Picture the Impossible
In 2009, the Rochester Institute of Technology's Lab for Social Computing partnered with the local newspaper to build an ARG targeted at bringing people back into the city, teaching them about local history, and giving back to local charities. The resulting game, Picture the Impossible, incorporated casual online games, newspaper puzzles, and location-based activities. Built on a budget of under $50,000, the game attracted thousands of players and has been honored by the Associated Press Managing Editors, the Game Developers Conference, and others.