ConQwest is a Big Game in the evolving tradition of B.U.G. (Big Urban Game) and
Pac-Manhattan. The gameplay was designed by Frank Lantz, with help from Mattia Romeo.
Dennis Crowley designed and built the semacode system, based on Simon Woodside's
original idea and code. The game was conceived of and directed by SS+K, Kevin
Slavin, Liz Cioffi and others .
The promotional agency AMP was responsible for all the on-site implementation.
10/09/04 MINNEAPOLIS
10/16/04 DENVER
10/23/04 SEATTLE
10/30/04 SALT LAKE CITY
11/07/04 PHOENIX
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Conceived of by Simon Woodside, semacodes are being used for the first time in
the U.S. in Conqwest. Semacodes are two-dimensional barcodes that can be scanned and
decoded with a cameraphone.
Semacode stickers are placed around the city the morning of the event - some in plain
sight (think street signs and store windows), others can only be found by interacting
with people.
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Five teams from local high schools compete by racing through the city finding
the hidden treasure codes (semacodes).
Players shoot photos of these semacodes with their camera phones. Photos are sent from
the phone to ConQwest HQ where the semacodes are decoded and points are
awarded.
Each player is issued a Nokia 6225 at the start of the game.
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Each city has been divived into 8 zones. Teams can only collect treasure in the zone
they control.
Only one team can control a zone at a given time. X's mark the location of each
zone's base.
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Teams take control of a zone by moving their team totem into a base. In order to
switch zones, teams must move their totems through the city streets from one base
to another.
Teams "enter" and "exit" bases by shooting special semacodes that track their
team's position.
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Each hidden semacode is worth a given amount of points (30-75 points). As game
progresses, players unlock clues that point to special bonus treasures. There is
one Super-Treasure in each zone.
These "Super-Treasures" (worth 350 points) can only be found by interacting with
a specific person at a specific location.
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While only one team can occupy a base at a given time, teams can challenge each
other for control over occupied bases.
During a challenge, both teams secretly bid some of the treasure they've collected.
The bids are exchanged. The team that bid the most wins the challenge and control
of the base - the other team is sent packing.
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Qwest awards $5000 to the high school of the winning team, and Yellowcard plays a
concert for that school. Other teams are awarded $2,000 each.
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