Guest Post(erous)

Emerging Addiction: GPS Games Foursquare and Gowalla

Gaming has never been my forte. In fact, with the exception of iChess, I don't have any games on my iPhone... until now!  With the introduction of two GPS games, Foursquare and Gowalla, I find myself itching to collect badges, pins, and become Mayor.  I've only recently started playing these games, but I think I've found myself a new pastime!  There are some differences between the two though...

Foursquare is a location-based game that lets you check in when you're out.  Doing so, will earn you points and badges. The game has weekly leader-boards. Points on the leader-board can quickly multiply for things like checking in at multiple places on the same day.  It's packed with relevant, city-specific data that lets you get up and running quickly. Checking in more times than anyone else, at a particular venue, earns a promotion to Mayor status.

Pros:
Available for multiple platforms (iPhone, Android, and SMS)
User-submitted to-do's serve as a guidebook for each city
Businesses are offering Mayors free drinks or discounts when visiting
iPhone app lets you know when you're near a Foursquare-enabled venue with a promotion
Updates to Twitter and Facebook

Cons:
Only available for 38 cities

Gowalla is a travel game that also rewards for checking into places while out-and-about. Similar to traveling abroad, Gowalla passport stamps iPhones upon check-in. The application also lets you gather icons (virtual souvenirs) that can be traded with other Gowalla friends or hidden for others to find.

Pros:
Not limited to specific cities
Crowdsourced venue listings
Completed "trips" allow players to fully discover a specific locale
Ability to check-in off the beaten path
GPS-reliance makes it difficult to "fudge"
Sexy UI
Updates to Twitter and Facebook

Cons:
Only available for iPhone

Since I've just started playing both, neither one has emerged better than the other... yet.  I'm sure that as I get into both, that will change.  Are you playing these? Which one do you prefer? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.