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Location Games - What games are
there?
Location games may be a small subset of games. They
might seem to appeal to a small niche of the gaming market, but it
could be the idea has yet to hit its stride. We know there are some
individuals reading this article that have never heard of location
games before.
The idea of location games invites gamers to pursue
specialized gaming options when visiting new locations or to enjoy
gaming outdoors in their own back yard. Some games are simple while
others complex. Some can be played alone and others require multiple
players.
There are some games that are location enabled. What
that means is the game is intended for play in a very specific
location. You won’t have access to the game unless you are in that
location. Of course the key that will unlock the game is the GPS in
either a handheld device or on a cell phone. Once you are recognized
as being in that location the game will be available.
Let’s take a look at a few location games you can
read about on the web.
GPS Games
– These are games associated a standard handheld Garman GPS unit,
but they include location gaming features that allow you to
participate in simple games that require you to physically move to
different locations. There are multiple games on this handset and
include Gekoids, Geko Smack, and Memory Race to name a few.
Geocaching
– This site is the one stop website that can help you locate hidden
geo-treasure. There are specific rules, but finding the treasure is
all about being in the right place – that’s where your GPS unit
comes in. Treasure usually consists of small items and geocachers
are asked to sign a log and trade for an item in the hidden box.
Rarely will you find anything of significant value although some
geocachers have been known to leave an occasional hundred-dollar
bill.
Wherigo
– From the creators of the Geocaching website this innovation was
designed to take GPS adventuring into a more traditional gaming
environment. Game creators indicate, “If you are familiar with
adventure games like Zork, Myst, or the Secret of Monkey Island you
can think of Wherigo as an adventure game construction set for the
real world.” Players can involved themselves in actual game play or
in the construction of games others will play.
Pac
Manhattan – This grassroots idea makes the
streets of New York (in and around Washington park) a living Pac Man
board. Five players (dressed in costume) use cell phones to help
players either stay away from the ghosts or be led to PacMan. Five
other players talk their living counterparts through the game using
Internet connectivity in order to follow all other players.
Gunslingers
2 – Welcome to the urban jungle – just
make sure to bring your phone. This game is based exclusively in
Singapore, but is garnering a huge following without the need for a
GPS unit.
Tourality
– This is a game that combines cell phone and Internet connectivity
to provide users with a free location gaming alternative. Their
website indicates, “In contrast to normal sport simulations, you
will face the real challenge of reaching geographically defined
spots in reality as fast as possible and before your opponents.”
These are just a few of the games that have found
roots in gaming circles where players desire to move away from
virtual games and toward an environment where they can physically
involve themselves in a real world environment that allows them to
use gaming technology on the go. Do you know of more location
games? If so please submit their detail to us
here
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