The Grid, South Africa's location-based mobile social network, on Monday launches Legends Of Echo, a multiplayer social game for cellphones that
allows players to trade, battle and communicate with other players across South Africa with their physical location as central point.
Legends of Echo, available via the Grid, make use of Vodacom's Location-Based Services (LBS) to determine the player's physical location. From their location, players can then explore their surroundings or move
(virtually) to anywhere else in South Africa to interact with other players - in real time.
In the game, the Echo is a parallel virtual universe based on the South African map. Instead of cities and skyscrapers, however, players will find rolling green fields, rocky outcrops and valleys to explore and establish their base.
The Echo is entirely populated by players of the game, as well as their bases. Real-world place names are still used to navigate, e.g. a player can teleport from Belville in Cape Town to Randburg in Johannesburg to battle another player.
The objective of the game is to become a legend of the Echo (i.e. gain enough Legend Points to appear on the high score sheet). To do this, players need to battle other players, obtain advanced weapons and other items by exploration or trade with other players.
The game is unique in that it mirrors real-life locations in a multiplayer environment. Interaction is always location-bound i.e. a player is battling a player in close physical proximity to him/herself.
Says Vincent Maher, Portfolio Manager Social Media, Vodacom South Africa: "Legends of Echo combines the best in real-time Location-Based Services and mobile multiplayer gaming, in that it allows players across South Africa to interact in a virtual world that is linked to their real-life location - all via their cellphones. As such, it's an exciting and entertaining extension of The Grid as the leading location-based social network in South Africa."
The game is available for free as Java download to cellphones. Once installed, players can interact immediately with other players in the Echo universe. There is no cost for playing Legends of Echo apart from the standard data costs to the network provider. Players have the option to trade airtime for Elements, which in turn is exchanged for additional weapons to enhance their game.
- To play Legends of Echo, SMS 'ECHO' to 33313 (50c/SMS) or visit http://www.legendsofecho.mobi/