argosi

institute for educational cybernetics

Alternate Reality Games forOrientation, Socialisation and

Induction

Scott Wilson


university of bolton


Alternate Reality

In Science Fiction, AR is:

“a hybrid of Fantasy and AlternateHistory that alters this world'sdynamics.”

“another way of experiencingexistence.”


Urban play

Challenges and activities thatdevelop awareness of the urbanenvironment and enable confidenceand movement

These images may be subject to copyright


Alternate Reality Games

• Rather than make a digital simulation of a realexperience, ARGs take real experiences andapply game dynamics and social network effects

• First significant take-up in viral marketing formodern form of ARG

• However, has a long history (Assassin/Killer)

• Now all kinds of social and political genres ofARGs are being developed


Typical ARG components

• An overarching framing narrative that provide acontext for the activity

• A set of challenges to overcome, eitherindividually or collectively, online or IRL

• Game artifacts linked to challenges, narrative orboth, both online and IRL

• Tools to support community formation and/oruser-generated game content


Interesting properties of ARGs

• They use existing, simple technologies, includingones where we want to promote greater literacy

• They move the setting from the classroom,placing the game outside all course structures

• They tend to be self-supporting• They can add fun, new meaning, social

interaction and a new awareness into situationsthat may otherwise be tedious, routine, confusingor alienating


ARG terminology

• Puppetmaster - A puppetmaster or "PM" is an individual involved indesigning and/or running an ARG.

• The Curtain - The curtain is generally a metaphor for the separationbetween the puppetmasters and the players.

• This Is Not A Game (TINAG) - Setting the ARG form apart fromother games is the This Is Not A Game aesthetic, which dictates thatthe game not behave like a game: phone numbers mentioned in theARG, for example, should actually work, and the game should notprovide an overtly-designated playspace or ruleset to the players.

• Rabbithole - Also known as a Trailhead. A Rabbithole marks the firstwebsite, contact, or puzzle that starts off the ARG.

– Wikipedia


ARGs & Happiness

1. Satisfying work to do2. The experience of being good at

something3. Time spent with people we like4. The chance to be a part of something

bigger

- Jane McGonigal, SXSW 2008


From ARG to ARGOSI

• Initial experiences of university life have asignificant impact on student satisfaction,retention, and success

• Our aim in the initial induction phase is to helpstudents develop confidence, reduce confusionand anxiety, connect them with each other andsupport staff, and to help them acquire someimportant skills they’ll need

• Early disengagement is a big problem, and canlead to dropouts later


From ARG to ARGOSI (cont’d)

• Games can provide an engagement engine,however traditional digital games are bothextremely expensive to develop and typically canonly satisfy a limited scope.

• ARGs require a lot of design work, but areultimately far more affordable and can have avery broad scope


Who Is Herring Hale?


HH: How did it work out?

• High level of engagement and satisfaction

• Strong community/socialisation aspect

• Relatively high levels of non-traditional andinternational students

BUT: Only small numbers engaged with it


HH: Feedback

• "In induction week they tell you where to go to get help,Careers for instance. But you forget it all 5 minutes afteryou've left. This was brilliant - now I really know where togo.“

• “I was wrapped up in too much programming, it helpedgive me a break and get a new perspective”


GG

• Follow-on at Brightonby Katie

• More use of Elggplatform for delivery


ARGOSI: Manchester

• JISC-funded project to develop an ARG fororientation, socialisation and induction

• Pilot project running a game at MMU thisSeptember

• Develops ideas used for Brighton game

• Simple technologies (blogs, forums, email)


ARGOSI components

• Puppetmasters: The ARGOSI team, includingresearchers, support staff, and studentvolunteers

• Narrative: You’ll have to wait and see ;-)• Challenges: Mix of individual/social *

online/offline, and target orientation,socialisation, and information skills curricullarlearning objectives

• Artifacts: Character blogs, “litter”, in-gamewebsites

• Game site: Challenges, leaderboard, forums


Challenges• Using reading lists

Book-passing mechanism

• Make use of Student SupportOfficersDoor cipher

• Watch H&S videoKeyword bingo

• OrientationCamerafone safari, flashmob


The questions

• Is an ARG a good approach to solve OSI issues?

• Is it engaging? Does it make students happy?

• Does it help students achieve the learningoutcomes?

• Is it cost-effective? What are the businessmodels for supporting an ARGOSI?

• Assuming it’s a minority interest, is the nichelarge enough to justify the effort?


Thanks for listening - over to you

argosi

Technology