Watch the Footage

This discussion started in the chatroom when Enlil has brought this video to our attention.
It appears that Google is launching its own ARG, with accent on augmented reality. It's called "Ingress", in case you didn't watch the vid.

Here is an article about it. It's currently in closed beta.
It derailed into some discussion about ARGception (ARG within this ARG)... I don't really get it. So, let's talk about it all here, in a less frantic manner.

Have you commented on it yet, trying to bring others into OUR ARG?

Well, I'd like to point out a few things I've been keeping track of in this ARG, just so to give a realistic view of the resources necessary to run an ARG, Augmented reallity or not.

First, so far I've located 3 servers hosting our ARG. We have the Layar app (commercial, not an exclusive Aug System). We also have a limited number of actors for a few videos.
All in all, this is the around the same volume of resources we'd require for running a web show, like Echo Chamber. Our developments are mostly web based with a limited amount of media, we focus on story telling.

To actually run and Aug system we'd need, bare minimum, one content server. We'd also need a number of develpers to make the App exist. Or make a Layar publisher account and pay for the service. We'd also need content generation: Videos, images, storyline. It can cost quite a lot. To just go do what Jester did and run a parallel storyline is simpler, but who would actually follow it? rEALITY could've continued, we didn't care. Jester could keep the Watchers. We didn't care for that either. Why would it be different now? To me it would be just a distraction and we'd give up on it very very soon.

Google's ARG is a global project, with a gigantic budget, it's flashier, it's bigger, and it probably works better. But it'll be a click fest. Once it's out of beta, thousands of players all around the globe sharing numbers on their scorecards without a community as united as ours. Creating an ARG, augmented reallity or no, is a very big project and to be honest, I'd much rather be part of our friendly neighborhood EC ARG than just one more player in a gigantic world where no one cares about anyone else. That's why I don't play MMOs, that's why I say that as fun as the Google ARG might be, it'll never be better than this one.

And please, give up this freaky idea of creating an ARG within this ARG. It's too much work, too much stress and too little benefit. Let's just enjoy our ARG. We can all play Google's too if we want, but I'd not trade our Tram for that.

Pixelmage wrote:Google's ARG is a global project, with a gigantic budget, it's flashier, it's bigger, and it probably works better. But it'll be a click fest. Once it's out of beta, thousands of players all around the globe sharing numbers on their scorecards without a community as united as ours. Creating an ARG, augmented reallity or no, is a very big project and to be honest, I'd much rather be part of our friendly neighborhood EC ARG than just one more player in a gigantic world where no one cares about anyone else. That's why I don't play MMOs, that's why I say that as fun as the Google ARG might be, it'll never be better than this one.

I'd say they are just... different. With the amout of the players Google is clearly aiming at, there's no way to provide proper communication like the forums (it would get flooded soon), but it should still be about the interaction. I think Google will think of something. If anything, processing information is what they do. I would totally check it out.

Now... can anyone explain that ARGception thing to me?

Dryunya wrote:I would totally check it out.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


And the ARGception was just a weird joke that got a little out of hand.

The idea is basically keep Jester's non-canonical stuff going. Or something like it.
Bring our own characters through, come up with our own Wall Emergencies... That kind of stuff.

As I said, I don't think it's worth it. Not now at least. We could keep a "Emergency of the Month" event after the ARG is over. Or create a "Metaguard Recruitment Contest" to keep stuff going for as long as we want. AFTER the ARG is over. But trying it now is pointless distraction...

Pixelmage wrote:The idea is basically keep Jester's non-canonical stuff going. Or something like it.
Bring our own characters through, come up with our own Wall Emergencies... That kind of stuff.

As I said, I don't think it's worth it. Not now at least. We could keep a "Emergency of the Month" event after the ARG is over. Or create a "Metaguard Recruitment Contest" to keep stuff going for as long as we want. AFTER the ARG is over. But trying it now is pointless distraction...

This. The Wall won't ALWAYS be fixed with characters like Pinkie Pie and Deadpool in it. How about the GM's create mini scenarios in which a character comes through the Wall and we try to bring them back as soon as we can?

Whatever I only vaguely know whats going on in our ARG anyway. I mostly come here to hang out with you guys

Guyshane wrote:Whatever I only vaguely know whats going on in our ARG anyway. I mostly come here to hang out with you guys

D'aww. We like hanging out with you too, Guy *glomp*

The Finch wrote:his. The Wall won't ALWAYS be fixed with characters like Pinkie Pie and Deadpool in it. How about the GM's create mini scenarios in which a character comes through the Wall and we try to bring them back as soon as we can?

Sounds like fun to me

Guyshane wrote:Whatever I only vaguely know whats going on in our ARG anyway. I mostly come here to hang out with you guys

I'm with Shane. I don't do much here, but I stay because I wanna hang out with you guys.

Scarab wrote:

The Finch wrote:This. The Wall won't ALWAYS be fixed with characters like Pinkie Pie and Deadpool in it. How about the GM's create mini scenarios in which a character comes through the Wall and we try to bring them back as soon as we can?

Sounds like fun to me

I too enjoy this scenario. If we all band together, we could potentially form an inter-media TVTropes continuity. First Echo Chamber, then the ARG, then more! And some day, folks will look back at this as an early part of the Tropiverse.
My apologies for the over-exaggerated scenario. It would just be sort of cool. That's all.

Gahhh Dammit i was glomp- wait a minute this isn't that bad why does everyone else on here have a problem with this?

Guyshane wrote:Gahhh Dammit i was glomp- wait a minute this isn't that bad why does everyone else on here have a problem with this?

You mean creating our own continuity? No one will complain about it as long as we do it after the main crisis is resolved. It's just that we can't really do it now without messing up the ARG's pacing, polluting the timeline, etc etc etc.

Yes. Quite.

I'd totally be willing to help with that

GUYS. Sicon had an idea in the chatroom that once TWWF is all wrapped up, those of us who are interested could team up on the Google ARG and have an AWESOME TRAM TEAM there and totally win the thing and be all together.

This is the only way I will consider the Google ARG to be acceptable, and Google to not be teh evulz.

Qara-Xuan Zenith wrote:GUYS. Sicon had an idea in the chatroom that once TWWF is all wrapped up, those of us who are interested could team up on the Google ARG and have an AWESOME TRAM TEAM there and totally win the thing and be all together.

This is the only way I will consider the Google ARG to be acceptable, and Google to not be teh evulz.

Why is google evil? I mean, I thought their motto was "Do NO evil"?

I like the idea, though

They're evil if they take friends away from my tram. But if we tram our way into there together, then fine.

Qara-Xuan Zenith wrote:They're evil if they take friends away from my tram. But if we tram our way into there together, then fine.

I'd better buy another ticket, then

Qara-Xuan Zenith wrote:GUYS. Sicon had an idea in the chatroom that once TWWF is all wrapped up, those of us who are interested could team up on the Google ARG and have an AWESOME TRAM TEAM there and totally win the thing and be all together.

This is the only way I will consider the Google ARG to be acceptable, and Google to not be teh evulz.

Excellent idea. I have to say, though, www.xkcd.com/793

I do have my Ingress Key already.
But I don't think I'm able to play it because my tablet has no independent internet access... So I'm stuck home and surely there will be a ton if hotspots right by my bed.

I'd be willing to get involved in a clan thing (can it even do that?) on Ingress, at least assuming my iPhone can run the app-thing.

Likewise, if I even have an iPhone at that point.

With this alliance we can rule the world of Ingress!!!! or not I'm pretty sure thats not how it works but whatever