Vodacom launches multiplayer social mobile game

The Grid, Vodacom’s location-based mobile social network, has launched Legends of Echo, a multi-player social game for mobile phones that allows players to battle each other across South Africa in real time and based on their actual physical location.

In the game, the Echo is a parallel virtual universe based on the South African map, but instead of cities and skyscrapers, players will find rolling green fields, rocky outcrops and valleys to explore and establish their virtual base from their mobile phones.

The uniqueness of the game is that it mirrors real-life locations in a multiplayer environment and that interactions are always location-bound with players battling other players that are in close physical proximity to him or herself.

In addition to exciting one-on-one battles in a multi-player, role-playing mobile environment, players can trade with each other or interact via an in-game instant messaging system that harnesses the power of The Grid mobile social network, built by Vodacom.

Vincent Maher, Vodacom’s Social Media Portfolio Manager, said on his blog that the launch of the game was a career-defining moment for him and the “culmination of 16 months worth of work” on what he believes is the “most innovative and well-executed project” of his career in digital media.

Maher also noted on his blog that Nic Haralambous excelled in his role as Project Director and deserves all the “kudos” he is going to get.

The game is available for free as Java download to cellphones, and once installed, players can interact immediately with other players in the Echo universe. There is no cost for playing Legends of Echo apart from the standard data costs to the network provider, and players have the option to trade airtime for Elements, which in turn is exchanged for additional weapons to enhance their game.

See Legends of Echo in action in the video below:

To play Legends of Echo, SMS ‘ECHO’ to 33313 (50c/SMS) or visit www.legendsofecho.mobi