In the March 28th episode of the official LOST podcast, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse made references to a new online "mystery" endeavor that would include an updated Hanso Foundation site. Well, word is starting to leak out that there may be a LOST "alternate reality game" launching soon. According to someone who bills themselves as an ABC insider:
"ABC, Channel 4 Television in the U.K, and Australia Channel 7 will launch the “Lost Experience,” a revolutionary interactive experience based on the international hit television series, “Lost”. Working together, more than 30 broadcasters from Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Middle East will release clues with new information regarding the mystery and mythology of the island featured in the series. Fans looking to solve the puzzle will find audio, video, and text clues in locations around the world, along with an online community in which to connect and collaborate with others. Just like any other good mystery, clues can and will happen anywhere at anytime across multiple platforms."
Is this the same thing Cuse and Lindelof were talking about? There's already speculation, or at least hope, that the same minds behind A.I.'s "The Beast", and the Halo 2 "ilovebees" alternate reality games might be bringing this "LOST Experience" to life. In fact, the "cloudmakers" are already talking about forming again to take on this new game.
Of course, as a podcast focused on the mysteries, speculation and theories surrounding the show, LOSTCasts will be knee deep in this when it launches... if it launches. And we hope it does.
I know absolutely nothing about alternate reality games, but if LOST launches one... I'm all in. (That is, with the help of you guys and everyone else that posts on this site!) I know I'm definately keeping my fingers crossed in hopes that this rumor turns out to be true!
Posted by: Courtney | April 19, 2006 at 04:10 PM
I've been trying out an ARG called Perplexcity, a card based game where you solve logic puzzles and put pieces together to form maps/clues etc. While it has a large online element, I'm guessing the card-based side of it will not be part of the Lost ARG. But the cross-over of reality and fiction is intrigueing.
I was just the other day thinking of how you could turn Lost into an ARG both on- and off-line, and was remembering one Perplexcity gimmick in particular - a number of clues/hints being discussed in an online forum led to a group of Perplexcity players meeting up in Manchester, England, to find a clue. While they weren't 100% accurate, apparently a plane was flying overhead at a specific time in the city centre, trailing a banner with a further clue/revelation. (I'm sorry I can't be more accurate, it was a few montsh ago that I read this). Given the worldwide popularity of Lost, it could be possible to do these sorts of offline stunts simultaneously in major cities, especially if the ARG does not relate directly to the episode that is being shown in your country. (The popularity of Lost in the UK has forced Season 2 to be brought forward, but to be honest, the number of downloaders is phenomenal worldwide anyway....)
I'm not sure what directions it would take offline, but I'm guessing Dharma/Widmore signs/symbols, Oceanic planes?
What does everyone think about this - should Lost stay as a TV show with lots of discussion? Will an ARG make the show less 'real'?
Personally I can't wait for a Lost ARG, plenty of clues, parallel thinking etc. Keep watching the skies. You never know, you might just see a smiley-face balloon or a Widmore crane overhead.....
Posted by: Tom T | April 19, 2006 at 05:51 PM
I've done a little bit of reading about AR Gaming, and it's an interesting concept. On the plus side, at least it would give us something else to do in between seasons. I'm all for it!
Posted by: Taco Fish | April 19, 2006 at 06:12 PM
If the cloudmakers are gearing up for this then this is definitely going to be amazing. A.I's webgame was really complex and revolutionary, its such an awesome concept and a great use of multimedia marketing. The Matrix had one too, which kept obsessive fans busy for months. The novel The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks had a cool one going as well. I think Lost will beat all previous webgames, it will truly reach Perplex City porportions, I cant wait.
I've always felt, ever since the first season, that the writers would try to bring us viewers into the world of Lost, I'm glad my feeling paid off!
Posted by: Cihan | April 20, 2006 at 09:11 AM
Perfect! Something to occupy the Lost part of our brains during the break between season 2 and 3. I reckon this is what they mentioned on the official podcast, which means the content within will be canon with regards to the mythology of the show. Praise be.
Posted by: Henpecker | April 20, 2006 at 09:33 AM
could you guys either post or reference a list of books you've discussed in the show from LOST? I'm making my summer reading list & you've mentioned some great ones... (you can skip the Judy Blume one though)
Posted by: Scott | April 20, 2006 at 01:35 PM
Where's the love for Judy Blume???? We'll definitely start cobbling this together.
