Here is my presentation of 4th Wall during the Game Mechanics Panel at – the Parsons Symposium on May 30th. Lawrence Mascia and Justin Jordan also present their Game-related Thesis projects. Colleen Macklin moderates.

All of the feedback from the initial rounds of testing allowed for a relatively smooth Beta Test. Again, ten players were asked to play the game. They all understood the initial prompts from the game system and appreciated the instructions that were given early in the play experience.

Players also responded well to the emergent instructions that helped guide them through the game and the narrative. There were still a couple of areas of the narrative that could use more development, but the overall game system and mechanic is proven to be sound. Casual players have begun to experience an ARG.

One of the most valuable pieces of feedback was gained in an entirely coincidental fashion.

At the conclusion of the Alpha Test, it was discovered that the game had been leaked to a large online community of ARG players known as the Unforum. Players had picked through every aspect of the game. The Blog for the project as well as personal information of the designers was posted onto the site.

There was a three-page thread of players discussing the game and picking apart it’s assets. Although not all of the criticism was kind, it was immensely helpful for refining the game for the later Beta Test.

A rough initial alpha test was conducted. In this test, a basic version of the overall game was completed and a group of 10 testers were asked to test it over a three-day period. Players were exposed to the game in a number of ways. Utilizing guerilla tactics was tested for the first time.

Tyger Pharmaceutical Flyer in Situ

Tyger Pharmaceutical Flyer in Situ in an Elevator

Players started well, but soon became lost within the game system and the narrative. Players did not know where they were “supposed to go next”. This reinforced the earlier feedback from players that highlighted the need for strong, clear instructions and feedback.

In order to further deepen the reality of the game space, Eric Chung and I created an installation that gives an impression of what it “feels like” to be in the game.We created a space that is designed to put the viewer into the mindset of someone playing 4th Wall. The installation asks the viewer to interact with it and explore the space of the game.

The viewer is surrounded with information and assets from the game in a physical setting

Help Save Paige!

Making connections

Motivation and Impetus

In order to create an event to kick off the official release of the game and create interest, Eric and I staged an event at the 2010 Parsons Design and Technology Symposium, OneZero on opening night.

The event was sponsored by Tyger Pharmaceuticals and representatives were there giving out informational fliers and free samples of Pantazon.

Eric Chung with Tyger Pharmaceutical's Display

Free Samples

Dr. Charles and Rudy Shepherd working the crowd

Dr. Charles answers questions about Pantazon

Unfortunately, protesters from TheyKnowWeKnow also found about about the event…

Mike Protesting

Outside Protest

An aggressive protester

To lead people to the game, a number of physical assets were produced that acted as marketing material to promote playing the game and leading people to the Symposium.

This flier was widely distributed for one monthe before the event in the area surrounding Parsons.

This is a flyer asking for help in finding the missing reporter, Paige Stein. There is a tear-away at the bottom that leads players to thedailyinformant.com where they can begin the game.

Tyger Pharmaceuticals promoted their presence at the Symposium with Health Fair flyers that were posted 1 week in advance of the event.

Eric Chung – First year MFA at Parsons. Eric is an awesome game designer and developer. He coded all the AS3 and PHP assets for the game. He has been an amazing teammate.

Janina King-Poulin – My lovely and amazing Fiancee. Also the face of Paige Stein and the voice of Tyger Pharmaceuticals. I could not have done it without her.

Matt Cuttler – AKA Dr. Charles

Peter Mazur – AKA Peter Lawson

Michael Davis – AKA Protester Number 1.

Rudy Shepherd – AKA Tyger Pharmaceuticals Sales Representative.

Margaret Moser – AKA Tyger Pharmaceuticals Sales Representative.

Kalila King – Alpha play-tester extraordinaire!

David Carroll – Thesis Studio Instructor (1st Semester)

Chris Prentice – Thesis Writing Instructor (1st Semester)

Katherine Morawaki – Thesis Studio Instructor (2nd Semester)

Louisa Campbell – Thesis Writing Instructor (2nd Semester)

Colleen Macklin – Faculty at Parsons – great feedback for the duration of the project.

