- I can't find any portals in my area
- Try going to Ingress Intel
- Create Portals: Instructions for Creating a Portal
- I found a portal on private property
- http://support.google.com/ingress click contact us then Report an Issue with a Portal and then select the appropriate action.
- Is anyone in my area?
- To find out announce yourself in Faction COMMs. This will let other players in your area know you're there and if there is a presence in your area they can tell you how to get involved in that community. And often these groups will help you understand how to play.
To announce yourself: In the lower right hand corner of your client there is a tab that says COMM. When you first open this chat you are in All COMM which means both toads and smurfs can see what you post. Up at the top of the tab you'll see the words All and Faction click on Faction and type your message. You will probably screw up more than once and say something intended for Faction in All, it's okay everyone does it and the COMM can be a little glitchy sometimes.
This is usually a better way to find people in your area than announcing yourself in the Ingress Community because not everyone watches that. - I got an extra invite what should I do with it?
- Anything you want except sell it.
- How often can I hack a portal?
- 4 times in 4 hours
- I'm surrounded by the enemy and there are no friendly portals near by, what do I do?
- First, there is currently a problem with faction balance in the game. Remember, Ingress is still in beta so the awesome creators over at Niantic are still trying things out. With that being said....
- Hack enemy portals. You get 100 AP for each enemy portal you hack, it can be a little slow but while you're finding a community (see next bullet) it's a way to make progress.
- Find out if there is a community in your area and join. This is a social game and most high level players are more than willing to help new players when we know you're there. Warning if you don't want to be social then this game probably won't be a whole lot of fun. See Is anyone in my Area above.
- If there is no one in your area then see if you can recruit more people to play in your area (See next question about Invites).
- I'm surrounded by friendly portals how do I get AP?
- Hack portals until you get keys and then make links. Links are the best way to generate AP in a friendly heavy area.
- Soon you will get AP for recharging your resonators remotely and from upgrading resonators, this is new so I will update once I know more.
- How can I get extra invites for my friends?
- +Niantic Project loves creativity and stories about playing +Ingress. Report to the Ingress Community on what you've been doing in your area and that you need additional help to fight Resistance/Enlightened.
- My GPS bounces around while I'm playing Ingress, what should I do?
- If you are near tall buildings there isn't a whole lot you can do because you might not have a direct line of site to the GPS satellite.
- Install GPS Status & Toolbox it will help some.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Ingress New Player FAQ
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
So you think you want to be an Ingress Agent?
Personally I think Niantic is too generous with their invites. Becoming a +Ingress agent is more than just joining a game and you should truly be tested before you're allowed to participate in this global battle. But then again maybe some would call me over zealous (I prefer passionate).
Why do I think you should be tested first??
Ingress is more than a game, it's a lifestyle. If you're truly an Ingress agent you will find yourself driving out of your way to go to portals, staying out really late to farm, running around meeting new people at all hours of the day and night, spending way too much money on backup batteries and gas and food because you never go home. Playing Ingress also means you need to be willing to be part of a team, it's not a requirement in all areas but it ads so much to the game that if you don't think you want to participate in that way then maybe this game isn't for you.
I've been playing since November 25th, so I guess you could call me a veteran. I'm also one of the leaders of the Seattle Resistance. During that time I've seen a lot of people come and go because they realize just what type of commitment it takes. They'll play for an afternoon and then never open the client again.
So consider very carefully, do you truly want to be an Ingress Agent?
Why do I think you should be tested first??
Ingress is more than a game, it's a lifestyle. If you're truly an Ingress agent you will find yourself driving out of your way to go to portals, staying out really late to farm, running around meeting new people at all hours of the day and night, spending way too much money on backup batteries and gas and food because you never go home. Playing Ingress also means you need to be willing to be part of a team, it's not a requirement in all areas but it ads so much to the game that if you don't think you want to participate in that way then maybe this game isn't for you.
