The world around you is not what it seems
Ingress is an augmented reality mobile game created by Niantic for Android and iOS platforms. It was first released in 2012.
The game features a complex, evolving science fiction story in which players must choose between two available factions. The first faction, the Enlightened, is represented by the color green and seeks to use a newly discovered form of energy to enhance human cognitive abilities and usher in a new era of enlightenment. The second faction, the Resistance, is represented by the color blue and fights to thwart the Enlightened’s plans, preserve humanity, and counter the influence of this new form of energy.
The goal of the game is to conquer portals, which correspond to real-world places of historical or artistic interest, using your smartphone. To do so, you need to install the app, and once you’ve located a nearby portal, you must physically go there to interact with it.
Once you’ve conquered a portal, you can connect it to other portals of the same faction, creating triangular connections, ultimately creating virtual “control fields” corresponding to specific geographical areas of the real world. The larger the areas controlled by a faction, the higher its score will be.
At the center of the Ingress universe lies Exotic Matter, a mysterious energy that appeared on Earth, of uncertain origin and possibly linked to extraterrestrial intelligence. This energy is concentrated in “portals” located in places of historical, artistic, and cultural interest. Humanity has split into two opposing factions: the Enlightened, who see XM as a potential for human evolution, and the Resistance, who fear its power and seek to protect humanity. The portals are interconnected in a global network, control of which is crucial to XM’s dominance. Players, called agents, use their mobile devices to interact with the portals, contributing to the global battle between the factions. Ingress’ lore has evolved over time through in-game events, online narratives, and viral campaigns, creating a complex narrative involving characters, organizations, and conspiracies tied to XM.
What does Augmented Society do?
The association has three main objectives:
- Help Enlightened agents who wish to organize events, both Faction-specific, such as Anomaly, rallies, and city flips, and cross-faction, such as IFS and Mission Day.
- Support Enlightened agents in organizing operations, both with their own funds and by acting as a collector for community donations.
- Provide logistical support for faction activities, such as recruitment, RRs, secure information circulation, etc.
Playing means discovering. Thanks to Ingress, we map the artistic heritage of our cities, bringing forgotten works of art and historic sites to light. Augmented Society highlights these treasures through cross-faction events such as Mission Day and Ingress First Saturday.
Faction activities
Competitive events are the heart of Ingress. Anomalies, in particular, are the engine that drives the overall storyline, and each faction seeks to dominate the global game.
Niantic delegates many tasks to the local orga during the organization of an Anomaly: player recruitment and reception, organizing the afterparty and registration, as well as various strategic activities.
Augmented Society supports the Enlightened with logistics (shop, authorizations, merchandise), freeing the orga team to focus on strategic matters.
It can also support large-scale operations by providing financial support or acting as a collector for community donations.
Cross-Faction Events
In the world of Ingress, the Enlightened and the Resistance often find themselves on opposing sides, fighting for control of the portals and world domination. However, beyond the competition, there is a unifying element: a passion for the game and the desire to share a unique experience.
Cross-faction events represent an opportunity for agents from both factions to meet, socialize, and collaborate, momentarily putting aside their divisions. Whether purely gaming events or initiatives with a broader purpose, such as charity drives, these events create a sense of community and belonging that transcends factions.
Augmented Society collaborates with the organization by communicating with local authorities to obtain sponsorships or authorizations, and by providing support for the design and production of merchandise.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON CROSS FACTION EVENTS
For fairness and transparency, we’ve made it a rule to keep separate records for all donations received during XF events, with proceeds reinvested solely in other XF events. So, if you’re a resister who enjoyed the swag of a Mission Day and want to donate for more at the next one, rest assured! Not a cent of what you donate will be used against you in real-world gameplay!
