Living in Bilbao the #EXPERIENCE of GOOGLE INGRESS (Augmented Reality Game)

 

This past Saturday my partner Ander and I have had the opportunity to live the experience of what an Augmented Reality game is. Specifically, it has been through the streets of Bilbao, which has been the secondary headquarters of the INGRESS game of Google Niantic's Start Up. Just a few months ago, AXA unveiled an agreement whereby its 20,000 offices worldwide are part of this game, and in which they play a "protective" role.

 

Specifically in this "Anomaly" (which is what these types of encounters are called) almost 500 players have gathered to conquer Bilbao, divided into two factions: the Resistance (also called "Smurfs" because of their blue color) and the Illuminati (also called "Frogs" for their green color).

 

A game that is played throughout the year from mobile devices, but that in these encounters allows players to get to know each other physically, from the same city or from other cities or countries, and which also allows you to get to know the city from one point from a different view than the one physically observed when walking through it (source of information).

 

In addition, this is a game in which you do a lot of exercise, since you have to walk, and even run at some point, to get to the different portals (places) on time, the AXA offices are one of them. Specifically, I have counted 13,000 steps on my activity bracelet during today's Anomaly, about 10 km. It is also a game that can also be played as a family, in fact we have found several, with children of all ages, including babies.

 

Specifically, there were about 200 places scattered throughout the city and Bilbao, which were the object of the game, something that is also a very good tourist attraction for those cities in which it is celebrated.

 

INGRESS is a social game, and also a great strategy, since not only do you have to organize in local communities, but you even have to be in contact with members from other countries to support either the Resistance or the Enlightened ones. In fact, in the case of Bilbao, he has told us that there was even a player who was in Mexico, giving instructions to local Bilbao players.

 

For passers-by who were in Bilbao this Saturday, it has not gone unnoticed that hundreds of people dressed in green or blue were organized in small groups and concentrated on their smartphones. Many asked us what are you doing? Why are you all in blue? Are you following a soccer game on your smartphone / headphones?

 

In short, a very positive experience, in which the PHYSICAL and DIGITAL world are blurred to form a whole and I invite you to live, either as a player, a simple spectator, or even as a sponsor supporting it. 

 

 

We wait for you in the next Anomaly !!!! (Here you can see in which cities it will be held:  https://www.ingress.com/events )