WherIGo

Groundspeak is beginning to roll out some of the long-promised additional games to geocaching. Groundspeak (formerly Grounded Inc.) touts itself as the Language of Location.

More than a year ago, the company rolled out Waymarking.com. While there are some interesting categories there, overall the site is underwhelming. Many complain about having to play on multiple sites (that is something I heard long ago when I began listing caches on other sites). Others speak to the lack of adventure. Yet it seems more a repository for the jettisoned scavenger hunts, web cams, and virtuals. But mixing those in with the McDonald’s restaurants has not captured a large audience.

On the heels of that, Groundspeak is rolling out WherIGo.com. Unlike Waymarking, WherIGo is innovative. It is in beta and because of that, much of the disfunctionality of the site is excused. What was not clear to me until I tried to install the software is that this game is only available, apparently, for those with GPS-enabled Pocket PCs. While I used to use a PPC, I no longer do. I think that requirement should be noted (and prominently so).

Anyhow, the game does sound inviting. Players can set up games for others to play based on coordinates inputted. It looks like a fantasy game based around a downtown area might be the “normal” result. I think it sounds very interesting and something I would certainly play. Frankly, in many ways it is akin to the Millville Walking Tour shutterspot I am constructing as well as Murder in Glasstown cache that is also in the works.

I applaud Groundspeak for the innovation here. I hope the game is expanded to include other platforms or perhaps capable of being dumped to a laptop/desktop for one to create a paper gameboard to play along with in the field.

I look forward to following this development.

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