World-of-Fourcraft
Latest
World of Fourcraft makes New York 'hood loyalty fun again
When Napoleon tried to invade Russia in 1812, his armies froze to death and he suffered a terrible, morale-crushing defeat -- and now you can too, all from the comfort of your favorite New York neighborhood! World of Fourcraft is an innovative app that turns New York's five boroughs into a giant game of Risk through the clever use of Foursquare. Users pledge loyalty to a team and check in to their chosen boroughs, which is similar to moving a plastic Risk soldier to that area, to build up their armies. An algorithm then decides who owns what based on these check-ins. As of the end of June, USA Today reported World of Fourcraft had roughly 100 players and Manhattan was winning. But as Napoleon knows, winning streaks can change rapidly and without warning. Or maybe he just couldn't see the signs. (Because they were high up.) (And he was short.)
World of Fourcraft brings battle of the boroughs to Foursquare
There's a war on in New York City. The lines of loyalty were drawn way back in 1898 and, ever since, it's been battle for borough superiority. A team of hackers has ushered this county rivalry into the internet age, turning the Big Apple into a giant Risk board where check-ins replace dice rolls and armies are gathered on Foursquare. In World of Fourcraft users pledge fealty to a particular locale then, for the honor of their homeland, check-in to wrest control of neighborhoods from their residents and defend their own turf from potential usurpers. The whole project was whipped up last weekend during a hackathon at New York's General Assembly. At the moment it does little more than tally check-ins, but the creators plan to add new features in the future. Now, go forth and do battle for your block but, don't stray too far -- to the north and east of the Boogie Down Bronx, and the south and west of the Slums of Shaolin, lies The Waste Land.
