Definition
Real-World Questing is the application of game design principles (narrative arcs, puzzles, rewards) to physical environments. It uses technologies like GPS (Geocaching) and physical “checkpoints” to transform ordinary reality into an interactive adventure.
Why It Matters
We live in a world of increasing digital isolation. Real-world questing uses game mechanics to re-engage us with the physical environment. The stake is human curiosity and physical exploration; by turning the world into a “level,” we overcome the activation energy required to visit new places and see the mundane with fresh, analytical eyes.
Core Concepts
- Hiding in Plain Sight: Caches are often located in public spaces, invisible to the “mundane.”
- The Quest Designer: Designing circuitous paths that force explorers to look at surroundings in a new way.
- Trackable Artifacts: Using physical objects to track movement of “data” across the planet.
- Interactive Checkpoints: Physical structures that require specific information to unlock.
- Finder’s Leavers Ethos: Social contract of leaving value of equal or greater worth.