Place your own Lab Cache!?!?!

[+geocat_]

From YouTube:

Breaking news! On Feb 3rd, 2014 Geocaching.com is allowing premium members to hide a lab cache for one person! Watch the video for details!

 

Is this real? Can't seem to find anything on here about it.

[+snow_rules]

Only found once? This seems very lame and nothing to do with caching!

[+Colonial Cats]

I checked geocaching.com and didn't see anything about it.

[+K13]

I checked geocaching.com and didn't see anything about it.

 

Wouldn't it need to be Geocaching to be mentioned on geocaching.com? If it can't be done with a GPS, instead of a cell phone, is it really geocaching?

[+geocat_]

Perhaps we will be enlightened by a lackey or mod

[Clan Riffster]

The last time Groundspeak announced something new & wonderful, I dove in with both feet, from the perspective of creator and seeker. Though there were many folks quite vocal in opposition to the new idea, I found many of them to be interesting, (kinda like geocaches, some suck and some are great), and I sought to create interesting ones for the community. Then Groundspeak not only ended the idea, they went so far as to erase any trace of it. All that work, gone in a mouse click. "Poof!"

 

I have little interest in wasting more of my time and energy on some new idea, knowing Groundspeak could make all my efforts disappear, posting some pithy comment about 'better mistakes tomorrow'.

[+TheWeatherWarrior]

Probably an attempt to make ad revenue on YT.

[+Manville Possum]

Sorry, but I just could not watch. Now I have a headache.

[+cerberus1]

What a great idea !

- Then everyone's stats will be off by one...

Probably true.

[MoonPie Mafia]

The last time Groundspeak announced something new & wonderful, I dove in with both feet, from the perspective of creator and seeker. Though there were many folks quite vocal in opposition to the new idea, I found many of them to be interesting, (kinda like geocaches, some suck and some are great), and I sought to create interesting ones for the community. Then Groundspeak not only ended the idea, they went so far as to erase any trace of it. All that work, gone in a mouse click. "Poof!"

 

I have little interest in wasting more of my time and energy on some new idea, knowing Groundspeak could make all my efforts disappear, posting some pithy comment about 'better mistakes tomorrow'.

I almost became a Premium Member so I could take part myself, and then Puh-Pow!

The Challenges that I helped with the local geocaching community enjoyed, but as you point out we attempted to make them interesting.

[+Traditional Bill]

What a great idea !

- Then everyone's stats will be off by one...

Probably true.

 

Yep, tell me about it. My stats are off by 5.

 

I agree though. This most certainly sounds uninteresting to me.

[+lamoracke]

My stats are off by 12, does not matter if its 13. I will do it. Will probably ask another premium member to swap hides/finds so we each get one find and one hide that way.

[+Wintz50]

They could experiment with virtuals, webcams, and locationless type caches. I bet those would be fun.

[+Manville Possum]

They could experiment with virtuals, webcams, and locationless type caches. I bet those would be fun.

I have an idea. How about a Virtual geocache kinda like a Waymark with a history theme that requires a code word that can be found at the posted coordinates that is required to be entered before the cache can be logged? Now that would be cool!

[+Dogmeat*]

GCVlogger is usually good with his info, though his videos can sometimes be annoying. I don't like that only one person can find it. What's the point?

[+Murazor]

A cache for 1 person only? This seems to be a hoax.

[+geocat_]

My two cents....

 

Since these are "Lab" caches and (I guess) the idea is to field test ideas using us. Groundspeak is about as transparent with such things as a block of granite covered in horse poo But what if these are a beta form of Virtuals? The biggest problem with Virtuals was the review process from what I was told by some reviewers/lackeys at the MWGB a few years back so I am not sure if this would somehow make them easier to review or not. Or it could be that they are looking for a way to have temporary event caches so those NW Ohio cachers stop logging hundreds of "attends" logs on the same event for caches they find which are only placed for the event.

 

Whatever their end game is, you can bet on one thing....we will be kept in the dark. But I might just give some credit for testing some idea(s) before screwing up like the aforementioned Challenges scandal

[+Antihiro]

I agree with Geocat in that they are called lab caches, which you would think means they are somewhat of a testing ground for playing with new ideas and concepts.

