Challenges: Now that they are released

[+NYPaddleCacher]

Now that challenges are released I thought I'd start a thread to discuss the new feature. I realize that a Challenges thread was started a week ago or so but much of that is speculation and thread drift. So let's talk about the new feature, issues that we are encountering, possible enhancements. etc.

 

It's okay to be critical but let's try to be constructive as well.

[+RoandJoe]

I'm just curious if fulfilling a challenge cache boosts your number?

[+Avernar]

I can't seem to search by closest to me. I always get "Results for: 47°39.585'N 122°21.354'W" regardless what's in the URL.

[+Panther&Pine]

Is there a real log anywhere? All I see is Username Completed It.

Which is boring.

 

Off to go make a new basic account to try these things out with.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

I tried to search for challenges "Near Me" and it told me that "We did not find any Challenges near Ithaca, ny."

 

What is the definition of "near" and can I change the search radius so that I can find the "closest" challenge?

[+KiesterFamily3]

I hope that these do not add to your finds. I think it is a fun feature, but kissing a frog or hugging your dog should not count the same as actually completing a cache find. I am all about building the community and giving people another reason to visit the site, but challenges should absolutely not be considered a geocache find.

[+Motorcycledude]

Sorry, this is so silly and ridiculous that I can't be constructive. This is a really bad joke.

[+DJCreekCachers]

According to the Challenges FAQ, Challenges are published to the website immediately. I submitted one and although it shows up on my profile, it has not appeared on the Website for all to see. I also did a search using various search strings, but there wrere no returns. What gives?

[+Motorcycledude]

I hope that these do not add to your finds. I think it is a fun feature, but kissing a frog or hugging your dog should not count the same as actually completing a cache find. I am all about building the community and giving people another reason to visit the site, but challenges should absolutely not be considered a geocache find.

 

Unfortunately they seem to do...

[tomowens]

I guess I don't get the connection between the grand total of one challenge that I looked at and geocaching. I must be missing something.

[+phillies26]

I hope that these do not add to your finds. I think it is a fun feature, but kissing a frog or hugging your dog should not count the same as actually completing a cache find. I am all about building the community and giving people another reason to visit the site, but challenges should absolutely not be considered a geocache find.

My thoughts exactly. If challenges get listed as part of my finds, I'm probably not touching another challenge again.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

Just submitted and published my first challenge at an historic park in Newport, RI (where I used to have a nano that kept going missing).

 

Some thoughts and comments:

1) You cannot create a notification for them being published. How are we supposed to know they are out there, without searching for them?

2) They do not show up on the maps (beta or old style)

3) They do not show up in the "Newest In state" lists

4) Or the "Seek a Cache ... By State" page

 

They appear to be a totally separate aspect of the game, like Benchmarks.

[+dfx]

First impression: meh.

[+Panther&Pine]

I can't figure out how to find any of them, well I can find the two global ones.

And the Find Me button doesn't work for me, anyone else.

[+Max and 99]

Ditto on what others have said. I'm still waiting to see my new challenge listed on the website even though it was published about 10 minutes ago. What's up with that???

I've searched for challenges in my state, and the results show zero matches. That can't be!!!

 

How do I find them? How do I get mine to show up?

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

I tried to search for challenges "Near Me" and it told me that "We did not find any Challenges near Ithaca, ny."

 

What is the definition of "near" and can I change the search radius so that I can find the "closest" challenge?

 

Newport is not "Near" Providence, about 25 miles away (as the crow flies).

[+Roman!]

I refuse to do them so long as they count towards you finds, kissing a frog? Taking a picture with your dog? Pretty soon it'll be easy to boost your count by multiple thousands just sitting at home and taking pictures.

 

They just came out and there's already hundreds, if not thousands published. I'm sure they're all well thought out and quality challenges.

Edited August 18, 2011 by [Roman]

[+NYPaddleCacher]

I can't figure out how to find any of them, well I can find the two global ones.

And the Find Me button doesn't work for me, anyone else.

 

I think they could use a hotfix that increases the search radius significantly for "Near Me" searches. There will be lots of places in the world where Challenges will be few and far between and no way to discover where the closest location based (as opposed to Worldwide challenges like "Kiss a Frog") challenge is located.

[Dinoprophet]

' timestamp='1313692353' post='4813266']

I refuse to do them so long as they count towards you finds, kissing a frog? Taking a picture with your dog? Pretty soon it'll be easy to boost your count by multiple thousands just sitting at home and taking pictures.

I believe that kind of Challenge (Worldwide) can only be created by Groundspeak at this time, based on what Jeremy said in the podcast interview. The photo and action ones are done at a specific location.

[Pup Patrol]

Sorry, this is so silly and ridiculous that I can't be constructive. This is a really bad joke.

 

First impression: meh.

 

Magor disappointment.

 

Sad to see my profile page changed to include these, when I very much doubt I'll be participating.

