GeoGuessr
| GeoGuessr | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio | Anton Wallén |
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
May 9, 2013 |
| platform | Web browser , iOS |
| genre | Browser game |
| Subject | geography |
| Game mode | Single player , multiplayer |
| control | Mouse , touch gesture |
| medium | Internet |
| language | English |
GeoGuessr (derived from Greek γῆ , gē "earth" and English guesser "raters") is a web-based geography - computer game . It was developed by the Swedish IT consultant Anton Wallén and published on May 9, 2013. In the game, the player is shown a random panorama from Google Street View and has to use the information given by the picture to find out where this photo was taken. In the first week after the release, the website received 200,000 to 300,000 views a day. The game has also been available as an iOS app since December 2015 .
development
The idea for GeoGuessr came from Wallén's passion to explore distant countries with Google Street View. He wanted to add a playful element to this hobby. The game took a few weeks to develop. The program uses the JavaScript - Library Backbone.js and version 3 of the Google Maps - API . Wallén posted the finished game on May 10, 2013 on the Google Chrome Experiments platform .
Gameplay
GeoGuessr places the player one after the other on five randomly selected locations on earth and shows their street view images. These places are therefore limited to streets and paths that have already been photographed by Google Street View cameras, which in particular excludes a large part of Africa and Asia , parts of South America as well as northern Canada and Russia . In Germany, too, Google Street View is only available to a very limited extent and is therefore only rarely found.
The player must find out where he is based on information in the photo such as traffic signs, right or left-hand traffic, vegetation, company logos, climate, etc. Like Google Street View, it is possible to move around the street, look around and zoom in on things. The player then places a marker on an enlargeable Google Maps map at the location where he thinks the picture was taken. GeoGuessr then shows the true location and awards between 0 and 5000 points, depending on how far the player's estimate deviates from it. Then the next of a total of five locations is displayed. Finally, there is an overall evaluation in which all points are added (i.e. a maximum of 25,000). It is also possible to create so-called challenges and send them to friends so that you can compete against each other. All players are then shown the same random locations. In addition, if necessary, a time limit can be set per location (between 10 seconds and 10 minutes), whereby the focus of the game is set differently (from quickly guessing at least the right continent to extensive research to get to the point within a few meters) . It is also possible to play on different "cards" so that you can only see places in Sweden or only known sights.
costs
Most of the game was free until August 2019. Since then, most functions have only been available against membership.
reception
GeoGuessr was received positively by the media. The simple but captivating gameplay was highlighted. The game can also be used for education (e.g. geography lessons).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f Joshua Keating: GeoGuessr: Where in the (Googleable) world are you? Foreign Policy, May 21, 2013, accessed January 22, 2017 .
- ↑ Konrad Lischka: Free game "Geoguessr": This is the end of the world - but which one? Spiegel Online , May 13, 2013, accessed January 22, 2017 .
- ↑ GeoGuessr in the App Store , accessed on January 22, 2017.
- ↑ a b Will Coldwell: Where in the world am I? The addictive mapping game that is GeoGuessr. The Independent, June 2, 2013, accessed January 22, 2017 .
- ↑ Jenna Pitcher: Get lost with Google Maps-based game GeoGuessr. Polygon, May 13, 2013, accessed January 22, 2017 .
- ↑ Will Oremus: How to Beat GeoGuessr, the Insanely Addictive Google Maps Guessing Game: Tips and tricks from a National Geographic cartographer. Slate , May 15, 2013, accessed January 22, 2017 .
- ↑ World map of the Street View coverage , google.de, accessed on January 22, 2017.
- ↑ Eike Rösch: Guess the world. Medienpädagogik Praxis-Blog, July 16, 2013, accessed on January 22, 2017 .