The Grid, Vodacom’s Mobile Social Network, recently launched South Africa’s first location-based, multi-player online mobile game.
“Legends of Echo” mirrors the geographical map of South Africa, which allows players to use their real-world locations as a starting point in the gaming battle. This real-world geography enhances player interaction, with each one battling it out for their “hood”. Players can chat, trade elements, upgrade weapons, band together to form clans and trade airtime for elements (watch out parents!).
Underlying the game is its own economy. The marketplace where players can buy and sell elements and currency forms a major part of the strategy of the game. Different weapons and powers are collected by moving around the country, giving players a different edge in battle. Elements are the currency players use to battle it out for R500 free airtime or the ultimate prize of R5000 cash and to become a Legend of Echo with the highest score ranking.
"Legends of Echo" is a free Java download although not supported by all handsets. Players also need a mobile data connection to play. There are no costs to play, just the standard data cost to the network provider.
What makes this game unique to any other mobile game is that there is no underlying order, the player determines the game. Legends of Echo is a game that allows you to network socially, rather than a social network on which to play games.
