Weekly Ingress Japan
Delivering Ingress news from Japan (and sometimes the world) every Friday (Mostly).
September 16, 2023 was the day the Kobe Anomaly was held in Japan, and the next day, the 17th, a swag market and mission day were held.
A meetup was held at the Design and Creative Center Kobe where the swag market was held, so I tried to transcribe as much of the content as I could.
You can also watch the meetup content on Youtube below (in Japanese).
Niantic 8th Wall Introduction
Ms. Nakajima (Niantic)
I would like to introduce 8th Wall, an AR technology used by the resistance in their posters.
There is a technology called a platform that supports things like Ingress and Pokemon Go. They are LIGHTSHIP, 8th Wall, and SCANIVERSE.
LIGHTSHIP is a tool that uses a technology called VPS that is used for AR. Portal data is also handled on LIGHTSHIP.
8th Wall is a tool that provides webAR.
SCANIVERSE is a 3D data scanner tool.
Simply put, 8th Wall is a platform that allows you to provide an AR experience on your smartphone's web browser. The feature is that there is no need to download the app.
www.8thwall.comAn example of the use of https://www.8thwall.com
is the AR Pac-Man game created by the American Pizza Hut company that can be played on a Pizza Hut pizza box.
This is a function called image targeting that you can experience when you capture a specific image.
There are many case studies of 8th Wall posted on the site, and for example, there is a module that uses image generation using AI.
Also popular are modules that classify images captured by the camera (person, dog, sky, etc.).
You can easily use it by copying and pasting the code.
Also, if you need 3D data, there is a platform called SCANIVERSE, so please make use of it.
SCANIVERSE takes a 360-degree photo of an object and immediately creates 3D model data. The output files are also versatile and abundant.
Creator talk
Mr. Kawashima (Vice President, Niantic)
Mr. Brian (Game Director, Niantic)
Ms. Nakajima (In charge of Kobe events and interpretation, Niantic)
Q1. In order to continue providing Ingress as a service, I think it is necessary to increase revenue. What measures do you have?
(Brian) More agents should join CORE, which is a subscription service. I think profits will increase if we can provide what users want, so we want to be inspired by our users.
(Kawashima) John Hanke loves Ingress more than anyone else in the company, but in order to continue operating it, it is necessary to continue generating profits.
I think it is important to increase the number of users first. He has been having a lot of discussions about this.
We want to lower the barrier for new users to play.
It is also possible to reinstate the Recruiter Medal.
Q2. There are many agents who are participating for the first time due to this anomaly, but will it be possible to encourage new players to subscribe?
(Brian) Actually, there is data that shows that the number of subscription subscribers increases with each event. I believe that it requires an item frame or is recommended by a predecessor.
Q3. Many of our users are creative people. For example, there was an AR advertisement using 8th Wall. What do you think?
(Brian) Very wonderful. It's really great that they're going so far as to post paid advertisements at stations using 8th Wall. I realized that I had a lot to learn. The creativity of the users is higher than that of the Ingress team, so I would like to receive various ideas from them in the future.
(Kawashima) An agent, Sasaken's ``Ingle-su'' (conbining two words of Japanese pronunciation of "Ingress" and "su", nest of bee which products hunny), was truly wonderful. AR advertising was also an ideal use, and the members of 8th Wall were also impressed. It's really gratifying and stimulating to see user-driven advertising and creativity displayed.
(Brian) I think it would be great if the AR world could influence reality, or conversely, reality could influence the AR world.
Q4. I don't think the portal scan function is being utilized much.
(Brian) The recently introduced overclocking feature utilizes PortalScan's VPS technology.
This is used to ensure and confirm that the user is actually in the location.
You can also create a 3D map of the area around the scanned portal.
I think it's a good idea to use it for things like dead drops.
(Kawashima) It can also be used as a countermeasure against spoofers (location falsification). It is also possible to create an image where XM actually erupts from a portal, links extend, and a field is created.
