I’m quite a fan of Alternate Reality Games and Unfiction (which reminds me to officially coin the phrase “Interactive Unfiction” 
), and it does feel to me that in some ways they could be seen as one of the many evolutions of IF. Bear with me here…
Reflecting on the essence of IF games, one of the most captivating aspects is how they can often extend beyond the confines of the computer screen. Remember those moments when you were stuck on a particularly tricky puzzle in “Zork” or “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”? The game didn’t just pause when you stepped away; it lingered in your mind as you went about your day. You’d find yourself pondering solutions during lunch breaks or in the car driving to work.
This phenomenon of the game seeping into your real life is a hallmark of both IF and ARGs. In interactive fiction, the player’s engagement often transcends the screen. You aren’t just clicking or typing commands; you’re actively participating and living the narrative, contemplating its challenges and complexities in those interstitial moments of your daily routine. This off-screen engagement feels, to me anyway, very similar to the all-encompassing nature of ARGs.
ARGs take this concept and amplify it, not just inviting you to think about them when you’re away from your computer; but almost requiring it. The very structure of an ARG is built around the integration of the game into the fabric of your reality. Clues might be hidden in websites, phone calls, emails, or even real-world locations. The boundaries between game and life are intentionally blurred, creating an experience where the narrative weaves seamlessly into the player’s real-world activities.
Moreover, the research aspect that can be a fun side effect of playing IF is a core mechanic of ARGs. Players are encouraged to dive deep into external resources, drawing on a wide range of knowledge and skills to progress. This can mean anything from deciphering cryptic messages and codes to understanding obscure historical references or scientific principles. In this way, ARGs not only engage the player’s intellect but also their curiosity and willingness to learn.
The immersive nature of ARGs also taps into a broader cultural shift towards experiential entertainment. As technology advances and our lives become increasingly interconnected, the appeal of experiences that transcend traditional media boundaries grows. ARGs offer a taste of this future, where the narrative is not confined to a book, a screen, or a stage, but is woven into the very fabric of our daily existence.
In many ways, ARGs can be seen as the natural evolution of interactive fiction. They take the core elements that made IF so compelling—the deep engagement, the mental challenge, the narrative immersion—and expand them into a multi-dimensional, real-world context. They invite players not just to solve puzzles, but to live the story, to become part of a narrative that is as expansive and unpredictable as life itself.