 

I for one am always excited to see new things that may enhance my geocaching experience. I am always willing to give it a shot and if I don't like it, I don't have to do it anymore.

 

That's one of the great things about Geocaching. Everyone's plays the game the way that gives them the most enjoyment.

[+fuzziebear3]

I'm not sure I like them, and yet, I have a couple of ideas. Waiting to hear more from the frog about them though before I do anything rash.

[Mr.Yuck]

GCVlogger is usually good with his info, though his videos can sometimes be annoying. I don't like that only one person can find it. What's the point?

 

And the GCDoc joining him as well! This is certainly real. The video was posted on a Sunday, and as of the time I, and everyone else before me is replying, Groundspeak is not open for business yet on Monday.

[Mr.Yuck]

My two cents....

 

Since these are "Lab" caches and (I guess) the idea is to field test ideas using us. Groundspeak is about as transparent with such things as a block of granite covered in horse poo But what if these are a beta form of Virtuals? The biggest problem with Virtuals was the review process from what I was told by some reviewers/lackeys at the MWGB a few years back so I am not sure if this would somehow make them easier to review or not. Or it could be that they are looking for a way to have temporary event caches so those NW Ohio cachers stop logging hundreds of "attends" logs on the same event for caches they find which are only placed for the event.

 

 

Wrong part of Ohio. You don't want to tick off Toledo, do you?

 

Although the practice of logging multiple attends at events for temporary caches has drastically died out over the years, it is a little more widespread than just a small part of Ohio. Either way, I doubt the Frog is looking for a way to put an end to that practice with lab caches.

[+Team Hugs]

A cache for 1 person only? This seems to be a hoax.

 

Well ... February is the month containing Valentine's Day. This might be a way to create a cache for that Special Someone ... perhaps even a way to propose marriage ...

[+J Grouchy]

So, just to clarify...a Lab cache gives you a "smilie" (a '+1'), but does not count towards one's statistics and milestones?

[Clan Riffster]

So, just to clarify...a Lab cache gives you a "smilie" (a '+1'), but does not count towards one's statistics and milestones?

That's how they show on my stats.

If you had only ten found caches, and did a lab, it would look like this:

 

Found Caches

Traditional: 7

Multi cache: 2

Event cache: 1

Lab cache: 1

___________

Total caches found : 10

[+Team Microdot]

So, just to clarify...a Lab cache gives you a "smilie" (a '+1'), but does not count towards one's statistics and milestones?

That's how they show on my stats.

If you had only ten found caches, and did a lab, it would look like this:

 

Found Caches

Traditional: 7

Multi cache: 2

Event cache: 1

Lab cache: 1

___________

Total caches found : 10

 

So, forgive my ignorance (which I have an abundance of) but.... what's the point?

[+GopherGreg]

Is that a bug, or is it purposefully done by GC.com?

[Pup Patrol]

So, just to clarify...a Lab cache gives you a "smilie" (a '+1'), but does not count towards one's statistics and milestones?

 

Is that a bug, or is it purposefully done by GC.com?

 

Answers were posted back in August of last year:

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=314497

 

 

B.

[+Murazor]

So, just to clarify...a Lab cache gives you a "smilie" (a '+1'), but does not count towards one's statistics and milestones?

That's how they show on my stats.

If you had only ten found caches, and did a lab, it would look like this:

 

Found Caches

Traditional: 7

Multi cache: 2

Event cache: 1

Lab cache: 1

___________

Total caches found : 10

 

Nope. The total on the summary page would be 11.

However on the statistics page the total would be 10.

Weird, but it works this way.

[+nikcap]

The last time Groundspeak announced something new & wonderful, I dove in with both feet, from the perspective of creator and seeker. Though there were many folks quite vocal in opposition to the new idea, I found many of them to be interesting, (kinda like geocaches, some suck and some are great), and I sought to create interesting ones for the community. Then Groundspeak not only ended the idea, they went so far as to erase any trace of it. All that work, gone in a mouse click. "Poof!"

