Munzee
Munzee is a geocaching- like scavenger hunt - terrain game in which you have to find marked locations around the world. The game is based on a freemium business model.
The places are marked by other players using a QR code on stickers called Munzees . Both the finding and the hiding player receive points for found coins. The QR codes on the Munzees be at the site using a special smartphone - App read. Both the co-ordinates of the coin and the data of the other players are managed via a central gaming platform.
Surname
The term Munzee (pronounced "Munzi") was derived from the German word Münze. Since munze.com was already occupied for the central gaming platform, an "e" was simply added again.
GPS position
The coordinates of all Munzees released worldwide are managed centrally on the munzee.com gaming platform . A map can be called up on this platform, which shows the Munzees at the corresponding locations. This map can also be called up on the smartphone app, which shows not only the Munzees but also your current GPS position. This makes it easy to find the exact location of a coin. In addition, you can display the closest coin tees in tabular form, sorted by distance.
Goal of the game
Everyone plays the game how they want to. There are points for hiding and for scanning. Whenever a coin belonging to a player is scanned, the owner also receives a certain number of points. The game contains a large number of so-called badges, which are badges that are distributed as a reward for a goal that has been achieved. There are Munzee players for whom it is important to be outside a lot and to score so many points. Others prefer to lay out and wait for the points they receive from others. Or you just chase after every badge, the more difficult the better. On the Munzee pages there is a wealth of statistics where everyone can find something for themselves.
Clan Wars
A so-called Clan War starts every month. The server operators set clear goals for the month, e.g. B. how many points you have to make or how many greenies have to be scanned. Every month there are tasks for individual players as well as for the entire clan that have to be achieved for the respective level. There are five different levels of difficulty each. Ten players who want to play the same level of difficulty form a clan. Clan War begins on the 3rd of each month and ends on the last day of the month after HQ time midnight (CET +7 hours each time). For every level that has been reached, prizes are distributed in the form of coins, which are otherwise only for sale or not available at all. If a clan member does not reach a level by the end of the month, then the whole clan has not reached the goal and no rewards will be distributed.
Zee Ops
A game within the game where, in contrast to the Clan War, you can win valuable coins again as a single player. By using so-called ZeeCreds ("ZeeCredits", for example when scanning PrizeWheel Munzees) you start a mission. You determine which task is completed from the given options in which order. It is important that every day is fulfilled without any gaps. Once you have achieved that, the prizes will be distributed immediately. ZeeOps missions have different levels of difficulty that take different lengths of time. The longer the mission, the more rewards the player will receive.
Reading in
When you have found a Munzee, you can capture the QR code using the smartphone camera and the app . The QR code gives a reference to the administration of this Munzee on the central gaming platform. The app checks the current coordinates and reports the found Munzee to the gaming platform, whereupon it awards points to both the finder and the player who has hidden the Munzee. The app is available free of charge and can also be used without membership fees after registration - a premium membership for USD 30 per year enables additional functions such as filtering according to Munzee types. The purchase of some special types of coins is possible with a premium membership.
Material and properties
Munzees can be made of any material, they just have to have a QR code and physically correspond to the conditions of the location (waterproof, weatherproof, etc.).
Munzees can either be generated and printed out yourself or purchased from the gaming platform's web shop. Munzees from the web shop are particularly suitable because they are delivered robust and weatherproof. Plastic or magnetic coin teas are available. If you want to generate Munzees yourself or order them in the web shop, you have to be logged into the central game platform with your individual user name. When generating a coin, the platform creates a web link that will later be used to manage the generated coin. This web link is shown as a QR code on the Munzee. A meaningful name and a comment of any length can be assigned to the Munzee as properties. Both are saved on the central platform (not in the QR code) and can be changed later at any time.
Hideouts
After a munzee is physically present, it is placed on the person hiding somewhere in the area and then first read by smartphone app ( deployed ). The current GPS coordinates of the Munzee are reported to the central gaming platform and are now shown on the maps as another Munzee. Unlike geocaching, hiding spots are clearly marked. So the name often already includes the place of attachment such as B. "Hydrant".
Munzee types
These types of Munzee are shown differently on the map. Depending on the type of Munzee, the finder receives a different number of points. Basically, there are two different categories of Munzees, the virtual Munzees and the physical Munzees.
Physical Munzees include all those for which a QR code has to be scanned on site. The virtual Munzees include all those where you only have to be within a certain radius of the location to find it.
Physical Munzees:
- Normal Munzee (Greenies) : The original form of Munzees. A QR code that can be read in by the app. For this, the person who captured the Munzee receives 5 points - the owner ("deployer") receives 3 points.
- Mystery Munzee : This type can be read like a normal Munzee. For the finder there is a randomly selected number of points between 5 and 50 points. These Munzees were offered irregularly in the web store until July 2015 and were only ever available in limited numbers. The successor "Mini Mystery Munzee" was introduced in August 2015 - apart from a smaller format, there is no difference to the classic Mystery Munzee.
