Mrdlg2u

Wow, way to bring bring back this old thread. Here is a new twist on "cheating". I was in Kwick trip over the weekend, and heard 2 woman talking about "Did find any others", "looking for it..." and "have never been able to find that one..." and "we looked for a long time, and still dident find it..." I knew what they were talking about, not that I am eavesdropping on every conversation I hear, But... So one of the women told the other exactly where "it" was!!! I leaned over and told them "Hey, That takes all the fun out of it." To which the first women said: "Ya, but now I can check the dadgum thing off of my list!" We all all laughed and went our separate ways. Later, Gundy P.S. I had already found one they were talking about

You are correct about one thing, it is not a new game. Pirates were great at treasure hunting. Look how far we have come... What I do understand is that this is already a "smartphone game". Myself and many others use their smartphone more then the standalone GPS unit. Another thing I "understand" is that things change and evolve... and I suppose when the smart phone goes out of style... Your game will go back to a standalone GPS game. Since you feel this is a smartphone game already. Try turning off the GPS function completely and hunt for a few in the woods or other non wide open area. No using clear air photos... That is why the restriction on open landscapes. Just you and the smartphone, I don't restrict air photos and maps though other than the ones that show a large object in an open field. Have to be fair. You can use tower triangulation if you want to. To be clear, it's not a "smartphone game", and it's not a "handheld GPSr game". It's just a game that makes use of GPS technology -- For any device that supports GPS technology. That means handhelds and smartphones are equally as important, useful, feasible, and acceptable. It's how you use the device, and the technical capability of your device - handheld OR smartphone (both exist across the spectrum). I'm really starting to greatly detest this ongoing "GPSr" vs "Smartphone" debate. Don_J: "hopefully it never will be" - if/when any handheld device other than a dedicated GPSr has technology that surpasses them, or is at least sufficient to play the game (we're already here), then yes, it will be. Accept that. Play with whatever device you want, and let anyone else play with the device they want. Mrdlg2u: It's only a smartphone game in that people can use a smartphone. Handhelds on average are still more capable than smartphones on average. So it's not time (yet?) to declare this a "smartphone game" -- Smartphone-capable, yes. Sorry, I can't accept that because it isn't true. Just because a game can be played on a smartphone does not mean that it is a smartphone game. "Angry Birds" is a smartphone game. The bar code game with the unspeakable name is a smartphone game. Saying that Geocaching is a smartphone game would be like saying that Chess is a smartphone game. As long as I can place a board on the table and set up the pieces, it is not a smartphone game. WOW... no one said it was a "smartphone only game". I use my GPS Handheld when I have it along. If something new comes along that a can input GPS data into... I may use that as well. Back to cheating: No matter what game it is, people will take it to seriously, and have to get the "upper hand". Not every game is a competition. Later, Gundy Hey, I just found an app for my phone to play chess...

I like the tech stuff. That makes it more fun for me.But, the bottom line is getting out and looking around. Its something to do with the kids... whilst they will still hang around with me. LOL I also build and fly Remote Control planes, you would not believe how serious and competitive get about that... Things people say in "forums", they would never bring up in real life. Later, Gundy

I really like Geocaching. There are a bunch of different types of caches. There are some I just ignore. The QR codes could be added as an option and the game would go on as before... If you don't like scanning, ignore it. If you use your smart phone to find caches and log caches, it would be a nice option. Later, MrDLG2u

If GC.com becomes another Munzee, I'm outta' here. Barcodes would become the new micro. They would dominate the field in terms of numbers. I don't have/want a smartphone or other barcode reader. I don't want to find a cache that contains nothing. +1 I could tell you what to do with your smart phones but the moderators wouldn't like it. Why be like that?? these are just ideas and options to a great game. Later, MrDLG2u

Yes, people justify doing it a lot of different ways. I always thought it was silly. I have one that I can not find... I drive by it every day. I have looked 4 times and still not able to get it closed. so it stays on my map. it is annoying, but I am not going to mark it as found. Later, MrDLG2u

