Behold, the fourth wall is no more!
Today saw the official end of Para Not-So-Normal. However, I had a perfectly good Blogger account, so I figured, what the hell. I may as well go ahead and make an OOC blog for myself. I think I'll waste the first post with a Word of God fact sheet on Para (and why the finale was so fucking forced, and why I opted for an open end).
1) Isabel's Black Lagoon moments:
Okay, this was a moment where I kinda faceplanted and the situation snowballed WAY out of my control. Before the 23rd, I had planned on revealing Fizzy's posting style and no-fear badassery as a mask she wore to keep from locking up with fear. Then the 23rd happened and it kept snowballing until Zero's "Real" post, which opened a window that I leapt out of with a running start.
So, yeah. It was a crazy situation that got crazier and by the time I pulled the reins, well, my immersion was shattered by my own blog. That's when I decided to pull it to a close.
2) Nessa:
This is one of those times when Coincidence A + Coincidence B = Holy shit that worked out well. Nessa showed up at Fizzy's place, so Fizz captured her (the day after, I posted the "New Approach" entry that I'd wanted to put up there since before things got out of hand). I learned my lesson from the 23rd--I worked closely with Nessa's player discussing every step of Nessa's "recovery" and death. Originally, we had opted for a more idealistic ending where Nessa recovered enough to go on the run, and we would have ended it with the two hand in hand and preparing to spend however long they needed continuing to evade Slender Man. However, as we talked, we both agreed that while that would be a heartwarming ending, well, it wasn't feasible for the mythos the ARG had taken place in. If it were something else, like Friday the 13th, that could have worked, but with Slender Man, well, we had to opt for some manner of downer ending. So we continued talking, and came up with the idea that Nessa didn't have to get any better, and instead, could relapse and commit suicide-by-friend as a last form of defiance against Slender Man. So we went with that. The original plan for THAT ending was for Fizzy to commit suicide, but I again opted for an open ending because that felt like it would have the most impact and suicide wasn't quite in-character for Fizzy, even broken-hearted as she was.
3) The Ending:
Was horribly rushed. I'll be honest here, the ARG wasn't fun anymore. I loved the interactions with the people, but the character I had developed wasn't fun, even after I finally got her back on track and out of Revy-land. So I spoke with Nessa's player, and we began discussions about above mentioned means of ending my portion of the ARG. I had originally meant for this to be an exercise, to see how bravado and idealism could stand up against a cosmic horror, and I failed horribly on my end, and the ARG as a whole suffered all the more because it took so long for me to get Para Not-So-Normal back under control. So, I wish everybody all the best, and I hope at least some of them will leave comments here and/or keep in touch so we can keep talking even though my role in the ARG has seen its conclusion.
Be excellent to one another!
Sup Fizz.
ReplyDeleteJeff Here.
Nice job on the end. I cried.
Now I can finally break character.
Sad sack Jeff is gone now.
So, Two Hands, ready for more of our lovely little chats?
-Jeff
Realness
I was actually half way through before I read the update.
ReplyDeleteAfter that, I couldn't finish.
I'd really cry if I did.
Also, not going to lie. The Jeff who created the blog was actually me as well. Thought it was all real. 'Til Nessa's creator contacted me and told me about it.
God she's a really good writer.
Then after I quit, I started making in character comments to people.
I kinda hit the Nessa death mark a little late. But it was so good.
-Jeff
PS:
What was your take on the latest Nintendo titles?
Epic Mickey?
Honestly, what were they thinking?
ARG Stuff: She is, isn't she? She's the one who pitched the idea that Nessa could commit suicide by triggering Fizzy's survival instincts.
ReplyDeleteEpic Mickey: I think it would've been better if they actually gave him a paint-coated sword and a suit of armor or something, gone a little more fantasy. But the idea is actually really cool, it made me nostalgia hard for a charming little platformer on the Sega Genesis I played when I was younger called Mickey Mania. General concept was there--Micky's chasing someone through multiple worlds, all of them housed in his past adventures starting with Steamboat Willy. I never made it past the "Run the hell away from that big-ass moose" stage because I'm terrible at platformers, and the camera-panning-away-from-you level design in general.
Other recent Nintendo titles: I'm actually really awful about keeping up with most console games lately, Nintendo in particular. Goldeneye, well, it's Goldeneye, I can't be that angry about them polishing it up. The new Donkey Kong looks like a fun callback to SNES's Donkey Kong series. Yarn Kirby or whatever is, well, definitely something. Wasn't my bag of chips when I played the demo at Gamestop, though.
ReplyDeleteAll the Genesis makes me remember is Sonic 2. Good times.
ReplyDeleteAnd Donkey Kong. Hated the sea levels though.
Kirby's Epic Yarn? Yeah, me either.
