You could win gold in the Velvet Assassin ARG

by Justin McElroy { Jul 28th 2008 at 2:00PM }

We know that some of you out there are absolute alternate reality game nuts, so we wanted to turn you on to one that's just getting into full swing, part of a promotional effort for Gamecock's upcoming Velvet Assassin, we've been lead to believe.

The hunt is currently on for the second of three caches of gold, and clues have started appearing in the public announcements section of UK's The Times. Because we love you so very much, we've put all three after the jump. If you're ready to do some investigating, we'd suggest digging through this in-game blog or, if you're up for something less immersive, this thread about the game.

July 11 message:
"Edward Spencer would like to praise so many friends and religious meeting members - service for all in the old hall on fiftieth anniversary of town council. More details July 19th."

July 19:
"Religious Friends Meeting - meeting praise at the old town hall, many to Edward Spencer. Further information Friday."

July 25:
"And so to Edward. Praise friends and, like Spencer, many would."

Tags: alternate-reality-game, arg, gamecock, velvet-assassin

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Saria the Cat @ Jul 28th 2008 2:05PM

ARGs ruin lives like WarCrack. Last time I got into one, I didn't talk to real-life people for 3 days and instead made phone calls to the ARG actors and posted a disgusting amount on the ARG forum. Must...stay...away...

makishima @ Jul 28th 2008 2:20PM

The terms 'Self Control' and 'Moderation' come to mind. The games are only as addictive as your personality allows them to be.

Saria the Cat @ Jul 28th 2008 2:31PM

@makishima: Have you ever played an ARG before? Since they occur in real life and real-time, they kind of DO require you to be in-game at all times. Actors are constantly calling or emailing or texting you.

And you just kind of ruined your own argument in the next sentence. If you have an addictive personality, you can't really "moderate" or practice self-control because it's your PERSONALITY, and that can't be changed. Don't get me started on personality disorders; I just took a midterm on them half an hour ago! XD

makishima @ Jul 28th 2008 3:07PM

Yes I have played an ARG before and guess what? Don't answer the phone or check your email if you don't want to play. You knew what you signed up for when you started the game.

Yes I realize that an addictive personality is just that, a part of your personality but my point was that its not the games fault but your own personality disorder that causes the problem. My comments were really to the 'ARGs ruin lives like WarCrack' part of your original post. Just unsubscribe and stop playing. And if you do have a personality disorder that causes you to be addicted in such a severe manner, seek friggen help. Calling it 'Warcrack' and saying it ruins your life is like those people who said McDonalds made them fat.

P.S. I love college students who think they know everything simply because they took a class about it. No that isn't meant to be an attack at your second comment, merely an observation that you assumed you knew exactly what I was trying to say and attempted to use it against me.
And I hope you did well on your midterm.

makishima @ Jul 28th 2008 3:14PM

Reading back over that last one of mine I realized that you may not have really been trying to 'blame' the games in your original post, but games get attacked so often for being the root of so many problems that its hard to read something like that and not think its an attack. My apologies if that wasn't how you intended your comment to come off.

Saria the Cat @ Jul 28th 2008 3:51PM

@makishima: It's okay, it's easy to misinterpret stuff online, especially since there's no tone of voice. I wasn't attacking ARGs or WoW, though. :) I was actually meaning to show how I enjoyed playing an ARG so much and how immersive it is that I forgot to live my real life!

And, I don't have a personality disorder, but they were still fresh on my mind from the test. I don't like people who think they know everything either but I do feel I have learned a lot more about personality disorders from my course than the average person. :)