Lonelygirl15

ladron121 · Devoted Fan Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 855

In light of recent events, I felt it necissary to post what exactly HAS made a drop video SO FAR. As their vids change, we will update this. Also if any mods/ops want to make this part of the main Drop post, feel free Smile

OpAphid: Most of her drops involve uncertainty. Her drops are not something that she left for someone, but rather something she is trying to intercept, so the location is fuzzy at best. There have only been 2 OpAphid drops, La Cienega Park and Yokayo Bowl. Her vids are pretty straight forward, some reverse audio. The real clue we get to tell that its a drop video is the discription of the video, or the YouTube profile update, usually a call to arms for all who assist her to come together and get the info/items. When uncertain, we usually message OpAphid through YouTube to get some kind of cryptic confirmation.

Tachyon: Her drops have all been information that she is leaving for Brother. She wants him to know exactly where this information is, so we get a pretty specific location (usually right down to a doorway/staircase, etc). However, landmarks surrounding the drop location are scattered all over her videos as well (see the first Phoenix Theater Drop). Since Brother does have more "backstory" on Tachyon than we do, we do have to decode some of the references she posts with/in the videos to help him find the package. Her drop videos ALWAYS have ended with her calling card "Tag, You're It".

itsreallyreal · Devoted Fan Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 788

Question...

Some of us have decided to be Opites and others Tachiens/Breenies...

So what happens if an Opite gets a Tachy drop or a Tachien/Breenie gets an Op drop?

Ex: Op says, "I think they left that 1/2 eaten PB + J Sandwich in this area... GO GET IT!"

But the first person to the drop is a Tachien/Breenie...

Does the "Retriever" go with the story line that they are helping Op or do they "Claim" the info for the Tachiens/Breenies???
_________________
I have no clues to offer you... But I know how to download if you're offering!!!

bethy · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:59 pm Post subject:

IRR...I asked the same question awhile back. It's one of the issues I have with this particular ARG.

Apparently, both "sides" decided that they would act together for drops to prevent game jacks. That's one of the reasons that they want the drop retrieval recorded on video. Also, puzzle soving and the like is done as a collaborative effort for the same reasons.

So, Lad...who is clearly an Ophead...will retrieve the drops meant for Brother. Even though he's really "intercepting" them for Oppy...the contents are still shared with everyone, as if Brother sucessfully retrieved it.

Personally, I think it makes choosing "sides" completely ineffective and silly, but it makes for a good omniscient story as opposed to a suspenseful mystery game. I suppose they need a happy medium...but I don't think this can be a real not a game game without a little bit more push and pull between sides.

ladron121 · Devoted Fan Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 855

When there are drops, there are no sides. We work as one team to get the drop, then to decode the information within. Once all information is decoded, then everyone goes back to their sides and trash talk each other Smile

The last thing that anyone wants is competition for a drop, or hiding of information because its for a certain side. That would ruin the ARG. We all share all info, then how you interpret it kinda determines your side.

That is why we require that the person getting the drop has an operator in constant contact with the IRC chat, that they make a video of them getting the drop, and post multiple pictures of the contents of the drop. That way no one misses anything Smile

***edit: won't change what I said, but will say that Bethy beat me to most of it***

colbertnationgirl · Hymn of One Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 14893

this is interesting, thanks for posting it!
_________________
That was the weirdest display of geekdom that I have ever seen in my entire life.

itsreallyreal · Devoted Fan Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 788

HHHhhmmmmmmmm....

I guess I am just a little confused then. Like was already said that defeats the purpose of "Sides" for game purposes. Yes it makes for great banter in the forums and all but... I dunno.. Takes the sting out of it a bit I gues...

Don;t get me wrong.. Making sure all the puzzles got slved and everyone had the right info would be more difficult fot the creators to track and clearly the discussions on the forums would be impossible to "Hide" but still...

I guess it is what it is... I just hope a drop is close enough to me one day that I get to bust out the camera and go... Opites and Brenies be damned... Laughing

_________________
I have no clues to offer you... But I know how to download if you're offering!!!

bethy · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:49 pm Post subject:

Amen, IRR. Laughing

Sides, Schmides.

ladron121 · Devoted Fan Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 855

If we were to have actual sides, it would require:

2 different forums
2 different IRC chats
A way to hide videos from each side depending on who they are for

It would also promote competition for the drops, hiding actual information, creating false information, and an actual split in the friendly atmosphere that we have here. It would also make it almost impossible for new people to join the game, since they would be seen as moles for the other side and immediately distrusted and flamed.

But above all that, it would make it almost impossible for the Puppet Masters of this ARG to keep the story going the way they wanted. If one side needed a piece of info to progress the story, but it was stolen by the other side, then the game would be over. We don't want that, so we cooperate when there are drops, and our "sides" come out when we participate in "in character" discussions and threads.

itsreallyreal · Devoted Fan Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 788

ladron121 · Devoted Fan Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 855

LOL, point taken IRR. You find a company that will actually pay someone to do an ARG full time, and I'm sure you'll get the game you are searching for Wink

ApotheosisAZ · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:29 pm Post subject:

I'm just gonna sticky this excellent reference topic! I think it will save a great deal of time for the players, and having it stickified will make it that much easier to find when anyone needs to refer players to it. Wink

Thanks!
_________________
Official Jester of the LG15 Defense Force!

deagol · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:13 pm Post subject:

bethy · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:27 pm Post subject:

ladron121 · Devoted Fan Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 855

tiltingwindward · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:39 pm Post subject:

Way back at the beginning of the game, there was an attempt by the PM (through the plot of the game) to create sides, and it was met with a lot of resentment and confusion on the part of the players. Nobody was really interested in working against other people they were playing with, and I think the PM got the message. Also, it wasn't really possible to make even a semi-informed decision about what side to choose until mid-December, a full two months after the game began. By that time, the pattern of working together had been established...a pattern, I must say, that I fully support. Not only does it allow people to trust the drops we find, but it also allows new people to join the game, and people to play even if they don't want to choose a side.
_________________
"A step in the right direction? It only turns out to be so if you're willing to step much further."
-Samuel R. Delany