpretations that support the main narratives, and our allegiances gradually solidify as we consume and produce the game material. It's not just interpretations of data that wildly diverge between different games, but also players' sense of what is realistic or plausible—for example, their perceptions of the rates of homicides committed by police, or by illegal immigrants."
Yeah; must avoid the trap of...
Life
in
an
ARG—argh! 😵💫
2 of 2
https://www.jstor.org/stable/27115541
https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/reality-is-just-a-game-now
Life
in
an
ARG—argh! 😵💫
Um, hi.
I just read an essay describing the trap I worry about more than any other. You could call it "the alternate reality game trap." It's insidious. As far as I know, the only way to circumvent it is to make learning a priority in life. Learning without an agenda, that is. Keeping the studies as open-ended as possible. Mixing broad questions with deep questions, to "triangulate" information so it becomes knowledge. Otherwise, biases and other cognitive or attitudinal problems would likely corrupt the effort.
Let me share with you a portion of the essay I found so disconcerting ("Life in an Alternate Reality Game" by Jon Askonas, on page 6 of THE NEW ATLANTIS #68), okay?
"To play an alternate reality game is to be drawn into a collaborative project of explaining the [gamified] world. It is to lose, even fleetingly, one's commitment to what is most true in the service of what is most compelling, what most advances a narrative one deeply believes. It allows players to neatly slot vast reams of information into intelligible characters and plots, like 'Everything that has gone wrong is the product of evil actors or systems, but there are powerful heroes coming to the rescue, and they need your help.'"
1 of 2
https://www.jstor.org/stable/27115541
https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/reality-is-just-a-game-now
Want to know how it all worked?
@BrianEnigma posted about the complicated technical process of getting the old Unfiction forums up and running in order to capture a static snapshot: http://netninja.com/2025/02/09/reviving-the-unfiction-forums/
Embark on a thrilling journey into the world of ARGs (Alternate Reality Games) and uncover their significance in cybersecurity and recruitment. 🔍🕵️♀️
From the enigmatic Cicada 3301 to the captivating I Love Bees, ARGs have pushed the boundaries of reality and virtuality, creating immersive experiences that challenge players to think outside the box. 🐝🎮
But ARGs are more than just games. They've been used by intelligence agencies and companies to identify and recruit individuals with exceptional problem-solving abilities. 💼🧠
In the cybersecurity realm, ARGs provide a unique platform for professionals to demonstrate and refine their skills by tackling complex puzzles and challenges. 🛡️💻
Explore the intriguing world of ARGs and their diverse applications in our latest article. 📖✨ Read the full story here: https://cybersecurefox.com/en/arg-alternative-reality-game/
#ARG #AlternateRealityGames #Cybersecurity #Recruitment #Cicada3301 #ILoveBees #TheBeast #YearZero
https://cybersecurefox.com/en/arg-alternative-reality-game/
In case you missed it... last week I announced a big new project: the Center for Immersive Arts, an immersive history project and archive! cfia.org
I'm exploring the history of alternate reality games, theater, LARP, escape rooms, theme parks, VR/XR, and more
(Check out the thread for details!)
https://xoxo.zone/@lauraehall/112973521879850132
#Immersive #AlternateRealityGames #ARGs #LARP #VR #XR #ImmersiveTheater #SleepNoMore #EscapeRoom #EscapeRooms #Puzzles #PuzzleGames #Nazotoki
I'm excited to share a new project (and a Patreon to support my work on it)! ✨ The Center for Immersive Arts is dedicated to preserving, exploring and educating about immersive history: http://cfia.org / http://patreon.com/CenterForImmersiveArts
Anyone know of a librarian with an interest/specialty in immersive design work (including but not limited to immersive theater, escape rooms, alternate reality games/ARGs, spatial computing/VR/AR/XR, transmedia work), who would be willing to advise on metadata, organizing digital collections, and similar topics? Please send them my way!
#Library #Libraries #Librarian #Immersive #Transmedia #ARGs #AlternateRealityGames #EscapeRooms #ImmersiveTheater
Garden of Forking Paths is now open to the public! The invite is for 7 days. This is an archive community for non-traditional, immersive, and interactive media.
#ARG #AlternateRealityGames #Unfiction #ImmersiveMedia #archive
Negative PID SL
mindsets
Laura E. Hall
philipp ehmann
r3f0x 
Shiina