Deaddrop

Despite numerous factual errors, the ARG community got a huge shout out from the dot.life column of the BBC News Online.

Mark Ward, dot.life columnist for the online edition of the BBC News, was very complimentary to the genre and Collective Detective specifically. Factual errors notwithstanding, the article is quite positive and complimentary.

Ward writes, “One of the most prominent is the Collective Detective, whose members share an interest in online immersive games such as The Sims, and have a liking for intellectual puzzles. The group has racked up considerable success in solving online and offline scavenger and treasure hunts, as well as more general puzzles with prizes on offer. ”

The article provided sidebar links to both CD and [Chasing The Wish].

57 days after it finally launched, TerraQuest is no more.

Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey I’m gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
Queen - Another One Bites The Dust

At approximately 3:00 P.M. today, TerraQuest was officially canceled due to lack of registration. Employees of [mind-quest.com Mind Quest], the company responsible for the game, were unavailable for comment.

The game was to feature over $400,000 in prize money to be awarded over approximately a six month period. Each of the six play periods would have a single $25,000 winner while a final winner of the overall game was to be awarded $250,000.

Refunds are expected for all registered players for both initial registration fees and express clues. The first play period prize is being awarded to Roland Spencer of San Diego. Congratulations!

The complete [terraquest1.com” press release]:

January 16, 2003
To the Players of TerraQuest

We want to thank you for your enthusiasm in playing TerraQuest. While the comments from those of you who are players have been wonderful, there is simply not enough participation in the experience to keep this version of TerraQuest going. As a result, we will discontinue TerraQuest immediately.

By discontinuing TerraQuest now, we can take the compelling storyline and combine the user and editorial feedback to modify the structural part of the game. We thank you for your support of TerraQuest and we look forward to providing you with more entertainment options in the very near future.

Since its inception, MindQuest Entertainment has prided itself on its integrity and providing exceptional entertainment value to you, our customers. As a result, all registration fees and express clue charges will be refunded in full to each player and the winner of the first Game Period (Roland Spencer of San Diego, California) has received the $25,000 prize. Thanks again for your participation in TerraQuest.

Most Sincerely,
Keith Griffin
President/CEO
MindQuest Entertainment, LLC

Terraquest is the latest in a string of high profile, prematurely terminated immersive campaigns, including Search4e and the much publicized Push, Nevada.

The recently announced open beta for the online MMORPG sequel to Myst promises to deliver more than open ended interaction and level advancement. They also intend to offer players the opportunity to explore within the context of a complex, interactive story.

Uru: Online Ages Beyond Myst is about to begin closed beta testing.

Unlike [The Sims Online], Everquest, and other games of that genre which focus on open ended play and level advancement, the latest massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) from Ubi Soft will offer something new.

First and foremost, URU will be a game of exploration. The game will have three different environments (personal, neighborhood, and the city). By focusing on exploration rather than conflict and level advancement, the game designers are able to introduce puzzles requiring group interaction that will forward a story. This design philosophy should be an enormous draw to fans of the original Myst.

For fans of online immersive gaming, the potential for a running story, a continual stream of puzzles, and realtime interaction may prove to be an undeniable combination.

The original presss release:

San Francisco, CA - January 8, 2003 - Ubi Soft Entertainment, one of the world’s largest videogame publishers, and Cyan Worlds, Inc., developers of the legendary Myst® and Riven™, today announced their highly anticipated upcoming online adventure Uru™: Online Ages Beyond MYST. Players will have the opportunity to explore and interact with meticulously crafted environments in, around, and beyond the newly discovered underground D’ni empire that predates human civilization. Explorers wishing to help test the game during its beta phase are invited to apply today by visiting http://uru.ubi.com.

“Uru is an ancient word, the earliest word for city. It is rooted in the idea of a gathering of people, which is precisely what Uru will foster,” said Rand Miller, founder of Cyan Worlds. “We’ve been working for almost five years developing the cutting edge technology, detailed design and breathtaking graphics that allow us to build real-time online worlds that go beyond Myst. Imagine being able to explore lush landscapes, ancient deserted cities, mysterious forests, curious swamps — and that’s only the beginning. We’re trying to provide an environment that’s so engrossing, people will talk about it and share their experience. With Uru the journey is experienced together within the game, with friends, family, even strangers uncovering fantastic places together.”

Uru will take advantage of broadband to deliver a continually updated, immersive environment and storyline, with content that grows, changes and evolves constantly. It will also be the first persistent world to support real-time voice communication. Uru is designed to appeal to a broad audience and enable players of all skill levels and interests to experience expansive ages of the Myst universe in a uniquely social environment. Playing their own avatars, hundreds of thousands of players will meet new people, all realistic impersonations of themselves, play games, solve mysteries and embark on a voyage of discovery with friends. Players will be able to customize their level of interaction with other players, choosing to play alone, with small groups of friends or in areas where they can meet new people.

