Extendiality

Let’s see, what else needs to be improved in the Ingress Game. There is quite a big list, compiled from my thoughts and ideas of the Ingress community members. I have picked up some of the most important ones.

Previous posts are here and here.

Main game logic should be enhanced a bit and let me tell you why.

5) Introduce third faction to the Ingress

This is something, which received a lot of support from the players. Currently, game is too straightforward as there are only two teams. So, you conquer, other team fights for the portal and gets it back. Third faction (Red one?) can add much more instability and fun.

This is well explained by the Game Theory. And best strategy computer games had at least three forces. For example, StarCraft.

There is some evidence of this unknown force in the Niantic storyline — Verum Inveniri. Probably, they will be the “Real Resistance”? And current Resistance just thinks they are fighting for humanity, but still unwittingly help to establish Shaper’s presence? Verum Inveniri folks will also have different gameplay logic and goals, of course. Probably, even totally different mobile app.

6) Don’t play for a long time? Lose AP and level.

This one can be discussed and some will strongly oppose it. But in my opinion, this “level decay” (similar to portal decay) should be implemented in one or another way. At least, till Niantic introduces some goals to play, apart from simply building personal Level (talked about it earlier here).

Level Decay is at least something to motivate first starters to keep playing.

7) Additional mods to the Ingress gameplay

Yes, these are coming (read Ingress hangout summary with Niantic folks). Still, couple of ideas:

• Mines. You approach portal and boom! Lose XM and probably even AP.
• Turrets. Portal tries to defense itself not only when you hack or capture it, but even when you just come closer and collect XM.
• Anti-personal weapons. Some limited stuff to bring extra fun to the game. You see an enemy on the street and launch a missile 🙂

Of course, all these add-ons should be carefully balanced before being introduced to the game.

8) User should be allowed to switch on GPS tracking to reveal his location

To the same faction, not to the enemies 🙂 This is useful, when you plan to coordinate attacks and want to see, who is where. Saves time, than typing in the COMM. Quite logical for the game story as well — why can’t players of the same team view position of each other? Like the real war.

Problem is still the same — cheaters. Some lame players (yes, cheaters are just weak lamers) can have multiple accounts and spy on other team. Anyway, players should be able to decide themselves, but currently, there is no such option in Mobile App.

To be continued…

Niantic Labs has arranged a video conference hangout to answer questions on Ingress and provide some insight of what’s going on and how this is going to evolve.

There are some interesting point’s I would like to focus on:

• As Brandon Badger told, there was no hidden purpose of the game. Nothing like aggregating data for Google’s services. Idea was to create a fun game with the goal to get people out.
• There are many games, which allow making communities, but Ingress was intended to bring it out to the real world and help you to explore the neighbourhood.
• Team is around 30-40 people, which form a start-up group inside Google.
• They are monitoring social networks and listen to all suggestions. So, our big discussion last week was definitely noticed. I like such a deep interaction between players and game creators.
• Professional writers were hired from LA to work on the Niantic story. And this story is not fixed; it is dynamic and also depends on remarkable Ingress and non-Ingress events around the globe.
• Shapers “infect” minds and induce the creativity. This creativity results in specific pieces of art, which in turn increase Shaper’s presence in our world.

Noticeable facts about gameplay as well:

• My concern regarding the whole point of gameplay was addressed. Niantic works on missions and accomplishments — mostly personal, but I believe team ones can also be introduced. IMHO, main trick to solve is to decide, where one team ends and starts another? Anyway, this sounds promising.
• In addition, extra Levels can be added. Brandon mentioned “L9 – L16” but stressed that achievements is a better way to develop the game. I totally agree.
• These achievements can be tied to some locations and you can complete them while travelling, for example.
• Niantic already has different ideas for at least “year +” of gameplay.
• They do not open game for everyone and cannot fix bugs so quickly, mainly because Ingress is based on servers and Niantic does not want to trigger an overload.
• API is being developed, so that there can appear custom “Ingress style” games in future. Brandon looks forward to it, though server load is still the main concern.
• Seems, this is also the main reason, why HackIngress is still not functioning. Hopefully, will be sorted soon.
• Concern was raised in regards to the new players. Being L1 in a city with L5-L8 portals makes it impossible to play. Niantic works on the solution and an interesting suggestion has been made — “fight free zone”, dedicated only to newbies to level up.
• One of the members of that hangout mentioned idea of a bird-eye view (exactly what I suggested here), which could be accessible not only when linking, but just by a dedicated button, for example. No clear response was received, but at least issue is raised once again. New Ingress Intel map partly resolves it, though.
• New types of weapons and shields will be introduced. Turrets (found in the code long time ago) were mentioned, but again no clear answer on that.
• Item inventory system needs rework (yes, this is for sure!). For example, item drop-pickup option. Niantic works on different solutions, including NFC method.
• iPhone? Yes, it is in the roadmap with no deadline yet.

Complete hangout is here:

Yesterday’s field over San Francisco has an interesting bug. See the lowest corner of the triangle?

Portal is in Resistance’s hands, though field exists. Check yourself. What do you think? Is it just a system glitch or mysterious Ingress logic?

Update: Brandon Badger from Niantic Labs confirmed in our Google+ page it is Shaper caused glitch. Oh, these extraterrestrial “guys” like to use tricks to enlighten everyone at all costs 🙂

And got report about same happening in Moscow. It was covered with Enlightened field and now right corner is already Blue, though city is still emerald green..