I preferred a call back with Super Star Ultra.
Never was that good at GoldenEye.
I was always better at campaign levels. Multiplayer...
I was the guy who died first.
Which reminds me, should I kill off Jeff?
He was kind of the happy go lucky, go to guy.
Killing him would seem kind of cruel though.
Coming back with a new resolve only to find the girl that he wished to protect is dead.
Seems heartbreaking.
I also want to kind of continue his line of bravery, but killing him seems easier.
-Jeff
Why not let him stay off the grid? Killing someone off bars an opportunity to, say, randomly post in the future on someone's blog cheering them on and vanishing into the night. You'd be like a 2e thief, only instead of 3d6 backstabs you're giving out hope.
ReplyDeleteThe Genesis and I have a strange, love-hate relationship. Sonic 2, 3, and Knuckles? Fun times. Jurassic Park, and the non-canon sequel where you return? Well, okay, that second one was AWESOME if you played as a Raptor because that thing was god. Playing as Alan Grant was a pain in the ass, though. Mostly because none of the GOOD ammo was anywhere. I always got shotgun ammo and by the time you get close enough for it to make a dent you could've dropped the dino with a machine gun.
That's kind of what I'm doing now. But remember. Jeff loved Nessa.
ReplyDeleteHe was really devoted to her.
Her death would and did pretty much make the guy want to kill himself.
Poor little fellow.
You read Para's last Jeff comment right?
He doesn't blame Fizz, but it leaves him open to do something.
I'd say either come back or commit suicide.
-Jeff
He could come back and devote himself to spreading hope rather than trying to directly fight Slim, sort of learn from the both of them and combine their best efforts.
ReplyDeleteI was kind of leaning toward that in the beginning. But remember, any interaction in that world could mean danger for everyone involved and uninvolved.
ReplyDeleteJeff left to save his family.
However, that is a good idea.
Well, food for thought, at any rate!
ReplyDeleteUgh. 9:30 pm. Come midnight, gotta hit the hay so I can get up at 7 am and prepare for work @_@ The gal behind everyone's favorite paranormal investigator is, in fact, a teacher. Ph34r it.
Oh my god you influence kids!
ReplyDeleteReally cool.
As for me, High Schooler.
Oh life, putting people in odd positions.
Oh Christ, I influence impressionable minds. The next generation is gonna be a doozy when it hits high school. ;D
ReplyDeleteReally? Wow. Never would've guessed!
Yay, I seem old to a teacher.
ReplyDeleteOh well, have fun Ms. Fizz.
Lol, I had to say it.
-Jeff
That makes me sound like the nutty teacher from Magic School Bus. XD
ReplyDeleteBut in a good way!
ReplyDeleteIf I had a school bus as pimped-out as hers, I wouldn't give a damn about my job either :P
ReplyDeleteOne last thing Fizz.
ReplyDeleteHow close are you to your character?
Nessa was a pretty different person compared to her creator.
Fizz was confident, badass, a survivalist, very social, and before Nessa died had it together.
ReplyDeleteI'm an emotional and psychological wreck with manic depression and social avoidance disorder. You do the math. XD
I meant the whole playing for the other team thing.
ReplyDeleteBut that was a pretty good analysis and explanation.
Ohh. Yeah, that's pretty much spot on. I play for the other team. XD
ReplyDeleteMs. Fizz, you make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteThank god we both frequent the same blog space.
I look forward to our next chat.
By the way, I think you're 23-24.
Considering you drink, and that a teacher starts at 22.
Oh, and do you have a gmail account? Chat time with Nessa and me.
ReplyDeleteSweet Jumping Jehovah, you're spot on. I'm 22.
ReplyDeleteAlso, no I don't. I should put one up!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes you should.
ReplyDeleteI'll add it once I see it.
It wants a mobile phone number. <_> I don't have a cell.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's you and Nessa.
ReplyDeleteOdd. I wonder how she got hers.
Is it a required field?
You can just use a friend's number.
I'll bug my friend about it when I get home from work tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWow, a school teacher.
ReplyDeleteElementary I assume?
Must be tough.
Especially if I'm wrong and you teach middle schoolers.
Then it's hell in a handbasket.
Also, following your advice. Jeff's back.
ReplyDeleteSpreading the hope.
Thanks Ms. Fizzle.
Ha, now you're like her.
Hehe~
ReplyDeleteAlso, I help teach special education for grades K-2.
Aww, you guys, I'm flattered.
ReplyDeleteYou really think I'm that different from my character? :S
I think she's pretty similar to my online personality.
I do wish I would have been able to do more motivational artwork. Though I suppose I'll settle for leaving demotivational paintings and such outside Zero's house. XD
Send him a horse head. It worked in the Godfather! <3
ReplyDelete