- (Mini) Mystery Virtual Munzee : to be recorded in the same way as the Virtual Munzee, only here, as with the Mystery Munzee, a randomly selected number of points between 5 and 50 points is possible for the finder.
- Business Munzee : are intended as advertising for companies and businesses. In contrast to all others, these coins can be read once a day (every 22 hours). The first time you get 5 points and - according to the announcement - 1 point every subsequent time. At the moment, however, each scan is rewarded with 1 point, including the first. A business coin is free of charge, but to get it you have to prove a business.
- Maintenance Munzee : These are Munzees that have not been found at least twice or have been destroyed and have been marked as such by the searchers ("needs maintenance"). This indicates that the coin needs maintenance and that the owner of the coin should take care of it. Such coins are automatically removed after 30 days and are then no longer visible on the card.
- Diamond Munzee : This coin can be converted from a normal physical coin for a fee. For the finder there is a randomly selected number of points between 5 and 15 points. The owner receives the difference to the 15 points. The credits for conversion are offered in limited numbers in the Munzee Store.
- Ruby Munzee : On the occasion of Munzee's third birthday in July 2014, the Ruby Munzee was introduced. Similar to the Diamond Munzee, points are divided between the finder and the owner - but here a total of 33.
- Aquamarine and Amethyst Munzee : Introduced in August 2015, both in virtual and physical form, it gives higher scores for both finders and exhibitors.
- Topaz Munzee : As a further development of the Edelstein Munzee, it completes this series.
- Motel Munzee : Premium members can convert the Motel Munzee from a normal Munzee for a fee. The owner deployed a Munzee with five rooms, which will be occupied by the first five finders who register the Motel Munzee. The owner of the motel and the "tenants" of the rooms receive points from other players who subsequently record the Motel Munzee. Finders receive different scores depending on which room they occupy. If all rooms are occupied, both the owner and the finder receive 30 points each, the first tenant 15 points, the second 12 points, the third 9 points, the fourth 6 points and the owner of the 'broom closet', the fifth room, 3 points .
- Hotel Munzee : Introduced on October 15, 2014, basically similar to Motel Munzee, but with 10 rooms. Here, too, up to 30 points are possible for the owner and finder. For motel and hotel coins, higher spacing rules apply than for other types of coins.
- Premium Munzee (also: Gold Star Munzee) : When you take out a paid premium membership, you get one of these Munzees. For laying out ("deploying") as well as finding ("capturing") you receive 10 points each.
- Surprise Munzee : In November 2015 introduced virtual coin shape, which awards points of already known coin types according to a random principle.
- Trail Munzee : type occurring both in physical and virtual form, in which the following stations are only visible after the first station visible on the map has been recorded. The physical variant has 5 stations - the virtual variant has up to ten. The number of points to be achieved increases from station to station - with the virtual variant, 75 points are available at the 10th station.
- Fire Munzee : Whoever scans this Munzee triggers three fires within a radius of 1 mile, which in turn are capable and each gives 50 points to the account.
- Ice Munzee : This Munzee triggers 3 ice ounces which also bring 50 points when capping.
- Water Munzee : were added in the summer of 2017, another Munzee which in turn triggers another.
- Earth Munzee : Converts all Greenis that have not been scanned for 1 year into Recycle Munzees. Instead of 5 points, the person who scans him receives 25 points for each Recycle Munzee.
- Prize Wheel Munzee : This Munzee not only gives points, but can also give valuable credits (which can then be converted) as well as Zee credits. The whole thing is based on the principle of chance.
Virtual Munzees:
- Virtual Munzee : There is no real Munzee with QR code. It can only be seen virtually on the map. This type of Munzee can be read in by going to the details of the Virtual Munzee in the smartphone app and pressing the "Capture Virtual" button there. You have to be within 300 feet (approx. 91 meters) of the Virtual Munzee. This type of Munzee cannot be generated by the player himself, but has to be purchased for $ 5 in the web store. You also get 4 pieces when you become a Premium Member. These coins can then be distributed anywhere on the map.
- MVM : Mystery Virtual Munzee. The points are randomly distributed between the owner and the coin hunter.
- Virtual Garden Pin : These virtual so-called emerald pins are part of official gardens, mostly public parks or open spaces that were created by Munzee HQ. A capture earns both the hiding person and the finder 20 points.
- Virtual Resort: A virtual resort, so to speak a combination of virtual and hotel Munzee, which offers 15 rooms and brings both the finder and the owner some cap-on points, since the smaller your room number, the more points you get . If you find a virtual resort with no free rooms, you get 90 points, if no room is occupied only 15 - but you rent as a "co-owner" and receive points if you follow them (analogous to motel and hotel coins)
- Pegasus Munzee Pegasus moves around the world and sits on top of other virtual Munzees. The scanning Munzeer as well as the owner get 200 points if it is caught.