 

[+Ike 13]

' timestamp='1313692353' post='4813266']

I refuse to do them so long as they count towards you finds, kissing a frog? Taking a picture with your dog? Pretty soon it'll be easy to boost your count by multiple thousands just sitting at home and taking pictures.

 

They just came out and there's already hundreds, if not thousands published. I'm sure they're all well though out and quality challenges.

Yep I had a feeling this would happen just not so fast. I thought the whole point was going somewhere and doing something. Half the ones I have seen can be done from anywhere. Not Geocaching at all.

[Dinoprophet]

Where are you guys seeing 100s and 1000s published?

[+NYPaddleCacher]

I tried to search for challenges "Near Me" and it told me that "We did not find any Challenges near Ithaca, ny."

 

What is the definition of "near" and can I change the search radius so that I can find the "closest" challenge?

 

Newport is not "Near" Providence, about 25 miles away (as the crow flies).

 

I know. I spent a few days at a conference in Providence and found one cache just outside the hotel, then found your Brenton Point cache in Newport "on the way" towards home.

 

The problem is I don't want to see a list of Challenges "Near Me". I want to see a list of Challenges "closest to me".

[+Keith Watson]

First one published, second one queued. I can't believe I got CX8. Should have been hitting the refresh button quicker. I would like to see who owns a challenge and what other challenges they own.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

I've seen several challenges posted so far that I could complete, if I allowed myself to accept a challenge that I've retroactively completed. Is retroactively completing challenges bad form?

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

How do I find them? How do I get mine to show up?

 

Looks like to have to go to menu and select Play / Find Challenges to get to the the Challenges search screen.

[+Panther&Pine]

I've seen several challenges posted so far that I could complete, if I allowed myself to accept a challenge that I've retroactively completed. Is retroactively completing challenges bad form?

I guess we can decide that now.

[+Ike 13]

' timestamp='1313692353' post='4813266']

I refuse to do them so long as they count towards you finds, kissing a frog? Taking a picture with your dog? Pretty soon it'll be easy to boost your count by multiple thousands just sitting at home and taking pictures.

I believe that kind of Challenge (Worldwide) can only be created by Groundspeak at this time, based on what Jeremy said in the podcast interview. The photo and action ones are done at a specific location.

HA! Really look at the latest activity. No I'll just list them here:

 

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CXD4

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX30

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX56

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CXCF

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX2E

Edited August 18, 2011 by IkeHurley13

[+Avernar]

First one published, second one queued. I can't believe I got CX8. Should have been hitting the refresh button quicker. I would like to see who owns a challenge and what other challenges they own.

From the FAQ:

 

Who owns a Challenge?

 

Challenges may be created by any Premium Member, but they are not owned by anyone, since there is no physical container to maintain. Once issued, a Challenge can be edited by its creator until someone accepts the Challenge or 24 hours pass, whichever comes first.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

First one published, second one queued. I can't believe I got CX8. Should have been hitting the refresh button quicker. I would like to see who owns a challenge and what other challenges they own.

 

Once the challenge is published, you no longer own it. If you scroll to the bottom of all the logs you'll see who created the challenge but once it's published it's "owned" by the community.

[+dfx]

Where are you guys seeing 100s and 1000s published?

 

We're already up to CXF8, that's about 250 of them.

[Dinoprophet]

' timestamp='1313692353' post='4813266']

I refuse to do them so long as they count towards you finds, kissing a frog? Taking a picture with your dog? Pretty soon it'll be easy to boost your count by multiple thousands just sitting at home and taking pictures.

I believe that kind of Challenge (Worldwide) can only be created by Groundspeak at this time, based on what Jeremy said in the podcast interview. The photo and action ones are done at a specific location.

HA! Really look at the latest activity. No I'll just list them here:

 

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CXD4

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX30

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX12

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX56

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CXCF

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX2E

Yeah, I see that now. From Jeremy's description, I don't think that was the intent. But there you go.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

I tried to search for challenges "Near Me" and it told me that "We did not find any Challenges near Ithaca, ny."

 

What is the definition of "near" and can I change the search radius so that I can find the "closest" challenge?

 

Newport is not "Near" Providence, about 25 miles away (as the crow flies).

 

I know.

 

I guess I wasn't clear. My Challenge is in Newport, and when I searched using Providence as the start point, it did not list my Challenege. So the radius is less than ~25 miles. I just checked using Warick and Cranson as the searchpoints, and it was seen in Warwick, but not Cranston. So the radius is about 20 miles.

[+ZSandmann]

My first Challenge: CX3A

 

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX3A

 

You will have to climb the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak, and take a photo with the stainless steal pyramid at the summit.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

' timestamp='1313692353' post='4813266']

I refuse to do them so long as they count towards you finds, kissing a frog? Taking a picture with your dog? Pretty soon it'll be easy to boost your count by multiple thousands just sitting at home and taking pictures.

I believe that kind of Challenge (Worldwide) can only be created by Groundspeak at this time, based on what Jeremy said in the podcast interview. The photo and action ones are done at a specific location.