In the meantime, here's a good list... probably more books than we really need to pay attention to:
http://www.losthatch.com/books.aspx
Posted by: John | April 20, 2006 at 03:55 PM
Bit wierd that Channel 4 (One of the National commerical free-air channels in the UK) getting invloved in this - Season 2 has not even started to air here in the UK (not until june! - S2 will be finished in USA by then! - and S3 will start when S2 is still on in the UK!)
Saying this - Channel 4 did have a good website for S1 (www.channel4.com/lost)
fingers crossed though!
Posted by: matt beale | April 20, 2006 at 05:26 PM
I'm sorry, as much as I love Lost I don't feel like wrapping my brain around more mysteries than I have to. The show already requires so much mental effort, an AR game might cause my mind to implode. I'm not saying it wouldn't do well, I'm just dreading how this show will take over my life.
Posted by: Dan Goat | April 21, 2006 at 02:19 AM
The problem is, they may have us jumping through hoops for very, very inconsequential content. "Hey, I've just solved an elaborate logic puzzle using clues from around the world... and I've unlocked three-quarters of a new hatch logo! Woo! Go Lost!" etc.
Posted by: Henpecker | April 21, 2006 at 03:19 AM
I think that's the real problem, they can't leave too much of the mythology outside of the tv show otherwise it just won't make sense to those involved in the ARG.
btw. channel 4 starts showing Lost season 2 on tuesday 2nd may 10pm
Posted by: David | April 21, 2006 at 06:29 AM
Well I hope this works out to be something fun.
I will certainly do any sleuthing that is required from the Australian end in order to support 'team LOSTcasts'.
I sure hope TPTB don't put something out near Uluru - that place is a long, long way from, well, anywhere.
Posted by: Cameron | April 21, 2006 at 09:11 AM
Sounds cool, but I have to draw the line at an ARG. Podcasting about LOST is one thing. Immersing myself in a massive online gaming experience would mean that I have fully succumbed to the Geek Side.
Must fight it.
Too strong.
Can't...give...in...
Ah screw it. Sounds like fun. I'm in.
Posted by: Matt Jones | April 21, 2006 at 01:30 PM
where can I find lost pics of posssibly inportant stuff. I am a photoshop pro and could help inhance and stuff
Posted by: BG AKA ChuckNorris | April 21, 2006 at 03:44 PM
I agree with the henpecker... it's going to be a lot of immersion for little output, I'm afraid. Unless they get George Lucas in here to help create an expanded universe for LOST the way they did for Star Wars.
the pay off should be that the AR will give you dharma info/character backstory/island mystery stuff that you CAN'T get on the show...
Posted by: Scott | April 21, 2006 at 04:23 PM
One of the best places for LOST photos and stuff is http://www.lost-media.com.
Also, just surf the forums to get screencaps from viewers.
Posted by: John | April 21, 2006 at 05:10 PM
You guys play the game and give the rest of us the clues. I'm obsessive enough as it is. I've got my job to think of.
Posted by: jg | April 21, 2006 at 06:41 PM
sounds like fun....confusing frusterating fun that has you looking at every leaf you see asking yourself "is that a clue?" Well, as long as it's not to confusing (having to use a balck light to see it) then I'm in. Will these "clues" be in the U.S., or just Australia and Europe?
Sam
Posted by: sam | April 21, 2006 at 08:13 PM
http://spoilerfix.com/lost.php new spoilers for the season finale are posted
Posted by: howard | April 22, 2006 at 04:03 PM
have you guys seen this pic?? http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/3028/thedegroots4wk.jpg
Posted by: Jose | April 22, 2006 at 11:29 PM
I'm sorry, WHAT? Someone better call Batman.
Posted by: rubycalaber | April 23, 2006 at 12:50 AM
ok, so about this reality thing, you guys remember way back when a sent you guys an e-mail about him getting something in the mail from Dharma? Well, this may have been the start to the thing. Don't know if this is true, and probably never will, but still, could be.
Stay Lost,
Sam
Posted by: sam sugarman | April 23, 2006 at 11:38 PM
It seems to me like the AR game has already begun, considering the two letters on the hanso foundation website (life extension project, etc) and I predict more and more clues will simply become available as time passes - this should include the rest of the "access denied" areas of the HF website
(The Hanso Foundation Electromagnetic Research Initiative, Quest for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence, Mathematical Forecasting Initiative, Cryogenics Development Imperative, Juxtapositional Eugenics Development Institute, Accelerated Remote Viewing Training Facility, etc.)
It just seems that approach would be typical of the creators
Posted by: Dan Goat | April 25, 2006 at 03:03 AM