Sunday, May 07, 2006
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Perplexcity
Let me tell you about a game...
(Yes, I'm probably going to use that phrase a lot from now, but bear with me)
Perplexcity is what is called an 'Alternative Reality' game. They're often used as marketing tools for other things, like the 'I love Bees' game to herald the arrival of Halo 2, and there are more examples.
Only rarely does one of these games come out as a game on its own. And even then it seems they need some other 'gizmo' to get in money to keep the game going. The Stone for one needed you to buy a pendant to get access to the game (later, when the original people behind the game left, it became a free game)
Perplexcity also has a 'gizmo' as such. But this gizmo is tied in with the game a bit better: you can buy colelctor cards with riddles on them. Solve the riddle (and scratch off the silver paste from the card) and enter the solution on their website and earn points.
But that's only the 'gizmo'. I really should start at the beginning:
Perplexcity is a city in a different dimension. However, communication is possible between our worlds and it seems Earth is a bit of a popular place for the Perplexians.
But a tragedy has happened: A very valuable artefact from Preplexcity has been stolen and somehow transported to our planet. This artefact is very valuable. So valuable in fact, that a reward of £100.000 ($200.000) has been offered for whomever finds the cube.
So it's a treasure hunt. Yeah, if you look at it like that. But it's a treasure hunt using all the latest internet features available (forums, blogs, SMS, etc). And it's fun. I solved enough puzzles to earn me about 1000 points, which in turn earned me my first 'leitmark' - a small red badge I can wear to show other geeks playing the game I'm 'in' it as well)
I'll let you explore the sites for yourself a bit for now. I might post more soon though. I'm going to explore the whole thing myself thoroughly soon to see how far I can get into the story.
(Yes, I'm probably going to use that phrase a lot from now, but bear with me)
Perplexcity is what is called an 'Alternative Reality' game. They're often used as marketing tools for other things, like the 'I love Bees' game to herald the arrival of Halo 2, and there are more examples.
Only rarely does one of these games come out as a game on its own. And even then it seems they need some other 'gizmo' to get in money to keep the game going. The Stone for one needed you to buy a pendant to get access to the game (later, when the original people behind the game left, it became a free game)
Perplexcity also has a 'gizmo' as such. But this gizmo is tied in with the game a bit better: you can buy colelctor cards with riddles on them. Solve the riddle (and scratch off the silver paste from the card) and enter the solution on their website and earn points.
But that's only the 'gizmo'. I really should start at the beginning:
Perplexcity is a city in a different dimension. However, communication is possible between our worlds and it seems Earth is a bit of a popular place for the Perplexians.
But a tragedy has happened: A very valuable artefact from Preplexcity has been stolen and somehow transported to our planet. This artefact is very valuable. So valuable in fact, that a reward of £100.000 ($200.000) has been offered for whomever finds the cube.
So it's a treasure hunt. Yeah, if you look at it like that. But it's a treasure hunt using all the latest internet features available (forums, blogs, SMS, etc). And it's fun. I solved enough puzzles to earn me about 1000 points, which in turn earned me my first 'leitmark' - a small red badge I can wear to show other geeks playing the game I'm 'in' it as well)
I'll let you explore the sites for yourself a bit for now. I might post more soon though. I'm going to explore the whole thing myself thoroughly soon to see how far I can get into the story.
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