Alternate Reality Game / Eight Week Campaign / Summer 2008
Promotional Print / Websites & Email / Craigslist / Print Advertising / Youtube / Blogs / Facebook / Online Audio / Live Interaction / Online Forums
In the summer of 2008, Francomedia created an ARG (Alternate Reality Game) to generate awareness and enthusiasm for Calgary’s newest cutting edge gaming facility, The Node.
The campaign lasted 8 weeks, contained 8 missions, and enthralled a great many players from the other side of the world and between.
The ARG engaged each player with a diverse, challenging network of problem solving, teamwork with other players via online forums, live drops, codebreaking, audio deciphering, downloading, printing, and online social networking.
The ARG utilized a vast assortment of media, including:
Promotional Print, Websites, Email, Craigslist, Print Advertising, Youtube, Blogs, Facebook, Online Audio, Live Interaction, Online Forums, Actors, Props, Wikis, and a limousine. Every item used inside these mediums was designed by Francomedia.com.
1-1
Newspaper / Youthink
RU
NN
ING
WEEK
S
ARG Website Solve Puzzle
1-4
Online Ad Database Enter answer
1-8
Promotional Cards Youtube Reward: recruitment video
ADVERTISING / CALL TO ACTION
UTILIZED MEDIA / OPERATIONS
MISSIONS / REWARDS
Week 1
1-8
Node: Online Forum
RU
NN
ING
WEEK
S
Email Solve Puzzle
2-8
Unfiction Forum ARG Website Enter answer
2-8
Damn Gamer Forum Reward: Print Piece
ADVERTISING / CALL TO ACTION
UTILIZED MEDIA / OPERATIONS
MISSIONS / REWARDS
Week 2
RU
NN
ING
WEEK
S
Email Find Agent on Facebook
Facebook Decode Code
ARG Website Display NODE Profile Picture
ADVERTISING / CALL TO ACTION
UTILIZED MEDIA / OPERATIONS
MISSIONS / REWARDS
Week 3Youtube Reward: Clue, Next Mission
1-8
Node: Online Forum
1-4
Online Ad
1-8
Promotional Cards
RU
NN
ING
WEEK
S
Facebook Download Cryptogram
Website (ARG Custom) Find hidden pdf. in html
Solve with cryptogram
ADVERTISING / CALL TO ACTION
UTILIZED MEDIA / OPERATIONS
MISSIONS / REWARDS
Week 4Reward: Fortran Card
1-4
Online Ad
1-8
Promotional Cards
1-8
Node: Online Forum
RU
NN
ING
WEEK
S
Email Solve profile anagram
Facebook Find hidden URL
Solve Slider Puzzle
ADVERTISING / CALL TO ACTION
UTILIZED MEDIA / OPERATIONS
MISSIONS / REWARDS
Week 5Reward: Audio Clue
ARG Website
Craigslist
1-8
Promotional Cards
1-8
Node: Online Forum
2-8
Unfiction Forum
RU
NN
ING
WEEK
S
Email Unscramble message
Internet Radio Solve With Other Gamers
Enter Code
ADVERTISING / CALL TO ACTION
UTILIZED MEDIA / OPERATIONS
MISSIONS / REWARDS
Week 6Reward: Map
1-8
Promotional Cards
1-8
Node: Online Forum
2-8
Unfiction Forum
RU
NN
ING
WEEK
S
Email Solve Map Using Fortrans
Internet Radio Obtain Pass phrase
Live Drop at Limo
ADVERTISING / CALL TO ACTION
UTILIZED MEDIA / OPERATIONS
MISSIONS / REWARDS
Week 7Reward: Dossier
7-7
7-7
1-8
Node: Online Forum Actors
RU
NN
ING
WEEK
S
Email Find Hidden Link
Node Website Submit Personal Info
Reward: Poster For Agents
ADVERTISING / CALL TO ACTION
UTILIZED MEDIA / OPERATIONS
MISSIONS / REWARDS
Week 8THE NODE Grand Opening
1-8
Promotional Cards
1-8
Node: Online Forum
2-8
Unfiction Forum
To view some easier active samples of the ARG, Go to:http://experiencethenode.com/arg/
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