Ingress

[sl1966]

Most of you won't have an interest in this, and that's perfectly fine. This is strictly for those who might be. The first link won't explain much if anything at all, but it's the official link. What follows is an unofficial link with a fairly decent explanation on what Ingress is about.

In short it's a game that combines elements of geocaching, capture the flag, and risk all in one. The entire planet is the game board.

http://www.ingress.com/

http://ingressfieldguide.com/


Requirements - Android smartphone & good walking shoes.

 

[Blue]

That's awesome.

 

[sl1966]

Oh and for any iPhone owners. I am saddened as well as reluctanct to report that a version of this game will be coming out for your platform in the near future. Sorry, but I'm a hardcore converted Android user.

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That being said. I've meet a lot of people who have lost a lot of weight and resumed healthier lifestyles because of this "game".

For me, it helped to reduce cholesterol levels but more improtantly make my walks in metro areas more entertaining. I'm not a fan of cities and/or crowds. I mean despite how outgoinging and personable I am.

 

[offroad]

Am an iPhone jailbroken fanatic. Anything android can do Iphone can do better. Jab poke jab.

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Grew up in Niantic. Find that reference funny in the video.

 

[sl1966]

LOL ... in all due fairness I did have one for about two years.

They announced last year that Ingress would be coming to iPhone in 2014. As of last week they started an internal beta from the hints they've been dropping.

 

[Patrick46]

I've played similiar games on my favorite motorcycle forum.

The regional and state TAG games are very popular, but there are several National TAG games underway which I've played, and a North American TAG Game I've had a chance to be a part of too. (the NAT has been from Belize, all the way up to The Artic Circle. It's hit 49 states, and nearly all the Canadian provinces.)

take a photo of your bike making a 'grab' shot, and post up pics of your new 'drop'. Basic information about the drop spot, and some GPS coordinates, and it's GAME ON!!! (Historical and places of interest are great TAG sites, and ride reports of long distance TAGs are great!)

 

[mockturtle]

Looks cool! Kind of the dark side of feng shui.

 

[sl1966]

GAME ON!!! (Historical and places of interest are great TAG sites, and ride reports of long distance TAGs are great!)

That means that TAG'rs and Ingress'rs are playing the game in most of the same spots, since historical places are also portals.

Portals in the game are effectively the flags. When the game began they initially seeded the portals using post offices, fire stations, jamba juice's, and zipcar locations (the latter two are sponsors). The player base is allowed to submit portals based on certain criteria. Places of interest like historical sites, fountains, public works of art (indoor or out), parks, memorials, decication plaques.

The competition is pretty fierce since it's two global teams playing against each other. It's crazy fun, but has the added benefit of me learning a lot more about any given place that I would have otherwise.

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Looks cool! Kind of the dark side of feng shui.

Pretty close! The backstory to the game (which is broadcast every Thursday on youtube) is supposed to be from an unbiased party. Since everything in the story has been cloak and dagger, no one really knows who the good or bad guy really is yet.

 

[sl1966]

Here's a great video that explains the game and what's transpired over it's first year out. John Hanke is basically one of the key creators of it, and put this together as one way to get his son out of the house instead of playing video games all day long.

[video=youtube]

 

[mockturtle]

Sounds fun and exciting but also costly and urban.

 

[sl1966]

Sounds fun and exciting but also costly and urban.

Yes, and no. Some people have addictive personalities and don't know when to stop. That's usually where it becomes costly, especially when players drive only. I prefer to walk when I play, but get a little game time in when running errands. I don't go out of my way since my truck is a guzzler. I did buy a bicycle which I use to play, but it wasn't purchased for that reason. I was looking at getting a scooter for market runs when full timing. The cost and lack of exercise is why I favored the bike instead.

It's not as urban as you think. When I was on my way to CA, I took my time because I was doing a lot of sightseeing. I stopped in Carlsbad, Roswell, Lincoln, Capitan, Ruidoso, Datil, VLA, Show Low, Payson, Camp Verde, Arco Santi, and Phoenix. I was able to play in all but three places in that list.

Just as an example. Slab City is in a fairly remote location, and Salvation Mountain is a portal.

 

[mockturtle]

Interesting.

 

[sl1966]

Interesting.

Even more so was in meeting some of the local players while playing at some of those towns. In a few instances I got a better tour/more info than I would have from reading handouts or plaques.

 

[offroad]

Okay so it's like geocaching. Except there are two teams. And you capture the flag (portal) for your team. Portals are exact locations mapped as some social-society-historical point.

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Then the game developers add in variations. A YouTube channel news show. A mobile item that has to be transported. Geocaching has all this but you play for yourself only.

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Also seeing elements of birding (aka bird watching and nature watching). Where you look for rare species in birding. This game has you looking for rare portals for your team.

 

[sl1966]

Okay so it's like geocaching. Except there are two teams. And you capture the flag (portal) for your team. Portals are exact locations mapped as some social-society-historical point.

Correct, correct, and also like the game Risk. In Ingress you can create fields by linking three portals together. This creates a captured territory.

Then the game developers add in variations. A YouTube channel news show. A mobile item that has to be transported. Geocaching has all this but you play for yourself only.

This game can be very social, but I've encountered many players who prefer to fly solo. Your teammates will reach out to you initially in the ingame chat window, but if you identify as solo player the teams respect that and will leave you be.

Also seeing elements of birding (aka bird watching and nature watching). Where you look for rare species in birding. This game has you looking for rare portals for your team.

Kind of yeah. If you found a piece of public art, historic site, park, etc which was not already submitted you can do it. Basically from within the game you take a picture, type in the name/description, and wait a few weeks for them to review and either reject or accept it. Existing portals are viewable on your scanner as you travel into the areas where they exist.

If you have a google account you can log into and view the world or your city for what's around you - http://www.ingress.com/intel

 

[offroad]

Portals sound great to tag significant cultural locations. And then do a written educational description. If you create a new portal and submit for consideration is it random when it is accepted ? So that either team has a chance to claim it ?

And how do you steal a portal to your team?

 

[sl1966]

Portals sound great to tag significant cultural locations. And then do a written educational description. If you create a new portal and submit for consideration is it random when it is accepted ? So that either team has a chance to claim it ?

And how do you steal a portal to your team?

It depends on how backed up they are. For a while it was a three month wait, but that was shortened to three weeks.

Here's the how to ... http://decodeingress.me/2013/12/01/ingress-series-revamp-part-1/ &