Android : A sneak peek at the future of online gaming...

The online gaming world hasnt seen much of the so called ¨Real innovation¨ in the last few decades. The progress from old MUDS to modern MMORPG was only in terms of technology. There was not much of a change in the game play or the basic idea. All that is going to change in a few months. City Slickers, one of the Top 50 submissions of the Google Android Developer Challenge 2008 is going bring a breath of fresh air into the world of multi player online gaming.

From the home page of the developers

City Slikkers is a Pervasive Game (alternatively Location Based Game) which takes place in the real-existing city. It is designed to connect a large number of players through-out the world and change the way the surroundings are seen. The central idea behind the concept is to give people the opportunity to symbolically interfere with the everyday urban environment and come into contact with previously unknown people.

By introducing a metaphorical recapture of the city‘s elements (buildings, squares, streets), a virtual reorganization of the urban space leads to a new relationship between the players and their environment. In the sacred space of the game world, the city is under their control thus giving the players a feeling of superiority. As the playing community will always be a minority they hereby form some kind of elitist, secret society which is based on knowledge, but not financial or political power.

The interactions are only accessible through physical movement in the urban space and the use of a mobile device which acts as some kind of third eye. The players are always connected to a server and located using GPS technology. This allows an alternative view on the surrounding world and lets players manipulate objects to see and experience for others in realtime.

The players in action form packs, hordes, and gangs. They contrast with the institutionalized and organized space and give it spontaneity and dynamics. To develop into the leading group, players have to team up so that they are able to combine resources and strength.

The game progress is visualized through a 3-dimensional sculpture in a publicly installed videoinstallation, so that the game also affects these people not involved directly by giving them a hint that the situation is somehow different. Secret societies which, metaphorically of course, are about to take over the private and public urban space.

The game combines elements of strategy, role-playing, sports, social and tactical games, but in contrast to popular MMORPGs (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games), the outcome of the actions as well as the new connections made between people, will affect normal life as the everyday city is no longer the same due to the players‘ experience

The game is going to be played by players carrying android phones which are connected to a central game server and are located by using GPS technology.

Although its still in development phase , the idea is really revolutionary . Just think of the possibilities. The way it is going to change the nature of interaction between players. Think about the possibility of meeting other gamers in real life while playing. Think about legions and gangs and armies you can form. Think about the interaction with the surroundings in a sort of ¨Davinci Code¨istic way. Think about the missions which have to be completed in real life. I just cant wait to get my hands on it.

May be the only drawback is that gamers cant remain couch potatos ;-) .They will be running around the city , feverishly searching for clues and stuff .Or may be its a good thing..aint it :-). And if u are unlucky the sexy chick u met in the game may turn out to be sporting a beard.

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