…for many reasons.
Canberra is being over-run by the resistance. We are an enlightened city, full of enlightened people (mostly), but the ‘intel map’ is depicting that this is not the case. The enlightened seem to be losing the battle. We need more help!
If you’re over 16 and based in the Australian Capital Territory, have an android phone, a reasonable data plan, a need to get out and about to explore and maybe make new friends, get in touch with our community!
email: canberra.enlightened@gmail.com
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More info:
‘Ingress’ is an augmented reality game that is (currently) played on android-based mobile phones. The enlightened faction have training members available in each area of Canberra.
While the game may sound or seem complicated, it doesn’t take much to get into – especially with the help of our friendly, patient and encouraging agents.
I struggled to put this post into a riot-act category. It fits into SO many: entertainment – sport – technology – sight-seeing – art appreciation – nature – travel – socialising. I’ve tried to explain why below.
Ingress gives players the opportunity to be:
social (or not!) – we have faction and cross-faction meetups, drinks, bbqs, training days, coordinated exercises, there’s even an ingress ‘olympics’! You can choose to play ‘lone-ranger’ and go it alone, or you may even prefer an enigmatic style, revelling in anonymity. Some players have become friends with agents on both factions. Some have not. Some players are partners – even families play! Regardless, the interaction (or the choice to not interact) is always fun!
competitive (or not!) – while some players are drawn to ingress for the social aspects, or simply to quell boredom, there are some who are hard-core gamer types intent on smashing opponent portals (or even portals belonging to specific rivals) and covering their vicinity in a field of their faction’s colour. Some players get kicks from helping other players ‘level’ or accomplish goals (whether these goals be huge fields of colour, or field ‘art’). Others are keen to ‘unlock achievements’ (like see how long they can keep a portal for, or top how many kms you’ve walked in a week).
fit (or not) – many portals are in walking distance to where you are right now. Playing ingress is a great way to go for a walk, jog, cycle your way around the nation’s capital and beyond. Many portals can be driven to, while some require a bit of a hike (or perhaps a dirtbike!) to access. You can even submit your own portals.
explorers – how well do you know your city? There are so many amazing places, cultural icons, viewpoints, natural and human-made locations that should be explored! You’ll see things you’ve never even noticed just because they are portals. Ingress provides great opportunity to travel abroad. There are portals on every continent of the globe. There are even portals in New Zealand!
less bored – many agents play during the course of their day-to-day routines (picking kids up from school, going to the shops for milk, commuting, dining out, exercising etc). Some have purchased battery packs for their phones so they can prolong their ingressing sessions. Some play sporadically, some seem to play all the time! You control when you play, how long you play for, how you play. Through ingress, you’re bound to pick up a new – and rather different – interest.
balanced – playing for the enlightened will help balance the scourge of the resistance in Canberra. There has been a large influx of blue agents and it would be a lot more fun to play in a more balanced team environment. So if you’re keen to support the current underdogs (and not just choose the ingress ‘default’ faction when you’ve completed training), join the enlightened.
Regardless of playing style, Ingress has attracted people from all types of backgrounds and interests and is played across the world. Here in Canberra, some of our top-level players include doctors, nurses, public servants, housewives, film producers, mechanics, gym instructors, public servants, data engineers, students, retirees, public servants…
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Why I play:
I play when I feel like it. I’m part of a community. I’ve travelled abroad and met up with members of the Paris Ingress community (both factions) and played with groups in London. I can play in teams, or go it alone. It has taken me to weird and wonderful locations on searches for portals (even locally! Some places I wouldn’t have even known existed!). I have met some brilliant people. I enjoy the dynamic nature of the game and the strategic elements, but sometimes… I just like blowing stuff up.
Besides, green is my favourite colour and our agents are much better looking.
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