The first Conspiracy For Good event took place in London on Saturday, and we were there! Developed by Heroes creator Tim Kring and set up by Nokia, the multi-platform interactive story uses augmented reality technology to expose a fictional greedy corporation to promote positive change in the real world in this ambitious project. So how did we get on? Read on to find out how we got on with our Conspiracy For Good London Review...
Before embarking on our Conspiracy For Good adventure not even we knew quite what to expect. Our chat with CFG partner Mat Osman last month made sure we were prepared for anything.
We were told to suspend our sense of reality before taking part in this interactive game for good, to be part of the story and engage in the events as if we're actors taking part in a real-life melodrama. So we did.
Having taken part in the first CFG chapter we found those around us experienced it differently in some way or other. With that in mind we've broken down our first CFG experience as it went down with no spoilers. If you want to catch up on the explicit story details we recommended catching the video recaps on the Conspiracy For Good website.
Getting started
Once you get to ground zero it's time to pick up your CFG survival kit. Like other CFG members we were handed a drawstring shoulder bag with a number of orienteering essentials including a compass, binoculars, torch, maps and a waterproof poncho. You won't need all of them but some will come in handy, even the maps for when there's too many of you crowding around Ovi Maps if you need to search for the street for your next clue to progress. That said getting around the story isn't tricky, each of the story locations are very close to each other.
The most important piece of kit you'll be given is a trusty Nokia handset. Each member was given a Nokia X6. It was all set up with the Conspiracy For Good: DeadDrop augmented reality app that enables you to search for the clues you'll need to locate to uncover each step of the story.
Like Nokia Point & Find, DeadDrop works by scanning tagged items, objects and sites before using GPS to locate hidden information or in this case video drops. Video drops are what you'll get once you've found each clue leading onto the next part of the CFG story.
Chapter one
Our very first action was to greet Nadirah - fellow Conspiracy For Good member and the first fictional character we came across in the story. She's crossed many a mile to reach London before arriving by speedboat. After making her entrance she tells us to get to Monument tube station nearby, before being bundled into a car to avoid being spotted by the notorious Blackwell Briggs security team. Dramatic stuff.
Hunting down the clues
So on our way to Monument tube station we went. Halfway there we received a text message from Nadirah herself telling us there's some hidden information nearby - our only clue to finding it being a tribute to the Great Fire. We didn't need to be history buffs to know she meant The Great Fire of London. Luckily the stonking huge stone monument erected by the station was as obvious a clue as any. Pointing our Nokia X6 at it using the DeadDrop app revealed a hidden CFG movie. Each one plays out like a mini movie trailer you must watch and listen to in order to discover where to go and what to do next.
Thankfully at the end of each video a message is displayed in text form to prod you in the right direction. "Next drop: Blue plaque at St Magnus the Martyr Church" our first video message ended with. Once we got there the blue plaque was easy to find. It was at the church entrance! Pointing our X6 at it played an audio message this time around, followed by another clue as to where to go next.
It might sound intimidating to those without the street knowledge of a London taxi driver but fear not - you'll find loads of CFG logos and graffiti spray-painted on walls and objects across London letting you know you're on the right path. They're everywhere, from tube stations to walls and stairwells. Even on the Millennium Bridge, so pay attention to your surroundings. We ended up missing a couple before retracing our footsteps to get us on the correct path. Gazing at otherwise mundane objects amongst the general public unaware what you're up to is just part of the fun. Don't be surprised to find passers by asking why you're taking photos of the symbols.
The actors
Of course you're not the only character in CFG. A number of other characters take part too. Most notably the blackball Briggs security team. Dressed like nightclub bouncers they'll stop you if they spot you or you give away your involvement with CFG. Spotting the CFG logo on our bags two of the burly BB staff interrogated us as we crossed the Millennium Bridge asking who we were and what we were up to before brandishing a wanted poster with Nadirah's photo slapped across it. Thankfully we weren't kidnapped and bundled somewhere. Lucky escape.
Not everyone's a bad guy in the world of CFG. One disheveled bloke we bumped into in a dingy stairwell we thought was a beggar turned out to be on our side - springing into life as we walked by to tell us in dramatic fashion that we must succeed in our mission. "So this is like what it's like to be in a movie" we thought.
The dramatic finale
Once we'd found all the clues we we treated to a few refreshments. We thought it was all over for the day until we were herded up in a safehouse especially built for CFG. Locked away from the outside world. The lights went out and we found ourselves using our mobile phones for light, before grabbing the torch given to us earlier. Things soon culminated in a memorable climax when a SWAT team broke into our stronghold brandishing guns, shouting at us inches from our faces, pushing and manhandling us before instructing us to put our hands behind our heads in no uncertain terms as we were cleared out from our safe-house and sent on our way in forceful fashion. It's pretty full on, but it all adds to the authenticity.
First impressions
If Conspiracy For Good is to be a success it has to be both easy to take part in and fun. We're glad to report that is succeeded on both accounts so far. Any fears of the technology used to progress through the story not being able to read the tagged objects dotted around London didn't come to fruition. The DeadDrop app let us grab audio and visual clues in seconds, letting us enjoy the experience without fuss.
As long as you've got your walking shoes on (expect to walk a heck of a lot) exploring the nooks and crannies of London we wouldn't have otherwise ventured to turned into an enjoyable day out. From the actors to the videos to the signs dotted around London a lot of effort has clearly gone into creating the CFG experience. Immerse yourself in it and we're sure you'll enjoy yourself. We've already got high hopes for the next London event.
Did you take part in the first Conspiracy For Good London event? Will you be going to the next one? Let us know.
Check out our Conspiracy For Good event photo gallery:
