Oil Shock Alternate Reality thingy
By: Christopher Kelty“World Without Oil” is an alternative reality game–not a video game or a “world” but more like a cross between a writing contest and a role-playing game. It asks participants to imagine what an oil shock would look like, and what living without oil will do to their lives, in real time, as the “oil shock” scenario unfolds. Thus it shares something with the scenario stylings of our vital systems friends, but one that is going directly to the people–albeit probably to preteens, hipster bloggers and youtube users first. What makes it so interesting is that it is actually very technically thin: just a web site where you submit links to content you create on your website, blog, video or by telephone. The site “masters” grade the content and choose the winners–presumably with the aim ofcollecting a set of scenarios that might otherwise be difficult to generate. I’m skeptical that this particular game will get interesting, but the real issue is that it is pure genius. I’m sure there will be others…
DHS, please take note.
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Thinking through the relationship between massively interactive imagination of futures and scenarios created by experts would be a rather fascinating exercise.