Searching For Caches With Interactive Fiction Backstories

[+Team Maccabee]

I'm looking for well-done examples of mystery or multi-caches that have a running backstory that the cacher interacts with, i.e. the cacher plays a role in the story itself. I'm working on a series of caches where the cacher is an investigative reporter pursuing a mystery, using a variety of investigative techniques. The waypoints to the caches are different locations where he or she gathers evidence and information for use later in the cache series.

 

I know others have done similar caches, but where are they?

 

I've found a few local examples, including the two Mission Impossible caches by Seth!

Mission: Impossible — Flight to Cachistan

Mission: Impossible—Deep Undercover

 

But I want to find some more, to see what cache hiders have done before. Can anyone help me out?

 

Team Maccabee

[The Legend of Fena Dweller]

These caches play off a couple from your state that you may have encountered. Not as interactive as the MI series you reference but fun! I will leave the well done judgement up to you.

 

A Legend is Born

 

Victim of Love

[+WizCreations]

This one was really fun, or at least I thought so:

Sherlock Holmes: Case of the Dancing Men

 

I'm not sure if this is the type you're looking for, but just in case:

Spy Kids - Mission #1...Decryption

Spy Kids - Mission #2...Navigation

Spy Kids - Mission #3 - Surveillance

Spy Kids - Mission #4...Forensics

[+Team Maccabee]

Thanks! The Spykids ones, esp., are something like what I want to do. Any more out there?

 

Team Maccabee

[+the hermit crabs]

Smith's Chase

Smith's Identity

Smith's Bounty

 

"Bond. James Bond."

In the Tentacles of the Alien

[Jeremy]

This would make a great bookmark list (hint hint)

[+RoyalRed]

I believe there is one on Philadelphia called National Treasure,

[+mb3]

I was going to say Zol zayn mit mazel but I don't know whether the story is fiction.

[+Evil Chicken]

This was a fun one - sad to see it go:

 

Murder Mystery

[+Team Maccabee]

I was going to say Zol zayn mit mazel but I don't know whether the story is fiction.

Ok, being Jewish, that one wierded me out a bit, but that's similar to the style I'm looking for. I am looking for caches designed as puzzles, mysteries or multi-caches that are written in the second-person, where each cacher becomes part of the storyline and may have some control over the storyline. The following series of books illustrates it pretty simply: Choose Your Own Adventure. A more modern version may include some types of Hypertext Fiction. I'm not looking for examples of "Interactive Fiction" aka text adventure games.

 

Smith's Chase

Smith's Identity

Smith's Bounty

"Bond. James Bond."

In the Tentacles of the Alien

The Detective Smith series are all good examples of what I'm looking for, as well as the Bond one. The Tentacles of the Alien is written in the same way, but not quite what I'm looking for. The Murder Mystery Cache or Clue/Cloo-like game is not really what I'm writing or looking for.

 

Sorry to be so vague earlier, everyone.

 

Yes, Jeremy, I will make a public bookmark of this and post it later.

 

Team Maccabee

 

edited to include comments on caches

Edited April 15, 2006 by Team Maccabee

[+Team Maccabee]

Ok, here is the bookmark link to the Interactive Fiction Caches so far. I'm refining this as I go, though, so I may make some changes in it.

 

Please post any other examples in this thread. Thanks!

 

Team Maccabee

[+the hermit crabs]

I am looking for caches designed as puzzles, mysteries or multi-caches that are written in the second-person, where each cacher becomes part of the storyline and may have some control over the storyline. The following series of books illustrates it pretty simply: Choose Your Own Adventure.

How about this one: Choose Your Own Adventure: Maple Park

 

There are multiple waypoints, with more than one path to the final; which path you take depends on the choices you make in the interactive story at each waypoint.

Edited April 16, 2006 by the hermit crabs

[+Team Maccabee]

I am looking for caches designed as puzzles, mysteries or multi-caches that are written in the second-person, where each cacher becomes part of the storyline and may have some control over the storyline. The following series of books illustrates it pretty simply: Choose Your Own Adventure.

How about this one: Choose Your Own Adventure: Maple Park

 

There are multiple waypoints, with more than one path to the final; which path you take depends on the choices you make in the interactive story at each waypoint.

 

That's exactly what I'm looking for and I'm trying to make one that will be similar in style, although probably more complex. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

Team Maccabee

[+Team Maccabee]

Here's a question for you all (and Jeremy, since you suggested it):

 

I have this public bookmark of Interactive Fiction Caches with about 20 caches listed so far. Now, other than for my own research, what can I do with it? How do I best share it with geocaching folk that may be interested in it?

 

Team Maccabee

[+mb3]

These caches are all based on the superfriends.

• Read the message
  
• SW meets SE
  
• The answer
  

[markandlynn]

I once considered setting a cache where you had to solve a piece of IF have a look at www.wurb.com or www.ifarchive.org for examples.

