Date: june 2008
Location: Beirut, Lebanon
Watch a video documentation of the game on youtube.com
View or download a digital copy of the 'Fi Beirut' Newspaper (PDF, 2MB)
About the game
“Fi” (arabic for “in”) is an urban game taking place in the different streets of a city. The intention was to have a game happening every month in a different city in Lebanon. Launched through an anonymous newspaper, fi is an urban alternate reality game that later requires your existence on the street. The game is a treasure hunt where 4 riddles must be solved and filled in the chart on the back of the newspaper, that will form the 5th and final riddle. fi introduces the player to different aspects of Lebanon and each time in a different city. For this first issue, the game is taking place in Beirut. The game indirectly displays the various aspects of Beirut by taking you to specific locations uncovering highly politicized areas, rich areas, developing areas , and nightlife areas.
How to Play
The game consists of 4 riddles that construct a 5th and final riddle.
Each riddle is formed of 3 parts:
a) Puzzle:
You must decipher the code or the message embedded in the text. After deciphering the code, you will have the location of this stage. You will need to be there on location in order to pursue solving the riddle.
b) Location:
When you are on location, the navigation text will help you locate your destination with the aid of a compass. What the text does is situate where you should be standing using descriptions of what you can see, hear, or smell around you. When you are in the right position, you will know what to do. After solving the riddle, fill the answer in the sheet on the back of the newspaper.
c) Things you can see:
Three pictures help you locate yourself by revealing things you can see from where you stand.
To play this game you will need:
- A Compass
- A Map
- A camera (optional)