With 12 million units sold worldwide, Myst is one of the most widely recognized and critically acclaimed game brands in history. “Uru represents an incredible evolution in the Myst product line and in online entertainment,” said Jason Rubinstein, General Manager of ubi.com. “Fans of the Myst series, online socializers, mystery buffs, Internet chatters, multiplayer online gamers and non-gamers alike will be amazed by Uru. It will definitely raise the bar for an immersive online experience, and we expect it to attract new customers to online gaming and perhaps change the face of mainstream entertainment.”

PC users will be able to enjoy Uru, which will be made available through ubi.com, one of the top ten gaming portals. The final version of the game is scheduled to launch in late 2003 with a closed beta test commencing in January 2003. For more information about Uru: Online Ages Beyond MYST, or to apply to be a beta tester, visit http://uru.ubi.com.

Gamespy has selected Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind as their RPG Game of the Year. As one of the progenitors of the Alternate Reality Gaming (aka immersive campaigning) genre, it seems fitting that a game for which Gamespy says, ‘You feel that you’re really a part of Morrowind, but even more than that, the world feels like a real place.’ was selected.

They go on to say, “The game engine is a real work of art. Pieces of furniture and miscellaneous knick-knacks fill every home, and you can move or loot or play with just about anything. You can even rob or kill anyone you meet, provided you’re ready to deal with the weighty arm of the law. The result? Total immersion in a fantasy world!’

You can catch the full article [www.gamespy.com/goty2002/pc/index6.shtml here].

If RPG is the granddaddy of ARG, then adventure gaming is most certainly the respected grandmother. On Christmas Day, Gamespy will [www.gamespy.com/goty2002/pc/ announce the Adventure Game of the Year].

In support of our mission and dedication to Alternate Reality Gaming, deaddrop.us is pleased to announce it’s charter affiliation with the newly released Alternate Reality Gaming Network.

We have also started our new, weekly newsletter, ARG Week In Review with summaries of games in progress and news from the past week.

The Alternate Reality Gaming Network is becoming just that — a true network of independent sites contributing to Alternate Reality Gaming. More than just a simple webring, ARGN will always point you to quality, complementary places to go.

ARGN will become the hub for this new affiliation of sites, a place where you will always be able to find a listing of interesting places to go and an archive of ARGs gone by.

In addition, there will be access to web-based chat with a listing of cool channels to join, and we are sponsoring a mailing list whereby you can always stay informed of news and announcements of new and suspected ARGs.

Our continued mission is to promote the growth of ARG, aka immersive gaming community. By stimulating growth, everyone benefits. As with any new genre, the community is faced with a chicken and egg problem. We take a long term view and plan to provide an ongoing program of articles and features geared to both players and puppetmasters.

Our newest feature will appear weekly on Friday. Entitled ARG Week In Review, it covers the previous weeks news and updates to games in progress. You can find our first issue here.

Mark Nakamoto, 24, of West New York, New Jersey, is the lucky viewer who claimed the $1,045,000 prize from the Push, Nevada Game, it was announced today by the ABC Television Network.

Nakomoto solved the >Push, Nevada” puzzle after watching the >Push, Nevada” series and the Final Clue, broadcast live during ABC’s >Monday Night Football” on October 28, which completed the information viewers needed to solve the puzzle. The Final Clue led viewers to a series of letters taken from the episode clues that, together with a cipher, corresponded to a telephone number. Less than two minutes after the final piece of the puzzle was broadcast, Nakamoto, an assistant editor for a Manhattan publishing company, was the first contestant to call the winning number.

Nakamoto wasn’t the only viewer to figure the puzzle out, just the quickest to respond. During the first 20 minutes after the Final Clue was broadcast, more than 500 people solved the puzzle and called the winning number. Within the first 24 hours, more than 10,000 viewers had called.

The Push, Nevada Game was the largest TV and online game of skill ever played in America (for a prize of over 1 million dollars). The TV portion of the game is in a class of its own, as it was the only nationwide game of skill that could be played and won by simply watching a TV show. An estimated number of players upwards of 600,000 participated in the game, based on a percentage of broadcast viewers and online numbers. Additionally, close to 200,000 of these players interacted with the online portion of the game, rivaling some of the largest online games in existence.

>Push, Nevada,” a mystery about a strange Nevada town where nothing is as it seems, had its last original airing on the ABC Television Network on October 24. Sean Bailey, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Chris Moore were executive producers of >Push, Nevada,” from LivePlanet in association with Touchstone Television.

LivePlanet creates, markets and distributes entertainment experiences that break down the barriers between traditional media, new media and the physical world. LivePlanet calls this new kind of entertainment experience >integrated media.” Ben Affleck, Sean Bailey, Matt Damon and Chris Moore founded LivePlanet in June 2000.

MindQuest, based in Henderson, Nevada will be releasing their first interactive adventure, TerraQuest. This game, intended to run for about six months, will blend mystery and online interaction and reportedly offers a quarter million dollar prize. All the while offering a compelling and immersive experience for the players.

