TOPIC: True Spies?

Did anybody else notice this in the GenCon Update for SoCal? Seems TD has inspired quite a few events. Wonder if this is part of why there was issues for space at socal this year?<br /><br />Guardian 6<br /><br /> <br /><br />We’re excited to announce a new game – Guardian 6, Gen Con’s addition to the Espionage Game! In Guardian 6 you’ll be playing an agent who is protecting the world from enemy agents while using their puzzle solving abilities, negotiating ability and cool spy equipment. This year at So Cal we’re asking for your help. We want to premiere the full blown event at Gen Con Indy 2007 and need you to “play test” the game. Don’t worry – we have missions for you to accomplish and more than enough challenges for you to handle – We just need you to help us play test it in a “real” environment! Each participant will get a free mission coupon to redeem at Gen Con So Cal 2007 when we bring the completed Guardian 6 to the convention center! Come to the Marriott Marquis Ballroom Northeast and check it out!<br /><br />

Sounds like some fun...and it is close to us!  I am going to try and play if I get the chance.

So did anyone try this event?

I walked by the room it was being done in - I passed it up.  What it looked like was people would walk in sign up get a mission pack of papers and then head out into the world to try and accomplish things???<br /><br />Now sure - I too am hoping someone will post what it was all about...<br /><br />G

I spoke with the organizer about it and was all set to play but Lee and Heidi needed me to help out an under-manned group of WotC Reps (our sponsor).<br /><br />It seemed pretty cool.  The three challenges I remember were <br />1) You sat at a casino style table playing blackjack I believe.  Once you win a certain amount, the dealer gives you some info/clue<br />2) There was a code you needed to break with your team which gave you a clue to something<br />3) You were given the location of a package(?) and used a locator which beeped as you got close to it.  But there is a sniper who is firing on you so you have to get to it without getting hit.  Stoping the sniper was another mission I believe.<br /><br />Sorry I don't have more info.  It seemed cool and definitely something worth looking into in the future.

It was a very cool event; sort of live action spy game.  I don't want to give too much away; but it is intended to be a much larger event at Indy; with various spy "missions" to complete; with poker chip tokens used to signify special spy skills you have; missions invloved meeting up with secret contacts in various parts of the hotel to get assignments; there were puzzles requiring manual dexterity as well as "thinking" puzzles.  Most everyone I talked to about it who ran through it (and that was a lot) seemed pretty excited about the concept, and was looking forward to trying it in an expanded version at Indy.  One interesting thing I noticed was that some people roleplayed it heavily, and some people just focused more on completing the missions and figuring out the puzzles.  One nice thing I thought was that, at least in this version, you could work in teams; and therefore, you could split up tasks, or all work together on one task, whichever you thought would work best.

<br />It was a very cool event; sort of live action spy game.  I don't want to give too much away; but it is intended to be a much larger event at Indy; with various spy "missions" to complete; with poker chip tokens used to signify special spy skills you have; missions invloved meeting up with secret contacts in various parts of the hotel to get assignments; there were puzzles requiring manual dexterity as well as "thinking" puzzles.  Most everyone I talked to about it who ran through it (and that was a lot) seemed pretty excited about the concept, and was looking forward to trying it in an expanded version at Indy.  One interesting thing I noticed was that some people roleplayed it heavily, and some people just focused more on completing the missions and figuring out the puzzles.  One nice thing I thought was that, at least in this version, you could work in teams; and therefore, you could split up tasks, or all work together on one task, whichever you thought would work best.<br />

<br /><br />Actually, please, I'd like for you to give a way as much detail as possible... if the others wouldn't mind that is. I'm very curious on the design and mechanics.

Hmm, well, I can tell you that Mike Selinker is heavily involved with it, which is pretty impressive.  They're also planning on setting up a website for it as well.  Essentially, you solve puzzles, find clues; for instance, in this alpha test at SoCal, you had to do such things as win a certain virtual amount at blackjack to get a clue; enter a hot zone (in which you were exposed to sniper fire) to deactivate a device; and solve several cypher puzzles. For this alpha test, you were I suppose an apprentice spy being tested to see if you were worthy of becoming an actual spy with the opganization.<br /><br />I don't know what all they're going to do for Indy, but I know there's a lot of talk of making it span several days instead of several hours, with missions able to be done during various windows of time, and spanning the whole area of the Con and beyond.  I'm expecting great things from it.

<br />Hmm, well, I can tell you that Mike Selinker is heavily involved with it, which is pretty impressive.  They're also planning on setting up a website for it as well.  Essentially, you solve puzzles, find clues; for instance, in this alpha test at SoCal, you had to do such things as win a certain virtual amount at blackjack to get a clue; enter a hot zone (in which you were exposed to sniper fire) to deactivate a device; and solve several cypher puzzles. For this alpha test, you were I suppose an apprentice spy being tested to see if you were worthy of becoming an actual spy with the opganization.<br /><br />I don't know what all they're going to do for Indy, but I know there's a lot of talk of making it span several days instead of several hours, with missions able to be done during various windows of time, and spanning the whole area of the Con and beyond.  I'm expecting great things from it.<br />

<br /><br />So, for example, how did the sniper fire work?

There may have been laser tag equipment involved.  But honestly, there's no telling what sort of challenges may be involved at Indy.

I have known Mike for over 20 years, and he is a very smart guy.  He is a PROFESSIONAL game designer while I am just an amateur dorking around.  I think he is going to take this whole "true" idea and really run with it.  I expect his event to do extremely well -- which makes me a little protective to be honest.  But hey, that is kind of silly of me.  I wish him well -- and I hope I have the time to play his event at Indy.  It sounds like fun.  <br /><br /><br />Yours truly,<br /><br />Jeff "Arneson" Martin<br /><br />

<br />He is a PROFESSIONAL game designer while I am just an amateur dorking around. 

<br /><br />Jeff,  you need to give yourself more credit!  You have created something very special for gamers and breathed life into dream for many of us.  Also, any business school will tell you that its not who you are but who you surround yourself with thats important and I think you have done an excellent job of gathering very talented and dedicated people.  <br /><br />Thank you again Jeff for everything!