Mapping Alternate Reality Game Begins

Part Alternate Reality Game, part Pychocartography, part Art, the Urban Codemakers project has launched in Melbourne, Australia. The game appears to involve finding hidden objects, joining secret collectives and uncovering the history of the cities development and planning. If you find yourself in Melbourne, maybe worth going along and checking it out. Send us a report.

Broken Spoke

Brighton based artist group Blast Theory (I like your old stuff better than you new stuff) have been presenting their bicycle based mobile work “RiderSpoke” in several world cities over the last couple of years. Recently, we received reports that a game within the game broke-out when the work was presented in Copenhagen, Denmark. While details are scant, apparently a group calling themselves “udbrugsforening” (uncooperative people) staged and intervention involving throwing at least three of the mobile equipped bikes into the Søerne (the three rectangular lakes curving around the city centre. While Blast Theory have not confirmed, Interestingly Copenhagen doesn’t appear on their list of cities in which the game was presented on either Wikipedia or on Blast Theory's website.

Love Robot Love

Who doesn't like cardboard robots? Nobody, right? Well New York duo Awkward Hug are currently running Must Love Robots, based around the idea of building love connections between people and robots. You think this would cost billions, but no, these creators have imaginatively pulled the whole thing off with pocket money.

Without going to much into the game which you can find out all about here, it basically it provides a reason to dress as a cardboard robot. (As if we needed an excuse) This self-funded project came out of an original desire to create a Web series about a robot, a la Robot Frank, but developed into an ARG.

坂本 龍馬 ARG

The Japanese ARG Ryoma:The Secret revolving around the life of popular cultural figure Sakamoto Ryōma began in Tokyo earlier this month. Sakamoto Ryōma was a master swordsman and progressive leader of the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate during the Bakumatsu period in Japan.

If you read Japanese or pretend to like us, then help us keep across the burgeoning Tokyo based ARG movement by keeping an eye on these sites:

Website: http://igdaj-arg.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ARG_INFO
http://arg.igda.jp/

Neurocam is recruiting

You won't find much info on Neurocam. The admins maintain an effective shroud of mystery over the whole thing, your curiosity will make you want to register to find out. There is an opportunity to become involved now at: applications@neurocam.com

I did it for a while in 2004, but it got a bit demanding and I dropped out. They give you assignments like "We are sending you a package, when you get it, be at this location at 9:00 A.M. to make the drop off. Failure to do so will result in severe consequences." If you keep them waiting, they try to scare you by pulling up your personal info even going so far as getting pictures of you and where you live. Starts off spooky and immersive, but my experience it was all tip and no iceberg.

If you want to get involved check www.neurocam.com

Here are the updated terms and conditions for eligibility:

1. We are currently experiencing a disproportionate number of applications from 18 - 22 year old males. If you are a male between 18 and 22 years of age please provide a detailed explanation of why you wish to participate and what you expect to gain from the experience.

2. You must be at least 18 years old to apply.

3. Proof of age and gender will be required (scan of drivers licence, passport or any other relevant photo ID).

4. The nature of X04 is such that any attempt to provide spurious information will result in an unrewarding experience.

5. If you are not prepared to commit yourself completely to this experience, do not waste our time and your own by applying.

6. Do not ask for more information; everything you need to know is clearly stated on this web page.

7. All assignments are non-negotiable.

8. Failure to complete any assignment within the designated time-frame will result in automatic expulsion from Neurocam.

9. Once expelled from Neurocam, you will not hear from us again.

10. Participation must be conducted covertly; any persons known to be publicly relating their experiences will be immediately expelled.

AmazeR

Part part dare/part pervasive game, the activity known as AmazeR is growing rapidly across Europe. The AmazeRNetwork who have been building members across Germany, Belgium, France and England over the last 18 months over see the game and its rules. Which are as follows:

1. You can become a Maze Master over a local Maze - Unless someone else has claimed it.
2. As Maze Master you must accept challenges from any player.
3. If a Maze Master is challenged, they must hide a box in their maze at dusk. 
4. The Maze Master must post online immediately that the box is hidden.
5. The player then has only one night to find the box, in the dark, in the maze.
6. If you retrieve the box and its contents, you then become the Maze Master and have to hide the box for the next player.

The boxes are becoming increasingly difficult to find as player paint and camouflage them in various ways so as to retain their status as Maze Masters. Apparently one box in France was buried, but the Maze Master in questions denies this.

However, a serious problem with this game arises in that many of the mazes in question are on private property. Therefore, to play the game involves trespassing. Not such a major crime except for when the Mazes are located on heavily patrolled royal property as with Hampton Court where a Maze Master is now accepting challenges.