Jeremy Irish, Groundspeak

Geocaching has been around since 2000, thousands of geocaches. Billion dollar technology to hide plastic containers in the woods. Can use any GPS unit.

Have millions of people using this all the time.

Wherigo - taking geocaching and bringing it into a virtual game.

  • A toolset for creating media rich experiences in the real world using GPS and handheld devices.
  • Taking adventure games outdoors (“tricking people to go outside an get some sun”)
  • Taking mashups outdoors

Unlike traditional computer games: Making people go outside, may factors beyond your control.

Simplify technology requirements.

  • Alternate options for determining location
  • Reduce need for high accuracy
  • Take advantage of the novelty of location

Encourage user-generated content

  • Integrate community content
  • Take advantage of local experts
  • Users will localize the playing experience
  • Inspire “Junkyard Wars” design - trying to create an experience out of the location rather than something that works everywhere

Players are manic-depressive

  • Physical activity creates strong emotions
  • Educate, motivate and reward often (dumb it down)
  • Consider your actions with your community

Keep games short First games where 1.5-2.5 hours, way too long

  • Mirror casual game design - lunchbreak games, reward them
  • < 30 minutes is best
  • “Serialize” your game into chapters
  • Simplify, simplify, simplify.

You can’t control the player

  • A player can and will go to any length to finish a game
  • Unexpected environmental factors
  • Reward often, punish carefully

Encourage players to look up

  • Interact with real world objects We have people watching to make sure people cross roads correctly
  • Notify with vibration and sound
  • Use reference imagery
  • Reduce reliance on the arrow
  • Use maps

Building momentum takes time

  • “If you hide it they will come”
  • Target locally but encourage global play

Consider environmental issues

  • foot traffic
  • stampede
  • negative perception of non-players
  • …

Be aware of legal grey areas

Lessons Learned in Location-based Gaming

Technorati tags: groundspeak, geocaching, gaming, where, where2.0, where2008