Alternate Reality Games:

Composition, Collaboration, and Real Community Play

• Abstract
• Introduction
• World Without Oil
• Composition
• Collaboration
• Community Play
• Writing Prompts
• ARG Resources
• References
• Acknowledgements
• About the Author
• 

"Puppetmasters"

Often equated with the idea of the “Dungeon Master” in tabletop role-playing games, the term “Puppet Master” (or “PM”) is one that requires some explanation because the term itself implies something more than just “author,” “designer,” or “architect,” although the role encompasses all three of these things.

The rols of an alternate reality game PM and classroom instructor are more similar thanwe might think at first. The role of the teacher in managing educational simulations and the multiple roles of the PM make them more like facilitators—managing the parameters of the narrative from behind the scenes, releasing information, timing puzzles, and monitoring the player forums for potential factors that will effect the unfolding of the narrative. 

J. James Bono, University of Pittsburgh