Alternate Reality Games

Alternate reality games are created by using the real world as a base for the entire game. Over the last decade or so, the internet has given people the ability to interact with a great number of people. Because of this, alternate reality games of become more numerous and it has expanded the possibilities of them.

 For example, Ingress uses a person's smart phone or tablet to allow them to participate in a very large in-depth mix of capture the flag and risk. GPS is also a huge component of Ingress meaning that this game would not be able to have the success that it does now a couple years ago. The fact that millions of people are all playing the same game together or against the other faction is kind of mind blowing. 

Let me delve a little deeper into the mechanics and story of Ingress. There are two different factions: the Enlightened and the Resistance. The Enlightened believe that their actions will push humanity into the next stage of evolution. The Resistance thinks the Enlightened's actions are causing the enslavement of humanity and want to protect human freedoms. The objective of each faction is to get control of the most land. To do this people can make portals but they must link together at least three portals in order to actually control any land. The catch is that your faction has to control each of those portals. The enemy can destroy and take control of one of you portals so protecting your portals is also a high priority. Hacking portals gives you the items the players needs to attack the enemies or protect their own portals.

The game became even more reality because of the huge following it has. The fact that there are Ingress conventions and other types of group meetings just shows you how much this game is really ground in reality.

The technology increase really allowed alternate reality games to fulfill its potential. I am really excited to see what is in the future of alternate reality games with the uses of the oculus rift and google glass or other similar medium. 

House of Leaves

So where to begin with House of Leaves. It is a book written by Mark Danielewski, about a guy named Johnny Truant, who finds a book written by a man named Zampano, about a movie called the Navidson Record (a movie that does not exist), which is then read by Johnny Truant. Truant also talks about different parts of his life during this reading so it is essentially two different stories going on at the same time. It is very interesting how the stories are intertwined.

This story begins with how Johnny Truant ended up finding Zampano's writings in the first place. The first chapter starts into what was in the Navidson report. This movie is about Will Navidson's family moving into a house and Will's trouble coping with normalcy. Placing cameras throughout the house to record everything so that he would be able to capture specific moments of his family. They eventually go on vacation but upon returning find a room that was not there before they left. Will measures the inside and the outside of the house and realizes the outside is larger than the inside. This is when things really start to get interesting but you will just have to read the rest for yourself.

The interactivity of this book changes throughout the experience. Initially it is how the reader decides to read the two stories and the footnotes. Later on, you are required to interact with the book differently. Sometimes by turning the book and reading clockwise or upside down. In other cases, a mirror was needed to read it properly. Just interacting with the point wasn't even the only strange part. There were parts that had empty brackets, pages with a few or no words at all. Even the index was rather odd. It had the words that were in the book and the pages they were located on but there are many words in the index that just say DNE or does not exist by them.

Everything about this book screams creepy and I love it. From the story itself to the makeup of the book, the chaos never seems to end. To be honest I have not completely finished the book yet but there is no question that I am going to complete this obscure yet captivating masterpiece.

Galatea

Galatea, written by Emily Short, is a piece of interactive fiction that the entire game takes place in a single room. In this room is a statue that is alive or animated as the text states. The game is basically a text based conversation that allows you to also examine your surroundings. Apparently there are 70 different endings to be discovered throughout Galatea. The objective of the game seems to be that you want to get to know Galatea and earn her trust.

During my first play-through, I went more of the obvious route of asking questions almost strictly off of the responses that were given by Galatea. I found out that she fell in love with her creator and he also fell for her. I unfortunately mentioned about the topic of her being in love with him a little too early and was pushed into one of the endings. She talked about their situation and that it all changed once she became animated. (see image below)

On my second play-through I thought I would try almost an opposite approach. I decided to ask Galatea more about herself and try to become friends. I starting asking questions about different things but it all lead back to the artist. I decided to just continue to listen to her which led to another ending. She talked about that she was created in a studio in Cyprus. The rest of this ending has Galatea talking about different things she wants to know and experience. The character you control basically decides to become her teacher. I am posting the ending a the bottom of this article if you care to read rest of the ending. (see image below)

I looked through some of the other endings that can be unlocked and I definitely got some of the more tame endings. I even saw an ending that Galatea becomes mortal. Overall I really enjoyed my experience with Galatea. I had some trouble initially figuring out how to navigate through the game. Asking questions took me the longest to get acquainted with. The story is great and you actually want to get Galatea to open up and gain her trust.

Opening Sequence

Love ending

Teacher ending