Google's mobile-augmented reality game Ingress today launched for iOS devices, coming seven months after the game's general release on Android. The title's product manager confirmed last October that an iOS version of the game was in the works after a closed beta saw over ten thousand active players a month and one million total activations.
The title's story centers around The Enlightened and The Resistance, two factions who compete against each other to unlock clues about a mystical technology. Events in the game progress in real-time as Google delivers new clues each week, while players claim local landmarks in the real-world to earn points for their respective team.
The World is the Game
Move through the real world using your iOS device and the Ingress app to discover and tap sources of this mysterious energy. Acquire objects to aid in your quest, deploy tech to capture territory, and ally with other players to advance the cause of the Enlightened or the Resistance.Strategy
The struggle is being played out globally. Track the progress of players around the world, plan your next steps, and communicate with others using an Intelligence map.Form Alliances
The struggle to save the planet spans the entire world. Groups of people acting together can be more effective than individuals acting alone. Cooperation across neighborhoods, cities, and countries will be needed to achieve the ultimate victory.
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Ingress is a free app for iOS devices and can be downloaded through the App Store. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)does this qualify as tracking software?
(The most promising that I've see is Seek 'N' Spell, but that doesn't depend on a worldwide playerbase--you set up a local game as desired.)
I'm at least interested to check it out. I'm having a hard time Googling for serious reviews of the game; I can only find "stories" about it existing. I guess app store reviews will have to do. (Or TouchArcade may step up to the task.)
Hopefully you don't need a Google account to play (another way they can associate your real-world movements, habits, and identity with your online searches, relationships, and purchasing). But if you do... it's easy enough to create a new one. (Although I'm sure Google is smart about tying multiple accounts together into one "master dossier" of info. All they'd need is to notice that I play this game from the same IP address as I check my "real" account's GMail from.)
Unfortunately in this game, iOS users are at a disadvantage due to the weak battery life of our devices :(
It looks pretty graphics intensive, and combined with the location usage I'd be lucky to get 45 minutes out of my iPhone 5's battery playing this.
Another thing: they shouldn't have bothered putting the faction choice in the iOS version. Should have just been "Enlightened" automatically.
It eats a lot of battery on my Nexus 5 as well. Most people who play carry a power brick. A lot of people play.
Just glad now I don't have to lug around my Nexus 7 everywhere to play.
Needs Google+ account - deleted.
Ha. Non-starter.