 

I have little interest in wasting more of my time and energy on some new idea, knowing Groundspeak could make all my efforts disappear, posting some pithy comment about 'better mistakes tomorrow'.

 

Yup, me too.

[+justintim1999]

Podcacher did an interview with Eirc from Geocaching HQ about Lab Caches. Check out the show.

 

http://www.podcacher.com/2014/01/show-455-0-love-and-spies/

[+geocachingvlogger]

I normally don't post on here but I would like to clear up a few things.

 

1. No this is not a hoax and a ploy for youtube revenue. Every time I have broke news about geocaching news I have verified it with Groundspeak. I am simply providing a service for those interested in what is happening in the geocaching world.

 

2. "Labs" are just an experiment. We should be thanking gc.com for allowing us to try some of their ideas. Let's just have fun with it. As far as this idea being "geocaching". Last I checked hiding a geocache for someone to go find is pretty much the whole concept of geocaching. If you really need a gpsr to go geocaching, then plug in the cords on your "lab" cache and go find it. Let's just have fun with it.

 

3. I'm sorry some find my videos "annoying". Just trying to be positive. :-)

 

Edited January 27, 2014 by geocachingvlogger

[+Murazor]

Hm, if this is going to be real, I must say it is a totally swirly idea. Please do not take the comments too personally, geocachingvlogger, messengers bringing such strange news are doomed not to be believed at first. And it turns out real the bigger is your glory the more people did not believe you.

[+GopherGreg]

Thanks for clearing things up. If this really will happen (which it now seems it will) then this will be interesting. I'll try it (if I can figure out how to do this) just for the new experience, but what's confusing me a bit is this. Groundspeak originally said labcaches are for mega events/blockparties only, no? So I'm assuming that you can place these regardless of whether you've attended an event, block party, whatever, right? Or am I missing something?

 

Thanks.

 

Greg

[+cerberus1]

Thanks for clearing things up. If this really will happen (which it now seems it will) then this will be interesting. I'll try it (if I can figure out how to do this) just for the new experience, but what's confusing me a bit is this. Groundspeak originally said labcaches are for mega events/blockparties only, no? So I'm assuming that you can place these regardless of whether you've attended an event, block party, whatever, right? Or am I missing something?

Thanks.

 

Greg

Yep. There's still no official word, so what anyone would reply would be an idea/opinion.

- Like, "Possible it's a one-shot thing to get more people interested in their lab experiments".

We're the rats...

[+geocachingvlogger]

Thanks for clearing things up. If this really will happen (which it now seems it will) then this will be interesting. I'll try it (if I can figure out how to do this) just for the new experience, but what's confusing me a bit is this. Groundspeak originally said labcaches are for mega events/blockparties only, no? So I'm assuming that you can place these regardless of whether you've attended an event, block party, whatever, right? Or am I missing something?

Thanks.

 

Greg

Yep. There's still no official word, so what anyone would reply would be an idea/opinion.

- Like, "Possible it's a one-shot thing to get more people interested in their lab experiments".

We're the rats...

 

The Podcacher interview with Bryan and Eric from GC HQ is pretty official.

 

http://www.podcacher.com/2014/01/show-455-0-love-and-spies/

Edited January 27, 2014 by geocachingvlogger

[+GopherGreg]

Thanks for clearing things up. If this really will happen (which it now seems it will) then this will be interesting. I'll try it (if I can figure out how to do this) just for the new experience, but what's confusing me a bit is this. Groundspeak originally said labcaches are for mega events/blockparties only, no? So I'm assuming that you can place these regardless of whether you've attended an event, block party, whatever, right? Or am I missing something?

Thanks.

 

Greg

Yep. There's still no official word, so what anyone would reply would be an idea/opinion.

- Like, "Possible it's a one-shot thing to get more people interested in their lab experiments".

We're the rats...

 

The Podcacher interview with Bryan and Eric from GC HQ is pretty official.

 

http://www.podcacher.com/2014/01/show-455-0-love-and-spies/

 

Thanks. I'll look over that later tonight.

[Clan Riffster]

So, just to clarify...a Lab cache gives you a "smilie" (a '+1'), but does not count towards one's statistics and milestones?

That's how they show on my stats.

