Abstract
This paper describes the design, development, and implementation of an alternate reality game (ARG) created by a small team of graduate students in the Digital Media program at the University of Central Florida. The paper specifically focuses on how social distancing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic hindered traditionally collaborative college campus environments and what techniques the team took to overcome those limitations in order to create a fun and engaging experience for players. The solution for overcoming those limitations included designing an ARG that promoted a sense of involvement by framing the game as a student-run organization for those interested to join. Through the utilization of engaging puzzle games, fictional narratives, and online platforms, the ARG known as the Fairy Investigation Club was a unique medium for collaboration and involvement in the face of a global pandemic.
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Faverio, D.L., Popescu, I.V., Mosher, M. (2021). Creativity and Collaboration During COVID-19: Creating an Alternate Reality Game in the Face of a Pandemic. In: Mitchell, A., Vosmeer, M. (eds) Interactive Storytelling. ICIDS 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 13138. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92300-6_32
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92300-6_32
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