Watching The Watchers

Even before Sergei Lukyanenko’s films hit the big screen, fans of his Watch books were getting together – in the virtual world.

Web sites sprouted where Others could seek one another out. And hunt each other. 

Some 20,000 people take part in the online and cellphone, text-messaging-based (SMS) role-playing game (dozorsms.ru). Registration is free and one develops and equips an alter-ego by battling opponents successfully or by using real money to purchase accoutrements like a virtual home. Players split into Darks and Lights and there is even the Inquisition – an arbitration body of six people (who happen to work in construction marketing in real life) that resolves disputes between the two sides.