If you had only ten found caches, and did a lab, it would look like this:

 

Found Caches

Traditional: 7

Multi cache: 2

Event cache: 1

Lab cache: 1

___________

Total caches found : 10

 

Nope. The total on the summary page would be 11.

However on the statistics page the total would be 10.

Weird, but it works this way.

Oops! Pay no attention to the fat man behind the curtain, who sucks at simple math. Murazor got it right. I poked around my own stats, and this is what I found.

If you add up all those numbers, you get a total of 1941. Groundspeak totals it as 1939, because the two Benchmarks don't count toward my total. Strange, but whatever. It's their website. But apparently, that's not quite confusing enough. Take a gander at my Total Caches Found list page.

Now I've dropped down from 1939, (really 1941), to 1935, presumably because, on this page, neither my Benchmarks nor my four lab caches count? So, on to my stats bar.

Back to 1939!

 

So, mea culpa to anyone who trusted my math skills.

 

My issue isn't so much that Groundspeak tries out new stuff. I'm all about trying new things. Failure to try out new things leads to stagnation, which, in my opinion, would harm this, my favorite hobby. My gripe is that, when they do try out new things, and at some point decide that's not the direction they wanted to go, their new response is to eliminate any trace of all my efforts to support these new things. When Groundspeak decided to nuke Locationless caches, they did not strip away all the hides and finds from all their members. Rather, they locked them down so no new logs could be posted, and removed the option for creating more. I think that's what should have happened with their last experiment.

 

Instead, with utter disdain for how much effort those of us who participated in the process put forth, they made them all disappear, as if they had never happened, and offered a pithy response about 'better mistakes tomorrow'.

 

Now they want us to trust them again?

[+snow_rules]

And I thought caches were supposed to be for multiple people to find and exchange swag (if they so desire). Having something that doesn't requires a location (geo) and contain a container (cache) doesn't really seem to be a geocache. Maybe GC needs to sell the idea to the M game people!

[+cerberus1]

Luckily was able to skip into the conversation of these things on the podcast.

Ideas, experiment and testing mentioned a lot.

Indoors, outdoors, place 'em anywhere (where legal).

"Show us how they would use it" kinda stuck out.

- Cuts a lotta time on research and development I bet.

Nothing mentioned about the find/stat count thing. Likely not enough time to explain anything (really) on a taped phone call, might have to wait for an official announcement like before...

[Keystone]

Thanks for clearing things up. If this really will happen (which it now seems it will) then this will be interesting. I'll try it (if I can figure out how to do this) just for the new experience, but what's confusing me a bit is this. Groundspeak originally said labcaches are for mega events/blockparties only, no? So I'm assuming that you can place these regardless of whether you've attended an event, block party, whatever, right? Or am I missing something?

 

Thanks.

 

Greg

There can be multiple experiments going on in the Laboratory. Experiment #1 is "Special caches for Mega-Events." In February we will see Experiment #2, "I <3 Geocaching." Who knows what Experiment #3 might be?

 

Any premium member can create one Lab Cache as part of the "I <3 Geocaching" experiment.

 

Full details and an FAQ will be forthcoming.

[+J Grouchy]

2. "Labs" are just an experiment. We should be thanking gc.com for allowing us to try some of their ideas.

 

Experiment or not, it just seems to me they ought to just let it all count in the stats and counts. Isn't the entire point of the statistics to be a running record of our finds? I can understand why benchmarks wouldn't count...pre-existing markers vs. placed objects, etc. Just seems silly to essentially make us calculate our own "true" stats. Yeah, I understand that a handful of lab caches won't really make a big difference, but it's more the principle. I (meaning anyone who found a lab cache) found the dang thing that someone created to be found and Groundspeak published, so shouldn't it be counted on Groundspeak's site?

[+NYPaddleCacher]

I was tempted to post links to all the the threads in the Geocaching.com Web site forum (formally the Feature Suggestions forum) about all the things we have actually asked for, and in some cases, have been promised would be implemented but I think the readers here are capable of going to that forum and finding those threads.

