Mogi: Second Generation Location-Based Gaming
Justin Hall (yes, the original links guy ... the protoblogger ... just saw him down at SXSW) reports on this fascinating Tokyo-based "item hunt" LBS game: Mogi.
This seems to really be getting to the potential of location-based services: the draping of one or more "data layers" over the physical landscape. Gaming, as described here, is one obvious application -- other business (you know, other than the "Walking by The Gap and get a coupon!" scenarios) and social mobile applications can also start to look at the world through LBS glasses.
I wonder if the publishers of this game have considered integrating marketing opportunities into the game itself: what if one of the "items" you had to gather was at a newly opened nightclub that only appeared late at night, or a noodle shop that was offering "lunch specials".
I've long been interested in LBS, but I've kind of resigned myself to the fact that we've still got a long way to go in North America before location-based applications will become viable. It's great to see things like Mogi taking off in foreign markets, though.
Source: TheFeature :: Mogi: Second Generation Location-Based Gaming