Comments on: Anti-Hoaxing Strategies and the TINAG Fallacy http://www.universecreation101.com/2008/01/anti-hoaxing-strategies-and-the-tinag-fallacy/ How to create unique entertainment properties that traverse media platforms Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:46:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Universe Creation 101 » Cross-Media Technologies (Crafty Toys) http://www.universecreation101.com/2008/01/anti-hoaxing-strategies-and-the-tinag-fallacy/#comment-616 Universe Creation 101 » Cross-Media Technologies (Crafty Toys) Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:59:38 +0000 http://www.universecreation101.com/?p=5#comment-616 [...] Anti-Hoaxing Strategies and the TINAG Fallacy [...] [...] Anti-Hoaxing Strategies and the TINAG Fallacy [...]

]]> By: Christy http://www.universecreation101.com/2008/01/anti-hoaxing-strategies-and-the-tinag-fallacy/#comment-21 Christy Fri, 16 May 2008 12:20:41 +0000 http://www.universecreation101.com/?p=5#comment-21 I totally agree Brian. The deception point is something I argued in an earlier post I did about '<a href="http://www.christydena.com/online-essays/why-args-arent-hoaxes/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Why ARGs Aren't Hoaxes</a>'. I totally agree Brian. The deception point is something I argued in an earlier post I did about ‘Why ARGs Aren’t Hoaxes‘.

]]> By: Addlepated http://www.universecreation101.com/2008/01/anti-hoaxing-strategies-and-the-tinag-fallacy/#comment-22 Addlepated Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:21:01 +0000 http://www.universecreation101.com/?p=5#comment-22 There was a SXSWi panel called "The Suxorz: The Worst Ten Social Media Ad Campaigns of 2007" where one of the questioners mentioned that the problem that most of the panelists had with the bad campaigns was transparency, and asked how they thought that translated to ARGs. I think it was Henry Copeland from Blogads who answered that he sees ARGs more like the beer commercial that starts out with the pretty woman; the content might not have much to do with the product, but it''s a good tease for it rather than an outright hoax. Of course, in the context of television commercials, it's a lot easier to tell what's an advertisement and what's actual programming (usually, anyway). There was a SXSWi panel called “The Suxorz: The Worst Ten Social Media Ad Campaigns of 2007″ where one of the questioners mentioned that the problem that most of the panelists had with the bad campaigns was transparency, and asked how they thought that translated to ARGs. I think it was Henry Copeland from Blogads who answered that he sees ARGs more like the beer commercial that starts out with the pretty woman; the content might not have much to do with the product, but it’’s a good tease for it rather than an outright hoax. Of course, in the context of television commercials, it’s a lot easier to tell what’s an advertisement and what’s actual programming (usually, anyway).

]]> By: Brian Clark http://www.universecreation101.com/2008/01/anti-hoaxing-strategies-and-the-tinag-fallacy/#comment-20 Brian Clark Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:17:15 +0000 http://www.universecreation101.com/?p=5#comment-20 Mind if I take another tact with that, not that I disagree with anything that Mike said? Hoaxes and "rabbit holes" start exactly the same way: something doesn't seem quite right, and your curiousity is aroused. Sure, there might be a link disclaiming it, but that doesn't mean reading it is a part of the "typical user experience". Hoaxes and "rabbit holes" quickly become different, though: the former is usually at the expense of the audience, the later is for their amusement. The difference boils down to whether or not you're trying to pull something over on them. That moment is one of the most critical in any of these kinds of immersive narratives, because all kinds of things can go awry: a hoax also starts out similar to propoganda and advertising creep. Mind if I take another tact with that, not that I disagree with anything that Mike said?

Hoaxes and “rabbit holes” start exactly the same way: something doesn’t seem quite right, and your curiousity is aroused. Sure, there might be a link disclaiming it, but that doesn’t mean reading it is a part of the “typical user experience”.

Hoaxes and “rabbit holes” quickly become different, though: the former is usually at the expense of the audience, the later is for their amusement. The difference boils down to whether or not you’re trying to pull something over on them. That moment is one of the most critical in any of these kinds of immersive narratives, because all kinds of things can go awry: a hoax also starts out similar to propoganda and advertising creep.

]]> By: Christy http://www.universecreation101.com/2008/01/anti-hoaxing-strategies-and-the-tinag-fallacy/#comment-19 Christy Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:16:07 +0000 http://www.universecreation101.com/?p=5#comment-19 Excellent point! I've added it to the post. Excellent point! I’ve added it to the post.

]]> By: Mike Monello http://www.universecreation101.com/2008/01/anti-hoaxing-strategies-and-the-tinag-fallacy/#comment-18 Mike Monello Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:13:25 +0000 http://www.universecreation101.com/?p=5#comment-18 There are a lot of ways to telegraph to the audience your game is not a hoax, but the best way is to be transparent from the ground up. What you are missing from your analysis of Audi is that the main community site had a prominent link that asked "What is this?" Clicking the link took you to a page that said: <blockquote> "What''s all this, then? Congratulations! You've discovered a fun, interactive, fictional story sponsored by Audi. This campaign is similar to what's known as "Alternate Reality Gaming," in which a community of users become a part of the story, interact with its characters, and help each other unravel its mysteries along the way. If you''d like to immerse yourself in this entertaining, challenging experience, you can check out "The Story So Far..." chapter links on the left, to get up to speed on the adventure, and there's also an FAQ page...then be sure to visit the discussion forum and join in the fun! (And don't worry, nobody will call you at 3:00 a.m. -- it's not that immersive.)" </blockquote> In that copy were links to both the in-game FAQ and forums as well as a link to Unfiction. Whenever anyone came to the community and questioned the reality, or called it a hoax, players would simply point them to the link. I believe that, coupled with the TV spots, billboards, and other traditional ad pieces allowed the audience to be comfortable in the fact that we weren't trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. There are a lot of ways to telegraph to the audience your game is not a hoax, but the best way is to be transparent from the ground up. What you are missing from your analysis of Audi is that the main community site had a prominent link that asked “What is this?”

Clicking the link took you to a page that said:

“What’’s all this, then?

Congratulations! You’ve discovered a fun, interactive, fictional story sponsored by Audi. This campaign is similar to what’s known as “Alternate Reality Gaming,” in which a community of users become a part of the story, interact with its characters, and help each other unravel its mysteries along the way. If you”d like to immerse yourself in this entertaining, challenging experience, you can check out “The Story So Far…” chapter links on the left, to get up to speed on the adventure, and there’s also an FAQ page…then be sure to visit the discussion forum and join in the fun! (And don’t worry, nobody will call you at 3:00 a.m. — it’s not that immersive.)”

In that copy were links to both the in-game FAQ and forums as well as a link to Unfiction.

Whenever anyone came to the community and questioned the reality, or called it a hoax, players would simply point them to the link.

I believe that, coupled with the TV spots, billboards, and other traditional ad pieces allowed the audience to be comfortable in the fact that we weren’t trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes.

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