Web AddiCT(s); first impressions of Legends of Echo is that it is a well polished game. Vodacom have just launched this mobile game nicely mapped to South Africa. If you are already on the GriD you can sign in with your account quickly and easily to start playing.
I’m not going into the story behind it but this is how you can download Legends of Echo without an SMS. Simply use your mobile phone browser and launch the URL www.legendsofecho.mobi
Here are the initial blog posts from the guys behind the mobile game.
Nic Harry: Legends of Echo goes live
Vincent Maher: A new world comes online – Vodacom launches Legends of Echo
Continue reading for the Video intro…
Legends of Echo from Cow Africa on Vimeo.
Images by Captain Chris.
The Grid, South Africa’s location-based mobile social network, today launches Legends of Echo, a multiplayer social game for mobile phones that allows players to trade, battle and communicate with other players across South Africa with their physical location as central point.
Legends of Echo, available via the Grid, make use of Vodacom’s Location-Based Services (LBS) to determine the player’s physical location. From their location, players can then explore their surroundings or move (virtually) to anywhere else in South Africa to interact with other players – in real time.
In the game, the Echo is a parallel virtual universe based on the South African map. Instead of cities and skyscrapers, however, players will find rolling green fields, rocky outcrops and valleys to explore and establish their base.
The Echo is entirely populated by players of the game, as well as their bases. Real-world place names are still used to navigate, e.g. a player can teleport from Belville in Cape Town to Randburg in Johannesburg to battle another player.
The objective of the game is to become a legend of the Echo (i.e. gain enough Legend Points to appear on the high score sheet). To do this, players need to battle other players, obtain advanced weapons and other items by exploration or trade with other players.
The game is unique in that it mirrors real-life locations in a multiplayer environment. Interaction is always location-bound i.e. a player is battling a player in close physical proximity to him/herself.
Says Vincent Maher, Portfolio Manager Social Media, Vodacom South Africa: “Legends of Echo combines the best in real-time Location-Based Services and mobile multiplayer gaming, in that it allows players across South Africa to interact in a virtual world that is linked to their real-life location – all via their cellphones. As such, it’s an exciting and entertaining extension of The Grid as the leading location-based social network in South Africa.”
The game is available for free as Java download to cellphones. Once installed, players can interact immediately with other players in the Echo universe. There is no cost for playing Legends of Echo apart from the standard data costs to the network provider. Players have the option to trade airtime for Elements, which in turn is exchanged for additional weapons to enhance their game.
Visit the Legends of Echo site for more info.
