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I love puzzle hunts and escape rooms but I never got into ARGs. How do people find out about them? And are there any interesting ones going on right now? This

by uyt 5y ago

I love puzzle hunts and escape rooms but I never got into ARGs. How do people find out about them? And are there any interesting ones going on right now? This also reminded me of another long article on this topic but I can't find it again. Only thing I remember was that it had elaborate puzzle rooms filled with fancy practical effects that ate up a few millions in funding? It also had cult-like exclusivity and was invite only. Does anyone know what I am talking about? I am pretty sure I saw it on HN but it might've been a few years ago.

lehall 5y ago
You’re probably thinking of the Latitude Society, by the creators of the Jejune Institute. Invites were given as blank white cards that would swipe you in at an anonymous building at an appointed time, kicking off the first part of the experience. https://nonchalance.com/latitude.html https://nonchalance.com/latitude.html There weren’t elaborate practical effects per se (there were some cool builds, like custom arcade cabinets) but many extremely talented experience designers worked on it so it felt very magical.
- uyt 5y ago
  I think I was recalling the pepper ghost effect stuff.
pronoiac 5y ago
You might be thinking of this Latitude Society article: https://www.vice.com/en/article/xygykj/my-year-in-san-franciscos-2-million-secret-society-startup https://www.vice.com/en/article/xygykj/my-year-in-san-franci...
- uyt 5y ago
  Yes this was the article I was thinking of!
meowster 5y ago
There is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alternate_reality_games https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alternate_reality_game... but they look like they're all complete except one where the "prizes" are just clues about an upcoming game release.
fallinghawks 5y ago
Back when they were popular there might be a "help me" message posted in arg-related forums or even emails sent directly to people who played args. Replying would take you to the trailhead, an entry point to the game. Unfiction.com was one of the major forums but it looks like the discussion section is completely gone now. argn.com seems to be a more 21st century looking site.

by uyt 5y ago

lehall 5y ago

You’re probably thinking of the Latitude Society, by the creators of the Jejune Institute. Invites were given as blank white cards that would swipe you in at an anonymous building at an appointed time, kicking off the first part of the experience. https://nonchalance.com/latitude.html https://nonchalance.com/latitude.html There weren’t elaborate practical effects per se (there were some cool builds, like custom arcade cabinets) but many extremely talented experience designers worked on it so it felt very magical.

uyt 5y ago
I think I was recalling the pepper ghost effect stuff.

pronoiac 5y ago

You might be thinking of this Latitude Society article: https://www.vice.com/en/article/xygykj/my-year-in-san-franciscos-2-million-secret-society-startup https://www.vice.com/en/article/xygykj/my-year-in-san-franci...

uyt 5y ago
Yes this was the article I was thinking of!

meowster 5y ago

There is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alternate_reality_games https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alternate_reality_game... but they look like they're all complete except one where the "prizes" are just clues about an upcoming game release.

fallinghawks 5y ago

Back when they were popular there might be a "help me" message posted in arg-related forums or even emails sent directly to people who played args. Replying would take you to the trailhead, an entry point to the game. Unfiction.com was one of the major forums but it looks like the discussion section is completely gone now. argn.com seems to be a more 21st century looking site.