Ingress | Cheerful Ghost

Got my beta invite today...

So the premise of this idea is Domination style play (my favorite Unreal Tournament game type http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unreal_Tournament under 'Game Types'). That is, two teams compete trying to control points on the map. The big kicker here is the map is the real world.

I've played through the tutorial now and have gone for a walk to collect XM (the energy currency in the game), and I enjoy it. I just wish there was more to do (or that I could walk to some control points).

Thoughts so far:

* the tutorial gets you to walk outside which is nice, but makes it very hard to hear what you are supposed to do (bring headphones, or stare close at the screen to read the tiny... Read All So the premise of this idea is Domination style play (my favorite Unreal Tournament game type http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unreal_Tournament under 'Game Types'). That is, two teams compete trying to control points on the map. The big kicker here is the map is the real world.

I've played through the tutorial now and have gone for a walk to collect XM (the energy currency in the game), and I enjoy it. I just wish there was more to do (or that I could walk to some control points).

Thoughts so far:

* the tutorial gets you to walk outside which is nice, but makes it very hard to hear what you are supposed to do (bring headphones, or stare close at the screen to read the tiny text).
* the text is small on the game, and the controls for the interface are rough (I had a problem getting through one of the tutorial missions just because I couldn't select two different control points correctly -- I'm sure there must be better ways to do it, but it wasn't obvious).
* the game also just dumps you in after the tutorial missions w/o much guidance. You just need to go find some control points in a blank map (I had to get on my computer to realize there weren't any within a couple miles of my house... ugh).
* want moar control points!!! Supposedly you can take pictures of other pieces of art (geo-tagged) and ask for them to be added to the game. I haven't figured out how to yet. Once I do, I'll try to get some closer ones in a couple parks that are nearby.
* needs more direction... most games have this down. They need to direct you in what you can do next... always.
* also, they asked you to pick a side without much introduction to either (and you can only ask to switch once after that first pick)... Not sure it really matters. But I was glad I went to my computer before picking. Thus I picked the currently loosing side in my area (much more fun to attack the enemy and rally from behind).

Guess I need to go read the more of the backstory at http://www.nianticproject.com/

I really want to like this game. So I'll try more... :)

jdodson Admin wrote on 01/10/2013 at 05:06pm

Looking forward to when it comes to iPhone. Or I switch to Android, whenever that will be.

Can you play it on an Android tablet... Well I guess GPS and 3G is kind of a requirement...

beansmyname Supporter wrote on 01/12/2013 at 04:43am

I got into the beta about a month ago and, sadly, have not had much of an opportunity to jump in (weather, work, time constraints).

Are you finding it difficult to participate as a late-comer? I'm curious because I'm still level 1 after a month and have been dreading having to grind for a week or two.

hardeyez Post Author wrote on 01/22/2013 at 05:13pm

I'm finding it more difficult to participate because the control points are so far away :( I really need to figure out how to snap pics of some close statues/art and get them added to the game. I'd play more if I could just walk over to some of them instead of having to drive somewhere (which I don't want to burn gas on a game...)

jdodson Admin wrote on 01/22/2013 at 05:14pm

I guess Ingress would make more sense if you lived or worked in a city.

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Getting out into the Big Blue Room

http://debian.mcmillan.net.nz/misc/niantic_cross.jpg

Ingress is an Alternate Reality Game. I first came across this when someone on G+ commented that they "had just gone for a 20 minute walk to hack some Ingress portals before bed", which sounded intriguing so I signed up for the trial.

A couple of days later I checked my inbox and I'd got lucky! I visited the Google Play store to download the game, but couldn't find it. It seems the game is "not available in your country". Go figure. So I googled around and managed to find the APK and install it anyway, and it turns out that I live in the one city in my country with a reasonable number of 'portals' that can be 'hacked' and I was on my way.

The objective of Ingress appears... Read All Ingress is an Alternate Reality Game. I first came across this when someone on G+ commented that they "had just gone for a 20 minute walk to hack some Ingress portals before bed", which sounded intriguing so I signed up for the trial.

A couple of days later I checked my inbox and I'd got lucky! I visited the Google Play store to download the game, but couldn't find it. It seems the game is "not available in your country". Go figure. So I googled around and managed to find the APK and install it anyway, and it turns out that I live in the one city in my country with a reasonable number of 'portals' that can be 'hacked' and I was on my way.

The objective of Ingress appears to be capture these 'portals' which are sources of 'exotic matter' and to place 'resonators' on them to power them up so they can be linked to other powered up portals. When three portals are linked to surround an area that area delivers a number of 'Mind Units' to the faction you are playing for - either the "Enlightened" or the "Resistance". As you level up you gain the ability to use higher level resonators, which increase the range of your portal links and you fairly quickly realise that the real power is in portals at the edges of the cities.

As a starting out player you can feel fairly powerless, but once you get going it is possible to build power fairly quickly, especially as you capture areas, which i the action providing the most 'AP' towards levelling up.

The game is still in closed beta at the moment and the full details have yet to unfold, but so far it's been fun. Having the portals located primarily on public artworks is a great idea and I've enjoyed finding a few new sculptures and murals I wasn't previously aware of.

At this stage it is not clear to me how the game will evolve over time. Will it run for a period and some faction be declared winner before starting it all over again? Will more rules and story become apparent and this just work up into one epic battle? From the way the hype is being managed it looks as though this will all become clear around the end of the month.

Meanwhile I better head off to defend my portals...

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 11/28/2012 at 09:00pm

That does sound really interesting!

jdodson Admin wrote on 11/28/2012 at 09:58pm

Very jealous of my Android friends for being able to play this game. It looks like a lot of fun. I know that the clones are now coming because of how popular it is, but id just rather play this one.

That said, maybe some of my Android friends can pick it up to hack some portals!