Nick Fortugno – Game Design Consultant

Eric Zimmerman – Game Design Consultant

Josh DeBonis – Game Design Consultant

Ted Byfield – Parsons Faculty/Conspiracy Expert

John Benton – Interactive Designer and Entrepreneur. His insight and moral support was invaluable.

Richard Schatzberger – BBH Labs, NY. Early insight into interactive gaming and ARG design.

Dan Provost – Parsons Alumni provided valuable insight into designing a game as a Thesis project.

There were also a number of video assets that populate the game. The purpose of these assets was to help players recognize and connect with the characters within the game.

The first video the players will see provides the second clue of the game. It is an ad for Tyger Pharmaceutical’s newest drug, Pantazon. It is password protected on Vimeo and players will need the password from TheyKnowWeKnow to view it.

New Tyger Pharma Ad from Linda West on Vimeo.

The second video is a chat between Paige Stein and Sam King. This video leads the player to investigate the site “theyknowweknow.com”. This was recorded the day before Paige disappears.

Thesis – Video Chat from Simeon Poulin on Vimeo.

This video was part of my Thesis project at Parsons, titled 4th Wall. The project is an ARG in which players are looking for a missing reporter named Paige Stein.

This is a video chat recorded the day before she disappears.

The second video the players will view is a surveillance video that is sent by Sam King. This video depicts Tyger Pharmaceuticals CEO Linda West’s personal Assistant, Peter Lawson sneaking into Paige’s apartment the night she disappears.

Thesis – Video Surveillance from Simeon Poulin on Vimeo.

This video was part of my Thesis project at Parsons, titled 4th Wall. The project is an ARG in which players are looking for a missing reporter named Paige Stein.

This is a surveillance video recorded in the missing reporter’s hallway the night that she disappears. It shows the kidnapper sneaking into reporter’s apartment.

The second

These are the assets that create the games within-the-game.

The primary mechanic of the game is the letter that Paige has written to Sam that contains the outline of the geame. Players must fill in the missing words that were damaged when her apartment was burned down.

Letter from Paige

As the players fill in the missing words, editorial comments from Sam will appear to let them know they have entered the correct word. They will also receive an email clue sent to the email address the entered at the beginning of the game. The game will also save players’ answers as they progress. Every time they log-in, previous correct answers will auto populate.

The first puzzle mechanic players will encounter is the logo of the Metatonic Society.

The symbols on the sides are a code that can be deciphered using a tool found on theyknowweknow.com

The symbols spell out the word “Revelation”. This is a clue the players will need for Paige’s letter to Sam.

The second game mechanic the players will discover is found on the Metatonic Society’s site.

The 19-year Metonic lunar cycle is the key to the Society’s beliefs. Within the cycle, there are a number of “Embolismal” years that contain a 13th month.Players must click on the years containing a 13th month within the cycle. If the player clicks on a wrong year, the game will lock them out.

If the term “embolismal years” is Googled, the players will find this site.

This site was not built as part of the game, but was the inspiration for the Metatonic Society. The key to this game is found here.

At a certain point, the player will receive an email from Sam King that instructs them to call Tyger Pharmaceuticals phone number and enter a number found on a video asset.

The player will hear this audio.

The final in-game that was created is centered around discovering the chemical formula of the drug that will trigger a chemical reaction that will set off Tyger Pharmaceuticals and the Metatonic Society’s diabolical plan. This is the last missing clue from Paige’s letter.

Players must get the 4 parts of the chemical diagram in the correct order. The observant player will recognize this diagram from Tyger Pharmaceutical’s website.

If the player Google’s the chemical formula, the result they will get is “Ibuprofen”.

There were a number of sites that were created to fill out the world of the game.

The game begins and ends with The Daily Informant. Their editor will help the player find Paige Stein, the missing reporter.

thedailyinformant.com

This is the site of Tyger Pharmaceuticals, an unethical pharmaceutical company that has a secret agenda. There is information all over this site that the player will need.

http://tygerpharma.com

This is the Blog, theyknowweknow.com. They know bits of the truth. They are trying to get it out to the world.

http://theyknowweknow.com

The Metatonic Society appears to be a self-help group with a strange past. What is their true purpose?

http://metatonicsociety.org

There is also a character named Dr. Buford who has information for the player. Here is his Blog.

http://7trumpet.tumblr.com