How to invent an alternate reality tips from game designer Jane McGonigal games

An alternate reality game is an adventure you have in real life . You can’t play it alone! You have to join forces online with many other players. Most importantly : the game can show up anywhere , anytime ! Let’s play!

An alternate reality game is an adventure you have in real life .

You can’t play it alone!

You have to join forces online with many other players.

Most importantly : the game can show up anywhere , anytime !

10 Steps to Inventing an ARG 1. Start a puppet master team ! Join our team!

1. Start a puppet master team !

10 Steps to Inventing an ARG 2. Brainstorm your theme or story . What’s the game about? Now give the game a name ! Best idea EVER

2. Brainstorm your theme or story . What’s the game about?

Now give the game a name !

10 Steps to Inventing an ARG 3. Pick the game “ verbs .” What are you asking players to DO to win the game? Solve… collect… create… go to… write… find… Do what?!

3. Pick the game “ verbs .” What are you asking players to DO to win the game?

Solve… collect… create… go to… write… find…

10 Steps to Inventing an ARG 4. Make a “ media plan ”. What sites and technologies will you use? Blogs… SMS… Facebook… Twitter… MySpace… IM… email… websites… Flickr… Youtube… ITunes… Ooh, let’s use that!

4. Make a “ media plan ”. What sites and technologies will you use?

Blogs… SMS… Facebook… Twitter… MySpace… IM… email… websites… Flickr… Youtube… ITunes…

10 Steps to Inventing an ARG 5. Design your community . What collaboration sites and technologies will you use? Wikis… Google Docs or Groups… Discussion forums… Comments… social network group… share! discuss!

5. Design your community . What collaboration sites and technologies will you use?

Wikis… Google Docs or Groups… Discussion forums… Comments… social network group…

10 Steps to Inventing an ARG 6. Decide on a launch date – when does the game start? How long will it last? Save the date!

6. Decide on a launch date – when does the game start? How long will it last?

10 Steps to Inventing an ARG 7. Identify your team’s strengths, and pick design roles : story writer, researcher, game director, media artist, puzzle designer, actor/interactor… I’m so good…

7. Identify your team’s strengths, and pick design roles :

story writer, researcher, game director, media artist, puzzle designer, actor/interactor…

10 Steps to Inventing an ARG 8. Make a game timeline . How does is start? What happens next? Are there important “plot points” or missions? What is the media schedule? How does it end? & then what?

8. Make a game timeline .

How does is start? What happens next? Are there important “plot points” or missions? What is the media schedule? How does it end?

10 Steps to Inventing an ARG 9. Create the content ! Set up your characters’ profiles and sites… Make your videos, take your photos, write your blog posts, create your puzzle clues... We made it!

9. Create the content !

Set up your characters’ profiles and sites…

Make your videos, take your photos, write your blog posts, create your puzzle clues...

10 Steps to Inventing an ARG 10. Decide who to invite . How many players do you want? And who will you invite? Friends, family, classes, online communities, neighborhoods…? Wanna play?

10. Decide who to invite .

How many players do you want? And who will you invite?

Friends, family, classes, online communities, neighborhoods…?

10 Steps to Inventing an ARG That’s it! YOU’RE READY TO PLAY! OMG! Let’s go!

That’s it!

YOU’RE READY TO PLAY!

4 Secrets of an Awesome ARG Make sure your players know EXACTLY what to do. “ THIS IS YOUR MISSION!” It’s your mission!

Make sure your players know EXACTLY what to do.

“ THIS IS YOUR MISSION!”

4 Secrets of an Awesome ARG 2. Help your players show off their superpowers! “ What are YOU good at?!” Secret strength!

2. Help your players show off their superpowers!

“ What are YOU good at?!”

4 Secrets of an Awesome ARG 3. Make it super-social! Bring your players together in “ real time ”… and real space? We’re so together

3. Make it super-social!

Bring your players together in “ real time ”… and real space?

4 Secrets of an Awesome ARG 4. Your players are the real stars of the game. “ Starring… YOU!” You’re amazing!

4. Your players are the real stars of the game.

“ Starring… YOU!”

How to invent an alternate reality You can write me! jane@ avantgame.com games