It will also be used in the upcoming Ingress, Pokemon Go, and Monster Hunter Now.
Q5. Will anomalies be held in Japan next year?
(Brian) Yes!
About RedFaction
Ms. Kinoshita (Kinki Block Blood Center)
I would like to introduce RedFaction and blood donation.
Kinki (area of the center of Japan) Block Blood Center was established in 2012.
We conduct tests, manufacture blood products, and manage the receipt of blood donated at blood donation rooms and blood donation buses in the two and four prefectures of the Kinki region.
RedFaction started in Brazil in June 2014.
After that, the organizer's call on Twitter (currently X) caused a huge response and spread.
In Japan, RedFaction spread in June 2015 in Kanto area and Hiroshima city, and later in Kinki as well.
It has been held 13 times so far, with 4,886 participants.
We are distributing original Bio cards as souvenirs.
This time we are currently running RedFaction in Kinki, so please come and join us until October 12th.
The current situation is even, with Enlightened having 96 points and Resistance having 117 points.
I would like you to check the front chest on Twitter etc.
Participants come not only from the Kinki area but also from various parts of Japan.
The Ingress agent community supports our patients, so we hope you will continue to participate.
Lastly, since there are some of you who are wondering what blood donation is all about, I would like to finish off by showing you a collaboration video between Blood Donation and Yoshimoto Shinkigeki.
The future of Ingress
Mr. HiroT (ENL AG)
Ms. Nenko (RES AG)
Mr. Kawashima
Mr. Brian
Ms. Nakajima
Mr. Minakuchiya (ENL Kobe Anomaly POC)
Mr. Enraimon (ENL Kobe Anomaly POC)
Ms. Shinsho (RES Kobe Anomaly POC)
Mr. Komaroku (RES Kobe Anomaly POC)
Q1. Reflections on the Kobe Anomaly
(Minakuchiya) I usually work behind the scenes, but this time as a POC, I struggled to make the anomaly more exciting. In particular, there was room for family participation, and a viewing room for families was prepared.
(Kawashima) I always cause trouble to my family too. I hope that Mr. Chiya Minaku's children will also become agents in the future.
(Nenko) I thought it was a good idea to have an initiative that children could participate in together.
Q2. Does Niantic have any thoughts on the activities of the four POC?
(Nakajima) It was great to be able to work with four unique POC people. I have nothing but gratitude. We also hope to be able to provide something that children can enjoy.
Q3. Do POCs have any thoughts on the Niantic side?
(Enraimon) I was used to it, so it was business as usual, but with Ms. Nakajima's generous support from a small group of elite people, I was able to work on POC with peace of mind.
Q4. Requests from agents: Isn't it okay to have an official product sales booth at the Swag maret?
(Brian) I think it's a good idea. I definitely want to do it. I would like to follow the example of selling T-shirts at punk rock concerts.
(Kawashima) It used to be exhibited officially, but due to various circumstances, it no longer exists. I want to do it again. I want to collect all Swag.
Q4. How was it meeting Japanese users at the Anomaly event?
(Kawashima) It was heartening to see so many brave people who have overcome the pandemic.
(Brian) I think we were able to hold this event thanks to everyone at POC. I understand that it really took a lot of patience. It must have been difficult to interact with thousands of Japanese agents, and agents from all over the world were watching.
We enjoy seeing agents participate in the anomaly. I think Japanese anomalies are unique to Japan and truly original. In the future, I would like to further expand Japan's anomaly and invite agents from all over the world to come to Japan and feel the love.
Q5. Requests from agents: I would like the event to be held near the airport or station.
(Brian) I think it's a good idea. I think more agents will come.
Q6. Agent request: revival of quantum capsules (culture capsules)!
(Brian) In terms of game balance, we thought it would be bad for the number of items to increase just as time passes. In addition, calculation of item proliferation was a significant cost burden on the server. It was difficult to calculate it for all agent accounts (including dormant accounts). We have introduced kinetic capsules, so I would like you to use them.
