1. An A R G Project
Puppetmasters: Thryn Henderson & Lauren Sanchez

2. What Is An ARG?
● ARG stands for Alternate Reality Game, games that take place in an
online/offline alternate world, attempting complete immersion
● “Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) tell stories through narrative elements that are
distributed across various platforms. These game variables are carefully
concealed from players until appropriate moments determined by the game
designer(s). *…+ Instead of requiring the player to enter a fictional game world,
ARG designers attempt to enmesh the game within the fabric of the player’s real
world by harnessing as many media technologies and interfaces as possible.”
– http://www.argology.org/_what-is-an-arg/
They can be used as complex viral marketing techniques, or simply for the sake of
entertainment – our project falls into the latter category.

3. Aims & Objectives
Aims:
To create a strong multi-media starting point for an ARG launch
Promote an alternative style of gameplay with a more real-world focus
Objectives:
Create an engaging ARG trailhead [or ‘rabbit hole’].
Plot out the story line and background needed for game continuation, including
concept art.
Create convincing web and print resources for the companies & characters
involved in the game plot.

4. Research: Previous ARGs
The Beast
“ Considered to be the first fully fledged ARG. The Beast was an experimental
marketing tool for the film A.I Artificial Intelligence. It was a murder mystery set in
the future featuring human like robots.”
I Love Bees
“An AI from the Halo 2 universe is stranded in our world and needs help.”
Cloverfield
“ Set in a dystopian future where the government surveys everyone.”
Perplex City
“The Master of Perplex City Academy asks for help in finding the lost Receda Cube
from the citizens of Earth.”
Year Zero
“A rebel group from the future attempts to prevent the American government from
becoming an Orwellian state.”
Potato Fool's Day
“By collecting enough potatoes players were able to power up a supercomputer to
achieve the early release of a game.”

5. Research: Resources
This Is Not A Game: A Guide To Alternate Reality Gaming - Dave Szulborski
Rules of Play – Katie Salen/Eric Zimmerman
Engineering Play – Mizuko Ito
Beyond Reality: a guide to alternate reality gaming - John W. Gosney
'This Is Not a Game': Immersive Aesthetics and Collective Play – Jane McGonigal
Online Resources & ARG Forums:
Alternate Reality Game Business Models - IGDA
http://www.unfiction.com/
http://www.reddit.com/r/ARG
http://www.argology.org
Planning Guides:
http://www.christydena.com/online-essays/arg-design-charts/

6. Faultlines: The story so far
The trailhead: players are contacted by Agent X, a low-level manager of an
international organisation called FRACT:ION. He explains that FRACT:ION works to
minimize the damage and disruption caused by the supernatural phenomena
dubbed “Faultlines”, and he's concerned because a number of his staff are MIA.
The first clue is left in this correspondence, as well as links to websites in which
key information from the game will
be displayed.
Over the course of the game the nature of the Faultline
phenomena will be revealed to the player, and
they will be introduced to a number of other
organisations and characters, as well
as becoming familiar with the
internal workings and moral
ambiguity behind FRACT:ION.
(Pictured right: Concept art for Agent Z, who is introduced in more detail later in the game.)

7. Planned Schedule
research
post-testing tweaks Thryn
testing Lauren
dvd authoring
printed package
web build
animation
web designs
storyboards
puzzle development
narrative
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8. Faultlines: Artistic Inspiration
● Over the summer we gathered a lot of
visual resources and plotted out the basic
storyline, which has since continued to
evolve.
● Much of our research was based on
architecture, as faultlines tend to manifest
through old buildings and places where
there is a high concentration of human
history.
● Samples of some of the initial inspiration/moodboard images we collected on our pinterest account: Faultlines ARG Pinterest

9. Faultlines: Artistic Inspiration
●
(cont.) the trailhead will mimic the style of
The informative 2D animation sent to players in
1950's educational cartoons. Here are some examples of the style we will be aiming
to create:
● Fallout
● Ratchet & Clank
● Portal 2
Pictured right: some very early concept art for one of the creatures.

10. Resources Required
So far we have either used or intend to use:
Hardware:
- DSLR Camera, Video Camera, Graphics Tablets
- Greenscreen Facilities, photographic studio
Software:
- Adobe Flash, After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Paint Tool SAI, Corel
Painter XI, MS Office
Other Requirements:
- One actor confirmed so far, one more needed
- One confirmed audio technician
- Volunteers from ARG forums for beta testing and questionnaires

11. Problems Encountered
● Keeping the Storyline immersive but not too complex
– Players need to be entertained and captivated by the story, but must be
able to keep track of it!
● Narrowing the parameters
– ARG games are enormous, where do we begin and what do we make?
● Creating a flexible solution path
– ARGs can bend to the will of the player, the starting material cannot be
too dedicated to a specific, detailed solution
● Defining a cutoff point
● Since creating a whole ARG is beyond the scope of this project we will
need to define a clear divide between the media we produce and the
hypothetical rest of the game.
● Developing cohesion
● As our project is a series of mini-deliverables rather than a large single
end product it will need to tie in neatly in terms of storyline, mood, and
art direction .

12. Risks and Constraints
Finding public domain resources, & similar copyright issues
Health and safety – fieldwork risk assessment form required for film shooting &
permission must be obtained
Availability of actors
Time constraints will limit how complex the game can be
Funding

13. Thanks!
If you think of any more questions or have any input we would love to listen. We can
be reached at
argfaultlines@gmail.com
faultlinesarg.tumblr.com
or
ljs57 / cvh3