SXSWers targeted to play location games

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Location games are the big buzz this year at SXSW with companies like Foursquare and GoWalla competing for customers.

These new games rely on the GPS embedded in smart phones like iPhones and droids to allow people to participate.

Chris Abad, a resident of San Fransisco, fueled up with food Saturday while recharging his smart-phone at the Austin Convention Center , two necessary measures that ensured he could keep checking in with GoWalla, a new form of social network.

Gowalla, which is offered by an Austin based company, and Foursquare, are two leading location-based smart-phone apps among dozens attracting users at this year's festival.

"For a lot of people, it's a way to figure out where your friends are and to tell people where you are at," said Abad, who plays both games.

Both games also something of an online scavenger hunt with prizes to compete for.

On GoWalla, players can post pictures of their locations and ping them to friends.

On the Foursquare app, you can earn points by geocaching or collecting virtual stamps when you visit locations.

Your phone's GPS confirms that you actually are where you say when you try to collect.

"It's completely virtual goods and there is absolutely no monetary value to it and still people are killing themselves over it," said Jeff Marois, a Foursquare player who lives in Paris.

"There are probably 100 or so different stamps on my account," Abad explained.

Pinpointing a person's exact location raised privacy concerns among potential players.

"I'm still not totally sold on it," said Andrea Davis, who has explored both applications.  "More just curious to see how it works and how it functions."

Others said they see some usefulness in the app and just enough gameplay to create curiosity.

"I like that idea because sometimes I travel, mostly I am in Austin, but I am interested in it enough to try it," said Masami Fujiti.

Both apps are free and can be played from virtually anywhere in the world.

However, European players told KXAN GoWalla is just making its way overseas and that's why Foursquare is the most popular app in places like Paris and Germany.