There is room for consideration, such as being able to increase the number of portal keys with kinetic capsules.
Q7. Increase the number of questions and mission creation slots for agents! It could be a subscription .
(Brian) It's a little difficult. It's not just a question of numbers; there are technological limits. The mission creation tool was created 12 years ago, but it's reaching its limits. However, we understand that agents are really enjoying the missions, so we are looking into improvements.
Q8. Agent suggestion: Why not give rewards when a user visits a new destination or when a new user progresses through the game? The number of users will increase.
(Kawashima) I think it's a great idea. When I go to a new location, I start up Ingress first, and it might be nice if there's something I can get there.
(Shinsho) In the past, in Kure, when you showed the mission completion screen at the tourist information center, stickers were distributed. I think it was a good event.
(Enraimon) Can we make use of Campfire's app (platform)? Could it be used for mutual exchange between various Niantic games?
(Kawashima) I strongly agree. It is a platform that I would like to make effective use of. I would like Mr. Enraimon to give me some advice.
Q9. Why not focus on health maintenance?
(Brian) I think health promotion is a very important element of Ingress. Walking around the neighborhood and interacting with people is the best part of Ingress. What's great about Ingress is that the community is developed all over the world. I think whether or not a new user can continue using Ingress for a long time depends on whether or not they can join the local community. In addition to promoting health, I think it would be good to have easy-to-understand access to the local community.
When a new user plays, a training log will be displayed in COMM, but a senior agent can give them a call. New users may be surprised...
I would like to create a mechanism in the Ingress game that allows new users to talk to their seniors when they are ready.
I think it's good to connect with the community in order to continue for a long time.
Q10. The community is fragmented. For example, a camping club. There, you will meet new people and expand your circle of people. I think it would be great if the community could be advertised on the official website.
(Kawashima) John Hanke says that in the UK there was something called a ``Minister for Loneliness''. Loneliness makes people unhappy and causes a loss of mental health. Initiatives like the Minister of Loneliness may increase in Japan as well.
Connecting with people is important for mental health, and it can help you regain your mental health. Niantic's challenge is to make this happen through the Ingress game.
Q11. For POC people, have any new hobbies spread through Ingress?
(Komaroku) I make music for a living, but I'm influenced by the music community in Ingress-related Telegram groups. Through Ingress, another line was connected. When creating PR videos for the Resistance, we want to create something that people will find interesting and connect with users.
(Brian) When he first launched Ingress, he thought about how to build an interest-based social network. So, we did some research and found out that users also had other hobbies in common (Star Wars, baseball, etc.). At first, Twitter and Reddit already existed, so we decided to start Meetup and Anomaly.
So, while it may be easier to find common interests online, finding someone like that might be near your home, and finding someone like that isn't easy.
Ingress is a magic that can accomplish this.
It's great to hear so many great Ingress communication stories from everyone. This is unique to Ingress.
(Nenko) In my case, it was very interesting to make friends from far away places. I don't tend to travel much, but I found a new motivation to travel.
(Brian) Ingress is not just a game, it's a tool that allows you to belong to a community around the world. When you download Ingress and go to the next town, next state, or another country, you can communicate with agents there. The reason I was able to have such a wonderful experience is because all the agents are wonderful. I'm very grateful.
(HiroT) I think the community is still expanding.
(Kawashima) I'm sure there are very few agents who thought from the beginning that they would be in charge of this task...
Q12. The date for the next anomaly has been announced, but when will the location be decided?
(Brian) I don't know yet...
Q13. What is the future story development for Machina?
(Brian) New information was found after the Kobe anomaly. Machina is declining. It will last for several weeks. I'm paying attention to how much Makina portals and links will decrease during this time.
In terms of game design, we always strive to provide a slightly fresh experience.
We are paying attention to what agents are doing in-game and what they are saying on Twitter and other channels. Actually, I read quite a lot. Please give me your feedback and give me your opinion.
Transcription by Snwapple
