#7680314 rsmyth wrote:
We speak of using ARGs for educational purposes, but of course there are many potential applications of such transmedia storytelling. The nature of the game, its premise as TINAG ("this is not a game"), means that many will start playing these games without knowing the ultimate purpose of the game (whether its advertising, propaganda, educational reasons, or just entertainment). It seems like there are ethical considerations to be considered here....
I think that is an important concept to discuss, the ethics of doing something that I know used to be done, like in a Criminal Justice Class, have someone come in and cause a disruption and steal the instructor's purse, wallet, etc, and run. Then you would ask students to write down the description of the suspect, and you would compare and really see how inaccurate first-person descriptions can be. I wouldn't think of doing that now in our current climate of security concerns, but it was very popular in the 1980s. Different times. I guess I would like to be on the side of caution.
There is a Video Game AND a TV series on the SciFi Channel right now call "Defiance."
Game Link for Defiance A student told me he was playing the game and didn't find it very interesting or well-constructed but, "I guess I will have to keep watching the series," because of the interaction with the MMORPG and the TV Series. There is even the crossover with merchandising from hats to cards to action figures. These games sold out at $39-00 depending on whether you did Wal-Mart or Steam or the website itself. Don't see how I can work this game into my Cultural Anthropology Class and get it approved by Administration. Ultimate purpose of this game? To sell the game, merchandise and get you to view the series. They are all over the social media, including Facebook where they have 245,437 likes · 35,339 talking about this.
Facebook for Defiance, one of several pages Want to see the trailer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sg702Sv45Y