I got a basic story with puzzles set down but when compared to spider and the web it was pretty rubbish.

 

They are a lot of fun and make a great alternative to books on your handheld palm or pocket pc.

[+Half-Canadian]

I am looking for caches designed as puzzles, mysteries or multi-caches that are written in the second-person, where each cacher becomes part of the storyline and may have some control over the storyline. The following series of books illustrates it pretty simply: Choose Your Own Adventure.

How about this one: Choose Your Own Adventure: Maple Park

 

There are multiple waypoints, with more than one path to the final; which path you take depends on the choices you make in the interactive story at each waypoint.

 

That's exactly what I'm looking for and I'm trying to make one that will be similar in style, although probably more complex. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

Team Maccabee

 

Here's one in the Vancouver BC area that's similar to what you're looking for --

Choose Your Own Cache Adventure. It's a multi that also has 3 loggable dead-ends along the way. I've finished all but two of the locations, which took me most of a day to complete. It was fun, just haven't had a chance to get back and finish it up.

[+nfa]

The Adirondack Murder Mystery

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...6d-5bc9c204ad53

 

A multi-cache with a...wait for it...murder mystery theme...

 

Jamie - NFA

[+Team Maccabee]

After doing some more searching, I now have 22 caches in the Interactive Fiction Caches Bookmark, a few of which are archived. Any more to add, especially from cache-hiders known for taking their cachers on adventures?

 

Team Maccabee

[+KennyHannahJacobKatie]

Some of the best in our area are put out by Geowomyn. She's done several series with original story lines where the cacher moves along with the story. Check this one out ... I think it's an example of what you are looking for.

 

Mayan Silver

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...33-8991fb2d55b7

 

(This page is the introduction, each cache is linked to the next and tells a chapter of Isabelle de Corazon Teresa's story.)

Edited April 20, 2006 by KennyHannahJacob

[+Team Teuton]

Here is one of mine that may fit the bill...

 

Famous Neighbors.

[+Mystery Ink]

Counterfeit is another great one that requires you to track down a cd and play a Investigator game that he made.

 

Operation Futari is also another great one both done by the rat.

Edited April 20, 2006 by Mystery Ink

[+Team Maccabee]

Thanks for the suggestions... maybe we should start a cachewriter's club (or maybe Jeremy's Cache Club, resembling Oprah's)?

 

Team Maccabee

[+Mudfrog]

I don't think this is exactly what you're looking for but it was one of the most fun caches that we have come across. You actually download the game (a roleplaying type game) and have to work your way through it to get your coordinates.

 

The Adventures of 1Geocacher

 

Usmorrows, two of the best Houston geocachers you'll ever meet, wrote this one. The storyline actually has a couple or three other well known local cachers (no names mentioned but if you know em you will recognize them) in the game too. This one's fun to play even if you don't live in Texas!

Edited April 20, 2006 by Mudfrog

[+TeamMonroes]

I'm looking for a couple people to beta test my new interactive fiction geocaching puzzle(s).

 

Basically, the people who will be playing the game (cachers) are trying to find 5 physical caches hidden in various locations around central Ohio. The GPS coordinates are revealed to them by solving the 5 major puzzles in the game. So far, so good, but there is a twist. In order to solve the 5th puzzle in the game, they need to have solved the other 4 puzzles and then found the 4 corresponding physical caches in "real life" Inside each container, they will receive a clue. When they have collected all four clues, they will return to the game where they will be able to solve the 5th puzzle. When they do, they will finally get the coordinates to the 5th cache.

 

You don't have to live in Ohio to play the game; there is a "game mode" that will allow you to get the clues you need to solve the 5th puzzle.

 

Let me know if anyone is interested.

 

Thanks,

Dan

[+TeamMonroes]

I'm looking for well-done examples of mystery or multi-caches that have a running backstory that the cacher interacts with, i.e. the cacher plays a role in the story itself. I'm working on a series of caches where the cacher is an investigative reporter pursuing a mystery, using a variety of investigative techniques. The waypoints to the caches are different locations where he or she gathers evidence and information for use later in the cache series.

 

I know others have done similar caches, but where are they?

 

But I want to find some more, to see what cache hiders have done before. Can anyone help me out?

 

Team Maccabee

 

My new puzzle series, GeoQuest, has just been published that is entirely interactive fiction.

 

Here is a link to the first cache in the series:

 

Zany Squirrel - GeoQuest, Chapter 1

 

Since you are probably not in central Ohio, you can still play the game. All you have to do is to enter the command "switch mode" to switch into "Game mode."

 

Sonny and Sandy from podcacher.com talked about it briefly in their show #235

 

Enjoy!

--Dan

[+Okiebryan]

A local cacher hid this one in 2007. It's a very good example of what the OP is looking for, if he's still paying attention to this thread after 3 years. The cache is complete with props and everything.

 

CSI - Case of the Legless Girl