Ingress, the new revelation when it comes to video games, comes when no-one would have expected! The application made especially for Android smartphones conquered hundreds of thousands of people and got publicity all over the world. The game found currently in a closed beta status offers on its website invitations for trying the game manufactured by Google Niantic Labs. This application brings to the players an alternate reality MMO in which he will have to gain as many territories as possible.
In Ingress, the players can be part of one of the two factions: The Resistance and the Illuminates. The players have at their disposal a world map and they have to conquer as many territories as possible for the faction to which they belong with the help of some virtual connections between virtual portals visible only on the mobile phone’s screen. The purpose of the games is for a faction to control as many mental units as possible – meaning people – in order to gain control over the entire zone in which they are located.
In Ingress, the Illuminates own the green color and the Resistance has the blue color at its disposal, so the territories that are in the composition of each faction are visible on the map shown on the mobile phone’s screen. The virtual portals are depicted with strongly colored circles. The Illuminates are trying to help the Founders to reach the Earth because they think these Founders shall bring with them a strong illumination that shall take the world to salvation. The Resistance is trying to protect the planet from the invasion of the Founders, and they consider that they are protecting mankind, albeit the opposite side sees them as fear mongers when it comes to change and the unknown.
The game mode
The Ingress application offers the player a map of the area in which he is located, a map colored in black with gray lines representing the streets and the buildings. The latter aren’t named specifically, but the map is enriched by portals, fields, connections and exotic matter. The player needs to be close to the objective he seeks in order to manipulate the map, the object being represented under the form of a triangle surrounded by a circle that delimitates the power of action on behalf of the player in the surrounding environment.
The portals are visible on the map under the form of blue, gray or green points, depending on the faction that is controlling them. These portals represent in the real space other maximum importance buildings, statues or other important cultural elements. The players can demand for new portals to be built and an object of this kind can be conquered if a resonator is thrown at it. The resonators are the ones that are surrounding the portal and have different levels and the player can only use the resonators that have a level up to his own level. The only mode existent in the present is the one that offers the portals shields that increase their resistance to attacks.
The exotic matter represents a resource that is necessary to any player. This matter is available in many locations and it manifests itself on the map under the form of some moving light globes which, if they reach the player, will be absorbed and included in his resources. The exotic matter is often found around the portals.
The Ingress player has at his disposal an entire arsenal of objects that he can use to his advantage, objects that he gains following the hacks he makes at the location of the portal. The number of possible hacks is limited, just like every operation of this kind can have gains or can be followed by a null result.
In order to attack a portal, the player shall use the XM weapon which becomes stronger and stronger as the player grows in level. Of course, the portals owned by the adverse faction can resist with the help of the players belonging to that faction. The players can even form a connection triangle between three portals, a fact which offers the faction a certain number of mental units. The player can grow up to level 8 through accumulation of action points. These points are gained following the hacks of the portals, gaining the portals and realization, as well as breaking the connections between the portals.
The game Ingress was released on the market on November 16th 2012 and those that want it can download it directly from Google Play Store using their Android smartphones. The game is for now free.