Live Action Role-Play has been a staple of nerdery for many years. Interactive fiction, freeform and live RP are all different names for LARP, and LARP is unlike tabletop RPGs (the grandfather of a great many PS3 RPGs) in that the character is played not only verbally but physically too (and usually with little or no dice rolling). Players will usually try and look as they think their characters would with the aid of various outfits and props, also responding to events as they believe their character would (a bit like improv theatre). Some people also see historical re-enactments and similar as a kind of LARP.
LARPs are usually run by a group of organisers most commonly known as either refs (as in referees) or GMs (game masters, as in tabletop games such as D&D), generally aided by an additional crew if the LARP requires it. Campaigns, the general name applied to LARP settings, can take place way back in the past or many years in the future (although these are somewhat more difficult to illustrate than the present; virtual reality platforms with quality akin to the Xbox 360 are not quite ours yet). Perhaps the oldest known LARP organisation is Dagorhir, an organisation present in the US, Canada and England that was founded in 1977. The year before, following the release of the film Logan's Run, basic games encompassing elements from LARP were run at various US sci fi conventions.
Why is LARPing done? To put it simply, LARP is pretty fun. Wish fulfilment takes many forms, from scheming against your friends with elaborate political plots to hitting them senseless with harmless foam swords. But can you ever LARP too much? "Normal" people can be scared or confused by LARP if it occurs in public places, while minor injuries can occur if safety measures aren't adhered to.
If running around doing any of the above isn't for you, try a Playstation 3 game instead. For those of you that prefer doing such silly (yet fun) things, go and have a LARP!
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