Experience

This is not a game.

It’ very important that Locals leaders know as little about the game as possible. One reason for this is so that when Waddles does go missing it adds an air of realism.

Storytelling / Narrative

The story line will follow Waddles’ disappearance and will be driven by the clues left by the suspects and people involved. Leaders will have to push the game hard in the first week to get the maximum number of students signed up and ready to go. This is the first years mission.

Something that is really important here is that the story is not linear. This is not a case of one guilty party, follow the clues to find them. Players are responsible for foiling suspects. There may be parties within the story that are trying to frame one another, there may be a secret vigilante that is trying to help us out without everyone finding out. There may be parties trying to cover tracks.

Discovery / Deciphering and documentation element

There’s no point making it easy.

To make things accessible to players there should be a board in Locals, outlining the evidence found so far and links made. Akin to what would be seen in a police station with string and photos.

Multimedia

The technology used will be highly variable. We won’t stick to a single medium for communicating clues, although the website will have a summary of everything as the story progresses.

Blurring the line between reality and fiction

Waddles WILL go missing. The leaders WILL be looking for him. Maya WILL be wanting to know how this plays out. The clues left, the people we get involved, everything will have an air of realism to it.

Things to Avoid

Lack of interactivity

If players don’t have any say then there’s not much point in getting them to hunt for Waddles. The end stage will involve the players making a case against the remaining suspects and us eventually bringing them to justice. Waddles will be returned and prizes given if guessed correctly.

Lack of Reward

There will be a reward at the end of the game to the group or person that finds Waddles, and another for getting the perpetrator.

No instant gratification

The website will hopefully solve this issue. As each player submits their answer to a clue, or advances the story, they will be given points and the most helpful players will be rewarded throughout the game.

Difficult

Locals leaders that are in the dark about the game will be able to help players with knowledge they have of the university to solve the clues that first years otherwise wouldn’t be able to help with. Too scripted