Ghost Conspiracy ARG
designing an immersive experience
This alternate reality game (ARG) was created in collaboration with three course mates at QUT. It is an interactive game that uses the real world and storytelling to create a narrative and which tells a story that can be altered by player’s ideas or actions as they play the game.
course project, 2016
Research, Experience Design, Interaction Design, Game Development, Playtesting
about
Ghost Conspiracy ARG is an immersive ARG (alternate reality game) that offers an “Escape The Room” experience to QUT students. Players are provided with a crossword which they have to complete to win the game. Challenges and clues to complete the crossword are spread out in the entire room.
the narrative
In this game, the players are exorcists and their mission is to save a girl named Mel who has been possessed by an evil demon. They have 60 minutes to find out how to save Mel before she is gone forever.
elements
To keep in line with the story and to make the room more playful, we knew we had to add different elements that would engage the senses and would challenge the perception of reality.
We covered the light in the room with red transparent paper, and we added horror themed music that played in the background. We also added different augmented reality objects using Vuforia to bring the digital into the physical space. Lastly, we brought in a real life person to play the possessed girl that the players were suppose to save.
the playtest
An interesting discovery we found during the playtest occurred at the end of the game.
As the players’ had solved all puzzles and found the hidden amulet, the only step that was left was to put the amulet on Mel. We hadn’t given any instructions to how exactly the amulet should be put on her, so they decided to put the amulet around her neck.
She didn’t respond or react to this action for some seconds, which prompted a reaction to the players like for example if they succeed or failed.
“Oh no, nothing is happening..
are we too late?”
When the players all saw Mel reacting to the amulet by waking up, it was a very clear indication how relieved they were that they accomplished the goal.
Everyone smiled and gave each other big hugs, and it was in that exact moment we got confirmed that the experience we wanted to create was successfully accomplished.
“Oh my God wait, she is moving.. Yay we did it!”
playtesting feedback
Using AR as an additional element did not bring any enjoyment to the game as the players’ became confused to how the augmented reality fit together with the puzzles.
The mood created in the room through the red light, music playing in the background and the real life person laying in the room, added a spooky but yet very enjoyable experience to the players.
The puzzles and hints provided was challenging but in the right level