So I thought I would try and get into Jane McGonigals new ARG The Lost Ring, and I allowed myself a good half hour to get up to speed and understand the game which began just over a month ago. Initially, I am really intrigued. The trailer is neat (and not too scary - this is important), the website is really well constructed and flows nicely, and the story has this awesome juxtaposition of myth and reality which I enjoy.
But as I begin to try and piece together even the broadest sense of the game plot, I am rapidly overwhelmed by screeds of forums posts, podcasts, file downloads, videos and more. This is where the non-gamer gets off the ride please - content overload!
While I am trying diligently to learn more about this elusive 'lost ring' - and moreover what I am even supposed to be doing to 'play' the game - I realise that my half hour has quickly evaporated and I am not even through what could be deemed 'level one'. And before I've even had a chance to get there, some wise guy on the other side of the world just found chapter 10. Sheesh.
I vow to return to the six browser tabs I now have open at a more convenient time and try even harder, but alas, today I close them all faced with the sheer terror of how much content must have accrued during my absence.
I did, however, manage to see New Zealand's effort at playing 'the lost sport' here. Nice.