HA! Really look at the latest activity. No I'll just list them here:

 

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CXD4

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX30

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX12

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX56

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CXCF

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX2E

 

Look at CX30. The description indicates that only Groundspeak can create Worldwide Challenges. Jeremy indicated in the podcast that a Feedback section (there is already a Challenges section) will be used for Worldwide challenge suggestions.

[Pup Patrol]

Really? This is supposed to be "better" than Virtuals?

 

ugh

[+addisonbr]

I guess we know where ALRs went when they were banned from caches. They put on capes and called themselves challenges.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

HA! Really look at the latest activity. No I'll just list them here:

 

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CXD4

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX30

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX12

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX56

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CXCF

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX2E

 

Ugh. So much for location needing to part of the Challenge.

[+Bowlr]

I like it. Not to fond of it boosting my numbers. Question, How do I make it go worldwide?

[+NYPaddleCacher]

I tried to search for challenges "Near Me" and it told me that "We did not find any Challenges near Ithaca, ny."

 

What is the definition of "near" and can I change the search radius so that I can find the "closest" challenge?

 

Newport is not "Near" Providence, about 25 miles away (as the crow flies).

 

I know.

 

I guess I wasn't clear. My Challenge is in Newport, and when I searched using Providence as the start point, it did not list my Challenege. So the radius is less than ~25 miles. I just checked using Warick and Cranson as the searchpoints, and it was seen in Warwick, but not Cranston. So the radius is about 20 miles.

 

Ah, I get it now. It should probably be more like 200 (or more). The closest that I've found (by searching other city names) is one that a forum regular created at Niagara Falls...about 160 miles from me.

[+TheLoneGrangers]

So far what I like the most about challenges is the vote down button

[+Ashallond]

No way to search challenges at all. yes, you can look at worldwide, but some of the others are designed as worldwide, and if I type in a state or a region...nothing. I would expect a list of them a la what the cache list looks like if you search a region.

[+TheLoneGrangers]

My first Challenge: CX3A

 

http://www.geocaching.com/challenges/view.aspx?cx=CX3A

 

You will have to climb the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak, and take a photo with the stainless steal pyramid at the summit.

 

Now this is what I consider a challenge, not hugging someone, or kissing a frog.

[+Mom-n-Andy]

Well, I wanted to take people on a walking tour of a certain neighborhood. To do that I'd need to direct them to start at certain coordinates or at a certain street corner. Doesn't seem like you can do that. You can put in coordinates but you have to choose one of the nearby locations that are already in their database. Those locations seem mostly to be businesses. Seems goofy to tell someone they should start at XYZ Hair Salon when you really want them to start at a sculpture on the nearby street corner.

 

I guess this would be okay if you want someone to go to Java Joe's Coffee Shop and drink a latte, but I don't see the point of making that a challenge.

[Dinoprophet]

I like it. Not to fond of it boosting my numbers. Question, How do I make it go worldwide?

In the podcast, Jeremy suggested that only Groundspeak would be able to do that.

 

It hasn't stopped people from making the Worldwide kind, however. It's a bit like people using virtuals to post riddles, I'd say.

[+Sharknose Bunnies]

Two Problems:

 

1. Can't edit anything after the challenge is accepted.

When you create a challenge, you've got 24 hours or until someone accepts it to edit the listing. After that you can't change anything. I created a challenge (CX32) Bite the Cherry!. I wanted to tweak the coords to be closer to the actual sculpture, but now that someone accepted the challenge, I can change anything at all with the challenge. At least give someone 24 hours to edit their listing, clarify things, correct typos, etc.

 

2. Can't delete your own logs?

I'm not talking about deleting other's logs. The user who claimed the first completion just grabbed a photo from the web and posted it as a joke. He wants to delete his own log now, but according to him there is no way to delete your own log? Is this correct?

Edited August 18, 2011 by Sharknose Bunnies

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

So far what I like the most about challenges is the vote down button

 

+1

[+ZSandmann]

Two Problems:

 

1. Can't edit anything after the challenge is accepted.

When you create a challenge, you've got 24 hours or until someone accepts it to edit the listing. After that you can't change anything. I created a challenge (CX32) Bite the Cherry!. I wanted to tweak the coords to be closer to the actual sculpture, but now that someone accepted the challenge, I can change anything at all with the challenge. At least give someone 24 hours to edit their listing, clarify things, correct typos, etc.

 

2. Can't delete your own logs?

I'm not talking about deleting other's logs. The user who claimed the first completion just grabbed a photo from the web and posted it as a joke. He wants to delete his own log now, but according to him there is no way to delete your own log? Is this correct?

 

There is a delete button on all your challenge logs.

[+Max and 99]

How do I find them? How do I get mine to show up?

 

Looks like to have to go to menu and select Play / Find Challenges to get to the the Challenges search screen.

 

It doesn't work. Like others have said, the search shows zero results.

[+Max and 99]

Woohoo! My challenge finally showed up after about an hour delay.