What do you get when you combine Google Maps APIs and Foursquare? World of Fourcraft, of course. The board game Risk has been a popular favorite since its release in 1957. (Fun fact: it actually used to be called 'La Conquête du Monde,' meaning "The Conquest of the World"). Now, World of Fourcraft has turned New York City into a life-sized game of Risk.
Users can log onto the website and pledge allegiance to one of New York City's five boroughs. Checking into a neighborhood on World of Fourcraft is the equivalent of placing a plastic figurine on a country in Risk. Makes sense so far, right?
Since this game leverages online tools, an algorithm figures out who owns each neighborhood by counting the number of people who have checked into it from each team. Last time we checked, a total of 100 people were playing and Manhattan was in the lead.
The rules on the website explain, “[T]here are no prizes. There are no celebrations. The only reward is the feeling of pride you normally only get from being re-tweeted."
What's Driving This Trend
- Location-based Gaming
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a location-based game that combines virtual elements with real-life interactions.
- Gamification
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Gamify real-life activities to engage and motivate users.
- Algorithm-driven Competitions
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create algorithm-driven competitions that leverage user-generated data for determining outcomes.
Who This Affects Most
- Gaming
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate real-world locations into virtual gaming experiences for an immersive and interactive gameplay.
- Social Media
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Combine social media platforms with location-based gaming to foster community engagement and competition.
- Data Analytics
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop algorithms that analyze user-generated data to create competitive gaming experiences with real-world implications.
