On The Topic of Interactivity
Hey all! Thank you for checking this game out. I figure people will have questions about how the game outside of the game is going to work, given that this hasn’t really been done in this community before. So I wanted to get ahead of the curve and answer some of those questions here.
First of all, when you see italic text like this (unless it’s obviously for emphasis), it means this is out-of-character discussion. This should only happen rarely, when I’m answering important meta asks or giving updates that can’t be done in character. If you don’t want to see them, you can blacklist the tag “architect ooc.” For this post, I won’t be using italics for ease of readability. It’s quite a bit of text!
Q: What does a “narrative taking place in real time online” mean exactly?
A: Parallel to the game itself, there will be a story taking place on social media and online. There will be characters to interact with, puzzles to solve, and information to theorize about. Think of it like solving a real-world mystery alongside the community, but slightly less real.
Q: So how do I “play” this real-world game?
A: Mostly on Tumblr! Sending asks and interacting with the characters is the best way to get the story moving. Once the demo is out, the real mystery will begin- it’ll involve talking to characters, solving puzzles, and working together with the community to find hidden secrets. There will also be a Discord server set up closer to the demo’s release date where you can chat with other folks about the game and about solving the puzzles.
Q: I’m not really interested in this, is it necessary to play the game?
A: Not at all. While there will be in-game benefits to engaging with the out-of-game story, and it’s probably going add to the experience, the game itself will still be playable and enjoyable without it. And if you still want those in-game benefits, you can always ask around or check out the Discord server for a run-down from the people who are playing.
Q: What if I’m late or want to play alone? Will it still be possible/fun?
A: Yes! For the duration of the game’s release (and probably a bit after) I will be making an effort to maintain every step of the game, so if you arrive late and still want to start from the beginning, you should be able to do so (although it may not be the same experience). You can also always jump in at any time and ask other players to explain how the story has gone so far.
Q: Are there any “rules”?
A: Outside of common decency, not really, no. However, just in case, I’ll let you know a few things that should obviously be considered off limits:
Do: Code dive to find easter eggs and hidden clues
Don’t: Code dive to find the answers to puzzles and spoil them for other players who are trying to solve them legitimately
Do: Interact with the characters and other players as if the game were real
Don’t: Harass me, the characters, or players because it’s “just a game”
Do: Try to progress the game and move things forward
Don’t: Impersonate me or make up fake information to derail the game or ruin other people’s enjoyment of it