 

Instead we get Lab Caches that nobody has asked for. I know that we've been frequently been told that GS wants to hear our ideas and suggestions but my perception is that they'd rather come up with their own ideas then spring them on us so that we'll all be wowed by how innovative they're trying to be.

 

Innovations is great and all, but I'd rather see at least a balance between new innovation and features that users actually have asked for.

[+geocat_]

Wrong part of Ohio. You don't want to tick off Toledo, do you?

 

Doh! I meant NE Ohio. Wouldn't want to bad mouth my hometown

[+Team Microdot]

Innovations is great and all, but I'd rather see at least a balance between new innovation and features that users actually have asked for.

 

Me too - but I doubt that would put as many bums on seats - which seems to be the drive at the moment.

 

I'm interested to see where this might go - and I think it could well end up being something quite, quite different from geocaching.

 

At least it would get around the whole thing grinding to a halt when saturation levels prevent the placing of new caches.

 

And if the whole thing is virtual - no permission issues either.

[+geocat_]

And I thought caches were supposed to be for multiple people to find and exchange swag (if they so desire). Having something that doesn't requires a location (geo) and contain a container (cache) doesn't really seem to be a geocache. Maybe GC needs to sell the idea to the M game people!

 

Exchanging SWAG is optional as evidenced by the nanos and most micros alone. Earthcaches and the (RIP) Virtuals are two of the more popular "containerless" Geocaches.

 

I was tempted to post links to all the the threads in the Geocaching.com Web site forum (formally the Feature Suggestions forum) about all the things we have actually asked for, and in some cases, have been promised would be implemented but I think the readers here are capable of going to that forum and finding those threads.

 

Instead we get Lab Caches that nobody has asked for. I know that we've been frequently been told that GS wants to hear our ideas and suggestions but my perception is that they'd rather come up with their own ideas then spring them on us so that we'll all be wowed by how innovative they're trying to be.

 

Innovations is great and all, but I'd rather see at least a balance between new innovation and features that users actually have asked for.

 

+1

[+Manville Possum]

Thanks for clearing things up. If this really will happen (which it now seems it will) then this will be interesting. I'll try it (if I can figure out how to do this) just for the new experience, but what's confusing me a bit is this. Groundspeak originally said labcaches are for mega events/blockparties only, no? So I'm assuming that you can place these regardless of whether you've attended an event, block party, whatever, right? Or am I missing something?

Thanks.

 

Greg

Yep. There's still no official word, so what anyone would reply would be an idea/opinion.

- Like, "Possible it's a one-shot thing to get more people interested in their lab experiments".

We're the rats...

 

The Podcacher interview with Bryan and Eric from GC HQ is pretty official.

 

http://www.podcacher.com/2014/01/show-455-0-love-and-spies/

 

Thanks. I'll look over that later tonight.

Yes, thanks for the post.

[cezanne]

We should be thanking gc.com for allowing us to try some of their ideas.

 

That might be true for you. I do know that I do not like the idea and I'm not interested at all into trying it out. Sure, it is Groundspeak's site. So they can decide what they offer there, but it's me who decides what I'm thankful for.

 

I do not feel annoyed by your video (actually I looked at it only for less than a minute), but I once again realized that's about a completely different world. When I hear geocaching I have interesting places, scenic views, peaceful landscapes and gorgeous hikes in mind and not things like game, fun, loud laughter, mega, cool, experiments etc

 

 

Cezanne

Edited January 27, 2014 by cezanne

[+ChileHead]

When I hear geocaching I have interesting places, scenic views, peaceful landscapes and gorgeous hikes in mind and not things like game, fun, loud laughter, mega, cool, experiments etc

 

Sorry to hear that you don't associate geocaching with fun. If I didn't have fun doing it, I wouldn't be doing it.

[+Sharks-N-Beans]

It's an experiment. Things could go totally wrong and have unplanned effects on your stats. It's not for the meek...do you dare venture into the unknown?

[+snow_rules]

Even GC's own site says what geocaching is:

 

The Game

What is geocaching?

Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.

 

Their lab experiment is a completely different game so it really shouldn't be associated with geocaching. Sounds to me that someone is worried about the M game taking a bite out of their profits and trying to come up with some new twist to offset this.