Exercise Game For All You Geeks Out There

I was looking through the gamers thread and noticed ALOT of people in there. Just thought I'd share this new real-life MMO that Google announced back in November.

http://www.ingress.com/

The game is called Ingress and if you've ever seen the show called Fringe, it's pretty similar. There are two factions in the game that you can join and compete against one another for territory. The Enlightened (green team) are working to change humanity while the Resistance (blue team) are rebels trying to save what's left.

What's great about this game is that it encourages people to walk all over the place to hack/claim a specific piece of landmark. I hear it requires a lot of community teamwork to fully dominate any given city. If you live in a historically rich place like I do (Boston), it's an awesome game! But I hear you can submit different sites to Google to add to their game so that any city can ramp up their list.

The game is still in closed beta right now and requires an invite (put your email in the box on the site I linked above). It only works on Android devices but I just thought I'd throw it out there. I have a feeling this will get very popular by next year. It took me a month to get my invite and I can't wait to get started in March when all this snow is gone <3

Replies

  • Buhbee
    Buhbee Posts: 108 Member
    Definitely a geek over here!! :tongue: This looks really cool.
  • meliafairy
    meliafairy Posts: 49 Member
    Thanks for sharing! Seems really interesting. Just submitted my email :)
  • Jennikitten
    Jennikitten Posts: 142 Member
    Why is this not on iphone!! I can see this being so addictive and awesome
  • babyshme
    babyshme Posts: 310 Member
    Sent my e mail.
  • BadNamePicker
    BadNamePicker Posts: 14 Member
    This looks fun! Email submitted.
  • nke88
    nke88 Posts: 5
    Why is this not on iphone!! I can see this being so addictive and awesome

    It's because this game is made by Google and still in the beta stages (Google created Android so it's just easier and more cost effective for them to test the game on their platform). Apple doesn't like Google (or competition) very much but I bet once it gets the official release and is popular, IOS will get it too.
  • j_bark
    j_bark Posts: 1,274 Member
    Totally recommend Ingress as a way to combine walking/running with some gaming. My five mile run covers 6 portals which means 10 touch points through the hour or so run.
  • ficklesoul
    ficklesoul Posts: 54 Member
    This seems so cool but I'm an iOs user too :( Will keep checking for updates. Thanks for sharing.
  • kellehbeans
    kellehbeans Posts: 838 Member
    Just sent my e-mail. Hopefully they'll support the UK too! :drinker:
  • paddy472
    paddy472 Posts: 4 Member
    Just sent my e-mail. Hopefully they'll support the UK too! :drinker:

    It does! Enlightened all the way B)
  • mandasalem
    mandasalem Posts: 346 Member
    Bump-- any Android users out there siding with the smurfs or toads? I have invites and am still learning the ropes, but interested in finding other folks who use this as a run/walk motivator.
  • grrrlface
    grrrlface Posts: 1,204 Member
    Sounds awesome! Sent my e-mail for an invite!
  • joshdann
    joshdann Posts: 618 Member
    Are there rewards for miles traveled, if they are frequently the same route? I'm all about exploration but the majority of the time I stick to comfortable, familiar routes. That's just part of living in a smallish town - not a whole lot to explore without getting in the car and driving to it.
  • mandasalem
    mandasalem Posts: 346 Member
    Sounds awesome! Sent my e-mail for an invite!

    Feel free to send it to me in a private message, I'll send you one of my recruit invites.
    Are there rewards for miles traveled, if they are frequently the same route?

    Nah-- the bad part about this game is that it's not solely made for exercisers/walkers/runners/bikers, so it can be done by car, as well. (It works much better on foot.) But the "hot spots" are all certain types of place-- churches, post offices, courthouses, monuments, statues, fountains, unique/local businesses, noteworthy architecture, memorials, etc. It depends on what's in your smallish town. I also live in one, but there are statues and monument plaques in the park, little historical spots, etc., that are all flagged as portals.
  • mrsjones2point0
    mrsjones2point0 Posts: 332 Member
    Ok, I just got this game yesterday, and I am really geeking out at the concept!

    But I need help understanding it more. . .
  • leelo2003
    leelo2003 Posts: 30 Member
    Just installed it on my phone look forward to seeing how it works and encouraging me to walk
  • amnsetie
    amnsetie Posts: 666 Member
    Are there rewards for miles traveled, if they are frequently the same route? I'm all about exploration but the majority of the time I stick to comfortable, familiar routes. That's just part of living in a smallish town - not a whole lot to explore without getting in the car and driving to it.
    The good thing about travelling the same route is you can keep your portals charged and farm them as you go past. Then if there are any enemy portals you will have blasters to take them down.
    Enemies are always after the portals I pass on the way to work, and my local "farm"
    So not being able to travel different routes doesn't stop you playing.
    Also people passing through your area can drop you keys to other portals so you can link them up. Use the comms to plan your strategy with others.
  • Alpina483
    Alpina483 Posts: 246 Member
    And yes, Ingress makes you talk to other people, too :) teaming up pays! use the console, find the same colour players.