This blog is dedicated to exploring the possibilities of alternate reality gaming (ARG). Since the author is new to ARG and has many obligations, including a full-time job, a family, and several ongoing writing projects, the blog will only focus on one game at a given moment. Since the author is also a Lost junkie, it will focus on The Lost Experience™ for the time being. ARG is an interesting phenomenon because it pushes the boundaries of online gaming, artistic communication, and mass marketing all at once.
If you are a purist who believes that TLE is just too cheesy, or an old ARG hand who thinks the author of this blog “just doesn’t get it,” or a person who thinks that Lost in general is an over-hyped waste of time, this site is probably not for you. If you enjoy the show or TLE, and especially if you are interested in exploring the connection between the two as a really weird cultural and social phenomenon, keep reading to find out what you should and should not expect from this blog.
The author is primarily interested in three things, and the blog is a tool to aid the pursuit of those interests. The first is to observe the behavior of society. Why it is behaving in a particular way at the given moment, and what does that behavior signify? This is, in a sense, one of the oldest games. People have played it at least since the time of Plato, and probably began even earlier. Since art and politics have been shown to have a relationship (though not the same relationship in every time, place, or set of circumstances), the ARG-as-emerging-art-form may be an important indicator of where power relationships and social norms are headed. This possibility should be taken seriously, and the ARG should be studied as such. The same applies to the economic dimensions of the ARG, since many of them are obviously vehicles for marketing.
The second is to play the game for the fun of it and to make friends with other players. A well-constructed ARG seems more enjoyable than a traditional video game for a number of reasons. It’s more dynamic and it more thoroughly engages the world of day-to-day life. It also blurs the line between fiction and reality in a way that manages to be pleasing and potentially Orwellian at the same time.
The third is to construct a unified theory which explains all the big mysteries of Lost before they are finally revealed in the show. This is more obsession than interest, and it is what led me to discover ARGs in the first place. Constructing such a theory will require close attention to detail and input from others. It will undoubtedly be aided by keeping up with TLE, and so here is a blog dedicated to that game.
The author does not have the time or the energy to create a comprehensive Lost reference guide or a site which provides a running summary of the game for pure spectators. That’s already covered by the Lostpedia and numerous other sites. It should also be understood that this is a fanblog, not an in-game site. You will find no clues hidden here. This site will probably not be the first to reveal new clues as they are discovered (though we will certainly try). Three or four posts per week are probably all the author will be able to manage.
Finally, the author is aware that many people who participate in ARGs do not like to see the ARG referred to as a game. That is only a rule for puppetmasters and hard-core players. Out of respect for the game such references will be kept to a minimum here. At times, however, pieces will be posted that obviously approach TLE through the lens of literary, social, political, cultural, or economic analysis. Please do not email to tell the author how uncool that is. If ever you feel compelled to waste your time composing such a communication, it’s probably a sign that you should take a break from your computer and do something else for a a bit, such as playing a musical instrument, spending quality time with friends and loved ones, or drinking yourself silly in a local pub.
On to business.