- Amethyst Munzee Cannot be captured like other virtual Munzees from a distance of 90m, but you have to approach the coordinate up to 45m.
- Emerald Munzee This Munzee is awarded and placed by the HQ for special events. You can always find out whether you get a Gardenpin via the Munzeeblog.
Special Munzees:
- Special Munzee : On certain occasions (holidays, events or just for fun) there are special Munzees that have their own symbol on the map depending on the action. For reading in a special coin there is a higher number of points that are divided between the owner ("deployer") and finder. The Special Munzees jump onto an existing Munzee, stay there for 6-12 hours and then move on if they have not been captured by then. As soon as they are scanned, they move on immediately.
The 'Nomad' coins are on the road all year round and are very rare. The special Munzees for occasions such as B. Valentine's Day, are only a few days on the road and then disappear again.
- Mythological Munzee Unicorn, Leprechaun, Yeti, Dragon and Hydra (as of October 2017) sit on existing Munzees and stay there for 12 hours until they move on. If they are scanned, they move on immediately. Can also be capped by the coin owner on their own coin. The player and the owner of the respective myth receive 100 points each for the scan.
- Locationless Munzee : These Munzees are not tied to a fixed location, but can appear and be read at any location. You are e.g. B. hidden on websites, in the web store or in videos or could also be on products such as e. B. Heinz Ketchup be printed. Only the operators of the gaming platform can generate such coins. As of January 2013, there are ten such coin coins. User Munzee has deployed these Munzees and they are at the top of his deployed list. With the help of the information from the Munzee Notes, search engines and a little detective instinct, it is possible to track down these Munzees.
- Social Munzee : The Social Munzee was presented on February 27, 2013. These Munzees are not tied to a fixed location, but can be read by any player anywhere. You cannot generate this type of coin yourself, but have to buy it for 5 dollars in the web store. There are no points for laying out and reading in. There are no guidelines for using this type of Munzee, at the moment these Munzees are mainly published in forums, on Twitter and on Facebook. The Personal Munzee is similar , but it can only be capped within a one-mile radius and deployed up to three times a day - it is intended for coin meetings among players and is temporarily available in the store.
- Personal Munzee A personal Munzee which can be deployed 3 times a day by the owner (e.g. at an event) and can then be scanned within a radius of 1 mile. The code must be scanned here.
- Premium Personal Munzee was introduced in October 2017 and is the same as the Personal Munzee, only that it gives more points. This Munzee can be purchased once per premium membership year and costs USD 10.
distribution
Currently (as of June 2018) more than 354,000 players have been registered worldwide, over 7,661,000 coins have been distributed and over 224 million finds have been registered. They are mainly concentrated in the USA (~ 30%), Germany (~ 17%), England (~ 10%), Australia (~ 6%) and the Netherlands (~ 4%). Munzees can be found in 235 countries - some are placed in very exotic locations. For example, there is a Munzee in the middle of a ferry route between Schlüttsiel and Hooge on the high seas. When reading in one would have to hope that the ferry always takes exactly the same route. However, this does not seem to be the case since 2012, as the Munzee "# 53 MS Seeadler Mobil Munzee" has not been recorded for some time.
Comparison with geocaching: pros and cons
- Because a Munzee is attached as a weatherproof sticker, the hiding places are limited to smooth surfaces, which makes it much easier to hide and find.
- Thanks to the use of the QR code, which has now become more widespread, the sticker is quite inconspicuous, even when it is attached to publicly visible areas.
- In contrast to geocaching, where the distance between caches must be approx. 160m (0.1 mile), this should generally only be 16m for Munzees (exceptions: hotel and motel Munzee). The distance between your own coin is at least 48m.
- With geocaching, new caches on some listing platforms are checked by reviewers for compliance with the rules and, if necessary, changes are requested. This does not happen with the Munzee.
- A coin is less complex, so the sticker can be attached, logged and logged without comment. However, if you want, you can also add a comment and a picture.
- A Munzee is often used commercially.
- Playing Munzee is much more inconspicuous
- Unlike geocaching, you don't get your hands dirty.
- While geocaching mainly takes place in the forests, the Munzees are usually available in larger quantities in cities or larger towns. This can save you a lot of tick bites.
For geocachers, Munzee is therefore also considered caching for beginners and gamers. But there are also some geocachers who have switched to Munzee.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ iOS app on iTunes
- ↑ Android app on Google Play
- ↑ Munzee.com site
- ↑ All About Munzee on Munzee Support
- ↑ World map on Munzee.com
- ↑ User Munzee on Munzee.com
- ↑ STATzee on Munzee.com
- ↑ # 53 MS Seeadler Mobil Munzee
- ↑ Jan Pötzscher: Geocaching 2.0 - Munzee as a new leisure activity. In: queo blog. May 3, 2012, accessed August 10, 2013 .