You are correct about one thing, it is not a new game. Pirates were great at treasure hunting. Look how far we have come... What I do understand is that this is already a "smartphone game". Myself and many others use their smartphone more then the standalone GPS unit. Another thing I "understand" is that things change and evolve... and I suppose when the smart phone goes out of style... Your game will go back to a standalone GPS game. Later, MrDLG2u There are plenty of location based games that can be played on a smartphone. It may make sense that if Groundspeak says they're "The Language of Location" for them to pursue some of these. I believe that if Groundspeak had waited a few years and launched Wherigo as a smartphone app it would have been far more successful than it was when launched with insufficient hardware for it to be widely playable. While Groundspeak can certainly expand into areas that require smartphones and compete with FourSquare, Munzee, and others; over the years they have learned that their bread and butter is in the simple geocaching game that was started 13 years ago. By keeping it simple to finding containers and a simple online find/dnf log, they can appeal to broadest group. While there have been some extensions such as multi-caches, puzzles, virtual caches, and EarthCaches, the more complex it gets the less successful it has been. The majority of cachers (even those coming via a smartphone app) realize that point is have fun looking for caches. There are certainly some who play to get souvenirs or complete statistical accomplishments; but the majority are looking for caches because they enjoy getting outside and going to new places. Extraneous structure and complication to log finds would turn off many. I don't see a good reason to mess with the current system or to make logging dependent on any particular technology. Those are great points I had forgotten about Wherigo. I think there is a good app now. I don't think the current system should be changed either, but maybe just added to. logging on paper should stay the same. But add the option to be able to scan the cache... it would be another way to prove you found a cache. (Hey, I am back on topic now LOL) Later, MrDLG2u

You are correct about one thing, it is not a new game. Pirates were great at treasure hunting. Look how far we have come... What I do understand is that this is already a "smartphone game". Myself and many others use their smartphone more then the standalone GPS unit. Another thing I "understand" is that things change and evolve... and I suppose when the smart phone goes out of style... Your game will go back to a standalone GPS game. Later, MrDLG2u

My dislike of QR codes stems not from geocaching but from my job. As an IT person, they are a hassle. Users at my work were trying to include them as part of their email signature. On the face of it, this is stupid. Why would you scan an image on the screen to get information that you already have in the email? More pointedly, they were wondering why recipients of their emails were complaining that messages were being flagged as having malicious content. Meanwhile, I am glad that the suggestion has been made here. This means it will very likely never be implemented. I think this is a good point. So many people see the latest technology and find a way to shoehorn it into an activity, as opposed to looking how it can add value to a process. I like technology but hate technology for its own sake. Technology used well makes life easier, more enjoyable and whatnot. Technology used for its own sake usually just means yet another device needs to be used to achieve the same thing that used to be done without another doodad. I belong to a few different forums, for my other hobbies, and this is a complaint of many people. "Don"t push your new technology on everyone, we like it the way it is" I also don't like "technology for its own sake". But, If it is just put in as an option. How can that hurt?? There are a host of good reasons to have an option to the log book. We are using a great piece of technology to make the find... then try to wright on a wet log book with a broken pencil. (please don't miss my point by telling me to bring my own pencil.) I don't think a QR code should replace anything. But it could be used with the cache. My kids will not care about the QR code, they want to put there names in the log and trade a toy. But, when I am going out to get a couple of finds during my lunch hour, I want to make the find and move on. Later, MrDLG2u

"QR codes cannot be viruses! A virus must be a part of an executable – meaning a part of an app that runs on your mobile device. QR codes have no executable data encoded in, and even if they contained machines instructions for some devices – no QR code reader is capable of executing them. So one thing must be stated clear – QR codes cannot be viruses. At the worst case they can point to a URL that will suggest you to download an app that if you choose to download it ..." My thought is that it should be offered as a choice... Sign the log book or scan the code. This leaves no one out, and if you don't want to use the new tech, you just ignore it. But who could ever not want "new tech". I use a magnetic compass and a slide rule, along with my paper map, for all my finds. I can't get over how much geocachers dislike QR codes... maybe its because there are only 5 QR codes within 50 miles of me, 3 are mine. Later, MrDLG2u

I understand your thinking... I try to clear around my house, and see what I can get cleared on my lunch break...without being late getting back. some of the "pine tree" and micros I don't sign. I am in it for the hunt. Later, MrDLG2u

I tried to scan something with my Montana but could not find the right button. Time to upgrade lol my phone is always in my pocket. my caching bag does not always get into my car. Later, MrDLG2u Upgrade? Why? Because you're worried about my find count? I think not. No, I am not concerned about anyones counts... upgrade because its a new game I never understood why anyone would cheat at something that is just for fun. Kind of like cheating on the number of push-ups I do in my workout... Later, MrDLG2u

I tried to scan something with my Montana but could not find the right button. Time to upgrade lol my phone is always in my pocket. my caching bag does not always get into my car. Later, MrDLG2u

If Geocaching.com wanted to make it so you could not cheat, they would use a code that you could scan...... Oh wait, that system is already out there. If you don't scan or if you scan the code more then 50 ft from set location, it will not let you log the find. Later, MrDLG2u

Never had a reason to come to the forums... until today. wow. It was eye opening. Later, MrDLG2u