Ingress

Ingress is an augmented reality (AR) mobile game developed by Niantic (originally an internal Google startup). Released in 2012, the game requires players to physically travel to real-world locations to interact with virtual “portals.”

Gameplay

Players choose between two factions and compete to:

• Capture and link portals at real-world locations
• Create control fields over geographic areas
• Visit physical landmarks and points of interest

The game mechanics require actual physical movement, making it distinct from traditional mobile games.

Potential Data Collection for Mapping

There are unconfirmed reports that Ingress was used to collect pedestrian path data to improve [[Google Maps]]:

• Player movement patterns: As players walked to portals, their phones tracked accessible pedestrian routes
• Location verification: Player visits confirmed the accessibility and existence of locations
• Indoor/outdoor paths: Game data could reveal which areas are walkable vs. vehicle-only

This data would be valuable for:

• Improving pedestrian navigation
• Identifying walkable shortcuts
• Mapping areas with limited street view coverage
• Understanding foot traffic patterns

Note: While this connection seems logical given Niantic’s origins as a Google company, reliable sources confirming this specific use case are limited.

Legacy

Ingress served as the foundation for Niantic’s later success with Pokémon GO, which used similar AR mechanics and location-based gameplay.

Related Concepts

• [[Google Maps]]
• Augmented reality gaming
• Crowdsourced data collection
• Location-based services

Resources

• Ingress Official Site