Google introduces Ingress, a worldwide Mobile Alternate Reality Game, for free

The idea of a perfect world is one that is unreal. Google have done what they could to make this a mild reality for many of us. With Ingress, a Mobile Alternate Reality Game, the company has stepped into a relatively new vertical of technology. The game encourages outdoor ventures with energy collection by travelling walking paths. The app also leads users to locations of knowledge and culture such as art galleries, libraries and more, with the promise of ‘mission’ completion portals. Players are divided into two teams and can participate from anywhere in the world.

Ingress is the project of former Google director of geo, John Hanke and his Niantic Labs. “The concept is something like World of Warcraft, where everyone in the world is playing the same game.” He continues, “We were definitely inspired by JJ Abrams,” Hanke said, “but we don’t want to leave people in a ‘Lost’ situation where they get into the fiction of a world but then it never ends.”

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