Jay Burling tells us about alternate reality game (ARG) connections to a tv show. Lost (ABC, 2004-5) has some game aspects going on:
The shark, which appeared in the season's second episode, had a logo on its fin that showed up elsewhere in the show, a possibly significant clue in the "Lost" mythology. It was the sort of thing you'd only see if you froze the frame and watched very, very closely. If you were looking for just this sort of trick. And if you had a community of fellow viewers doing the same thing...
...six possibly magical numbers that have showed up on a lottery ticket, in a transmitted radio message, and on the door to a buried hatch.
Alias had several ARGs attached to its long run.
But perhaps the bigger point here is that ARG style is bleeding into media that aren't necessarily running games, like that Doctor Who Bad Wolf page. Codes, hints, mysteries knitted into media objects, like this image from the Lost site:
I haven't seen Lost yet - is it worth it?
The most 'worth it' show on tv next to Battlestar Galactica (imho). First season is out on DVD but beware, if you start watching it, you will be consumed until you're caught up to present (and it only gets better [and bigger] with each episode).
While I haven't tried any of the ARGs associated with Alias, I'd certainly be interested in seeing what a Lost ARG would have in store. I'm sure it would simply result in even more of my time being 'Lost'.
Posted by: Andrew Connell | November 06, 2005 at 22:17
It's definitely worth it. Rarely these days does a TV show so faithfully reward devoted viewing.
Posted by: Lost Talk | November 07, 2005 at 22:33
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! The best show on television, until The Sopranos comes back at least. Fascinating and structurally ambitious.
Posted by: Sean T. Collins | November 07, 2005 at 23:50
It's junk food. I actually feel guilty watching it, but I keep coming back.
Posted by: Blivet Head | November 10, 2005 at 09:34