iPhone Game: Gowalla - Josh Spear, Trendspotting

If a vintage suitcase featuring city stickers, a scavenger hunt, and an iPhone 3G were combined, the result would be location-based travel game Gowalla. The recently launched game from Texas-based “digital collectibles” company AlamoFire invites users to collect virtual stamps at the places they visit, hide icons for friends to find, and earn pins of glory, the granddaddy of Gowalla achievements awarded for completed trips. Austintonians and San Franciscans are currently the only app purchasers who can participate in the full experience, but other cities nationwide are being added and partially guided by the recommendations of user-added hot spots. Who doesn’t want to be rewarded for visiting extraordinary and everyday places with phone in hand?

Tags: applications, Gadgetry, iphone, Travel, Trends

Erica	Monday, 04.20.09 @ 7:35 pm
A group called 4square (foursquare?) is doing something similar here in New York. You earn badges for hitting various nightlife spots, steal titles from your friends, etc. There’s also a “douchebag” badge you earn for going to the wrong spot.

Heath Alysa	Tuesday, 04.21.09 @ 11:50 am
Austinites.

Jonathan Carroll

Tuesday, 04.21.09 @ 1:38 pm

Thanks for the write-up!

At the moment, Austin and San Francisco are *featured* cities, but as loads of people have already discovered, you can play Gowalla anywhere you have 3G network coverage (read=the GPS is working on your iPhone 3G)! People are playing in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, Seattle, San Diego, Las Vegas and tons of other fun spots!

Thanks again for the mention. Now get out and Gowalla! =^)

Dr. Barnabus Peddingferd

Tuesday, 04.21.09 @ 5:02 pm

As Heath points out above, a resident of Austin is referred to as an Austinite. An Austonian has been used on occasion to refer to those Austin residents who have recently arrived from California.

Also of note, those in Columbus-OH, Fort Worth-TX and Augusta-GA can also participate in a trip located in their city. While there are only 5 US cities with trips currently, Gowallites are quickly creating spots and can even suggest trips.

With regard to foursquare, as fun as it may be, not having to actually be at the location you check in at (I’ve checked in 3 blocks away from a spot) is somewhat of a detractor to location-based games.

Happy Gowall’ing!