Espionage Alternate Reality Game

[kaplan]

I wanted to see if there would be interest in running an espionage alternate reality game based on bitcoins. 

Effectively players would pay a small BTC subscription to participate in an internet spy-themed roleplay: encoding, electronic dead drops, double crossing, recruiting, training and so on.  The in-game currency would be BTC so players who successfully completed missions would win more than they paid.

Would you be interested in this type of game?

Kaplan

[1714795054]

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[1714795054]

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[Belkaar]

Really nice idea. I'd be in :-)

[kaplan]

Thanks Belkaar: it's good to hear someone else thinks its a good idea too.

Do you have any thoughts about what kinds of content you would like to see?  Also, would you be interested in live roleplay as well (like a ticketed event), or just on the internet?

Same questions to anyone else who is interested.

[RodeoX]

I might be into something like this. In any case I have a few suggestions.

Set up a numbers station and then make finding the codebook part of the game.
Leak a weakly encrypted document full of clues. By weak I mean breakable with a standard PC.
Have players hide some BTC on the net that they are willing to risk. Then attempt to steal each others coins.
Try to kill other players with poison.
Arrange dead drops in real life.

There is a lot you could do with this game!

[kaplan]

RodeoX - thank you for your ideas and thoughts.  My hope is that the community of players would contribute ideas and missions for each another to enjoy.

[Belkaar]

Life role play is nice but I would guess that the bitcoin supporting role players are not that many to find enough in a given area.

[kaplan]

Belkaar - perhaps for now... but just wait until Bitcoin takes off!

[Electrongolf]

Let's get this going. I would be interested in helping put something together.

[Gabriel Beal]

This kind of thing sounds awesome.  There are a lot of possibilities.  It's funny that you can leave money hidden around the internet now.

[Ryland R. Taylor-Almanza]

I might be interested in helping with development.

[sortedmush]

Watching this thread. Sounds interesting.

[kaplan]

Right, I've done some thinking and planning and am now ready to move forwards with this.

However, I would like to ask about the payment structure.  What do you think the best payments model is, of the following options?

A. Donations: People play and donate BTC if they enjoy themselves.

B. Gambling: Two (or more) people play against one another on a mission.  Both pay to play, the winner takes the money from the loser (less a modest cut that goes to the organiser).

C. Subscription: People pay a subscription and the organisers keep creating content for the subscribers.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Kaplan

[edd]

D. Offer Premium subscriptions at a cost. You can offer a watered down, beginners version for free to show people how the game works but charge for the real thing.

[kaplan]

Thanks Edd for that fourth suggestion.

If others want to put in their $0.02 on which model would be best, including Edd's suggestion, then I would be grateful.

[Anonymailer]

Thanks Edd for that fourth suggestion.

If others want to put in their $0.02 on which model would be best, including Edd's suggestion, then I would be grateful.

I agree with Edd  looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

[logansryche]

Could always put this into an enviroment using source or whatever it is Linden Labs uses for Second Life. Something everyone would know and accept. Just my 2 cents on the matter.

[shakaru]

I wanted to see if there would be interest in running an espionage alternate reality game based on bitcoins. 

Effectively players would pay a small BTC subscription to participate in an internet spy-themed roleplay: encoding, electronic dead drops, double crossing, recruiting, training and so on.  The in-game currency would be BTC so players who successfully completed missions would win more than they paid.

Would you be interested in this type of game?

Kaplan

I ran these back in university. I am down to help you if you want. I still have a large amount of my old games and tools.

[kaplan]

Well thank you everyone for your offers of help and your suggestions.  I think it's time to begin.

I'm now going to vanish behind "The Curtain" so that I can run the game without direct contact with the players.  The game will use real life as its platform and run without rules or overt structure.  From now on, I will not be directly contactable.

If you're unfamiliar with the terminology of Alternate Reality Games then I suggest that you read its wikipedia page.

Anyone wishing to join the game in the future should simply post to this thread if they cannot find another "Rabbit Hole".

Be seeing you...

Kaplan

[kaplan]

Hi sorry for resurrecting this old thread.  I never really did get off the ground with my ARG idea.

However, I've started playing http://sites.google.com/site/spy9net and so far it seems very good, and very similar to the idea that we were discussing before.

If anyone else signs up then let me know (either here or in PM).

[Ashkelon]

I've just signed up for spy9, will keep you updated