From the official website [formerly http://www.mind-quest.com]:

This fall, MindQuest will release its first interactive game, TerraQuest will be an interactive Internet game that blends the elements of mystery and intrigue with the quest of a lifetime. Players from around the world will be competing to be the first to solve the game and reap the rewards. For approximately (or “more than”) six months, this game of skill will challenge the intelligence, creativity, and dedication of the players, while it delivers an outstanding entertainment value.

About MindQuest
MindQuest Entertainment is an online interactive entertainment company that creates and produces games that are based upon skill and intelligence, rather than reflexes. As the first company to offer an online interactive game with substantial cash prizes, MindQuest will offer compelling entertainment to people over the age of 18 and from many countries around the world.

Founded: January 2002
Founder: Keith Griffin

Media buyers responsible for product placement in the soon to be defunct show Push, Nevada are now beginning to understand the risks involved with product placement contracts. With the premature cancellation of Push, advertisers feel that their products did not receive the exposure needed to show off specific features of their autos and cell phones.

In addition, due to sweepstakes laws, the show is running longer than warranted by advertisers to allow the $1 million prize to be awarded leaving the sponsors with advertising commitments and little audience to justify it.

From AdAge.com,

$4 million fee
In addition to the product placement deal with LivePlanet, Toyota and Sprint each bought three 30-second spots in the show from Walt Disney Co.’s ABC. Over the course of the series, this translates into about a $4 million deal for each advertiser above the placement fee.

The series was to run a scheduled 13 episodes. But after its premier, the show moved into the prime Thursday night lineup at 9 p.m. against hits Will & Grace on General Electric Co.’s NBC and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on Viacom’s CBS. Ratings tanked. For its Oct. 3 episode, Push posted a weak 1.5 rating among adults ages 18 to 49, leading the network to cancel the series after its seventh episode.

That’s not soon enough for media buyers. “They should have canceled it now and taken it off [completely],” said Steve Sternberg, senior vice president and director of Audience Analysis of Magna Global USA, “rather than announce its cancellation now and show three additional episodes.”

Typically, networks pull shows with consistent ratings declines after three episodes.
Another veteran media executive said if the show ended sooner, advertisers could have taken back money or received make-goods sooner.

Sweepstakes rules
But ABC and LivePlanet have to keep the show going because the plot line, which follows the travails of IRS agent Jim Prufrock, ties in with a sweepstakes that awards $1 million to a viewer who solves the murder mystery in the show. Sweepstakes laws state the money must be given away.

“We want viewers of Push to see the outcome of Prufrock’s investigation, and airing it through the seventh episode will give closure to the storyline,” said Susan Lyne, president of ABC Entertainment, in a statement. Revised contests rules will be revealed soon on abc.com.

Push has the distinction of the first cancellation of the fall season, and ABC is still working on its turnaround.

According to Variety, Push, Nevada, the beleaguered show airing against CSI and NBC’s Must See TV will be formally cancelled this morning. The Oct. 24 episode will be the final episode.

The show, produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company, Live Planet, has struggled for audience since it first aired. ABC premiered the show on a Tuesday night and repeated the episode in its regular time slot hoping to jump start the audience.

It seems that even a $1 million prize was not enough to generate sufficient viewers to keep the show alive. Push posted a 3.2/5 rating last week putting it in 93rd place for the Prime Time on the major broadcast networks. Reportedly, even SpongeBob SquarePants, a cable children’s show on Nickelodeon is posting better numbers.

Push, Nevada was created as a hybrid television show, online game with the intention of giving away over $1 million to the first lucky viewer to solve the mystery of Push. Although all of the hints and clues are completely contained in the actual show, Live Planet created a number of websites to supplement the show and provide interactive content during the week.

The official Message Board has over 9100 members. Even though the clues were made blatantly obvious, almost 40% of those polled by ABC felt lost and presumably were not sure about the answers.

ABC is allowing Push sufficient air time to provide the clues necessary to complete the hunt for the million dollar prize. As a result of the cancellation, the final episode and presumably next weeks episodes will be changed to insert the clues. A quick check of tvguide.com shows that the final episode has not yet been named.

According to the BBC News, Quentin Tarantino’s next film, Kill Bill will be released along with a new action video game from Black Label Games.

Tarantino will be the game’s creative consultant, providing exclusive footage from the film. The William Morris Agency served as the agency that made the match between Miramax and BLG.

The kung fu action film stars Uma Thurman, Daryl Hannah David Carradine and Lucy Liu. Uma Thurman is a former assassin betrayed by her boss Bill. After four years in a coma, she swears vengeance and goes against his team of deadly assassins. The film is expected to be Taratino’s mega-comeback movie.

Under a deal with Miramax, the game will be released to coincide with the video and DVD. A novel based on the movie will also be published in June 2003

The film is due for release October 2003.