DrugLords

DrugLords as, potentially, the first successful iPhone based LBMMOG.

Convergence of the real and virtual 'worlds' into one game space/sphere of play. It will be interesting to discover just how much the GPS technology embedded within the iPhone is exploited within the game. We are currently only able to view a short run-through of the app on YouTube, which doesn't provide much of an insight into how the application will use GPS other than displaying the location of other players. It would be extremely interesting of the app was to develop along the lines of Botfighters, an early SMS based LBMMOG developed and released by a company called 'It's Alive' initially in Sweden.

"[...] Botfighters takes advantage of location-sensing technologies involving mobile phones. Players sign up on a Web site, create a "bot", name it, and arm it with guns, shields, batteries and detectors. when their mobile telephones are on, the players receive SMS messages about the geographical distance of other players. "When they get close enough to fire [...] players get an SMS message from our server, and if their weapons are stronger than their opponents shield, and their opponent doesn't shoot first, they are credited with a kill." The scores and competitive positions of players are instantly updated on the Web site."

Rheingold, H. (2002) Smart Mobs: the next social revolution.
USA: Basic Books.

It would be interesting to track the development of DrugLords if 'live interactions' between game players were made possible. Eliminating rival players by getting close enough to them to make a 'kill' or engage in conversation or collaboration would create an interesting relationship between the player and the 'real' and 'virtual' worlds within which the game is played. It is only possible to speculate about game play at present until the game, or further information about the game, is released.

Whether Apple will actually permit the app to be sold via the app Store is questionable. The a-steroids (DrugLords developer) Blog states that "Free beta version of the game will be launched in the next couple of weeks and distributed through the iTunes AppStore". Apple have already removed 'offensive' apps from the app Store such as the Slasher app seen below:



It seems highly unlikely that Apple will risk tarnishing its reputation by supporting an app that is seen to be controversial due to its content. It will be interesting to view the launch of this app and whether Apple do indeed allow distribution via the app Store. We may see the ability of manufacturers to control 'tethered devices' coming into play if Apple initially allow app Store distribution but then make a u-turn decision (because of negative media attention) and wipe the app from any user that plugs their phone into iTunes to sync information or update software. If the app does prove to be a success with iPhone users and does receive negative attention in the mass media Apple will have to decide whether to exercise control over the tethered device or risk increasing the number of users 'Jailbreaking' their iPhone.

"When you want to add ringtones, change wallpaper, or run third-party applications on your iPhone, you need to perform a task called "jailbreaking". What this does is to open up your iPhone's file system so it can be accessed from your computer. There are a number of tools available to jailbreak."

(http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/08/iphone-hacking-101-jailbreaking/ accessed 16/11/08 17:22)