I made a phone based ARG where you call a real number and get recruited by an AI operator
Hey r/ARG, I'm the creator, so this is self promo. I'd love some first players and honest feedback.
The Switchboard is an ARG you play mostly by phone. You call (321) 419-1962, a character called the Operator interviews you, and if you pass you get a codename. You then log in with that codename at https://3214191962.com/?ref=reddit and go from there.
The story is about a fictional 1960s telephone exchange and an incident on Line 12 in 1962. Puzzles involve dialing hidden extensions during the call, old documents, audio clips, and a multiple YouTube channel and websites that tie into the story.
Details:
- It's free to play. No card, no account, no email.
- It uses a real US phone number, so normal call rates apply (international rates outside the US).
- The Operator and a couple of other characters are AI voice agents (ElevenLabs). I wrote the story, puzzles and characters, and used AI tools to help build it. If you ask the Operator whether she's an AI, she'll tell you.
- Your phone number is your login. The exchange may call you later with optional updates, but only if you agree (18+), and you can stop them anytime.
- Adults can pick a darker mode with some swearing. Nothing NSFW, and there's a clean mode for everyone else.
Please spoiler tag any solutions in the comments. Happy to answer questions about how it's built.