I've been playing since November 25th, so I guess you could call me a veteran. I'm also one of the leaders of the Seattle Resistance. During that time I've seen a lot of people come and go because they realize just what type of commitment it takes. They'll play for an afternoon and then never open the client again.
So consider very carefully, do you truly want to be an Ingress Agent?
Monday, January 21, 2013
Let Your Geek Flag Fly
If you want to display your +Ingress handle in G+ there is a way to do it without changing your name through the rest of the Google Products. Here are the steps to do it:
1. Go to your profile
2. Click Edit Profile
3. Click on your Name above your cover photo
4. Click more options
5. Add your nickname (Ingress handle)
6. Change Display my Name to one of the options that includes your nickname.
2. Click Edit Profile
3. Click on your Name above your cover photo
4. Click more options
5. Add your nickname (Ingress handle)
6. Change Display my Name to one of the options that includes your nickname.
As a community leader I hope everyone does this because it's so much easier for everyone to keep names straight.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Cross Faction Beer Night
Otherwise known as CFBN. Friday night was our 4th such event here in Seattle in the last 4 weeks and again it was a blast. This one was planned and coordinated by +Michael Watson and it was awesome. Over the course of the 4 hours I was there 30-35 people came and went from both Resistance and Enlightened.
I strongly encourage making friends with your +Ingress enemy. A beer (or maybe a hot toddy) while discussing battle inside where it's warm is a whole lot of fun.
If you can schedule it near one or two portals where there are lots of power outlets the ensuing shenanigans can also be great entertainment.
CFBN may also go by CFBF (Cross Faction Beer Friday) depending on who's had how many drinks.
No matter what Be Safe and Have Fun.
I strongly encourage making friends with your +Ingress enemy. A beer (or maybe a hot toddy) while discussing battle inside where it's warm is a whole lot of fun.
If you can schedule it near one or two portals where there are lots of power outlets the ensuing shenanigans can also be great entertainment.
CFBN may also go by CFBF (Cross Faction Beer Friday) depending on who's had how many drinks.
No matter what Be Safe and Have Fun.
What is the point of Ingress?
This is a question I've been asked when trying to explain it to civilians and its one I've seen posed often in the +Ingress community by those looking to play and those just starting out.
Some think the objective is to create large fields and add to the MU count, others think it's getting to level 8.
I've given this question a lot of thought and here is my answer:
The beauty of what +Niantic Project has created is that the point can be whatever you choose to make it. There are different roles and specialization for everyone and if you want you can take a little bit of each one or stick to one and that's okay.
Do you like to tear down what the other team has built? Then you're probably a destroyer.
Do you like to coordinate and help people in the field from your desk? Then you are probably an operator.
If you like to build pretty designs with fields then you're an builder. Are you willing to jump out of bed in the middle of the night to recharge a field then you're a defender.
There might even be a role for those who envision themselves a spy.
(These are the terms my area has used, if you use different terms I would love to hear them.)
The magic of this game for me as that the rules haven't yet been set in stone, you can help shape the direction it goes by playing the game in the way that makes you happiest.
What am I? I guess my role would be leader. More importantly for me I am a community builder, or community mom as someone from the opposite team called me the other night.
Figure out what you enjoy doing in this game. And if you haven't already find people who like to do the other jobs, because you probably won't get much out of it if you're not willing to work in a team.
No matter what you like to do or where you want to go with it Be Safe and Have Fun.
Some think the objective is to create large fields and add to the MU count, others think it's getting to level 8.
I've given this question a lot of thought and here is my answer:
The beauty of what +Niantic Project has created is that the point can be whatever you choose to make it. There are different roles and specialization for everyone and if you want you can take a little bit of each one or stick to one and that's okay.
Do you like to tear down what the other team has built? Then you're probably a destroyer.
Do you like to coordinate and help people in the field from your desk? Then you are probably an operator.
If you like to build pretty designs with fields then you're an builder. Are you willing to jump out of bed in the middle of the night to recharge a field then you're a defender.
There might even be a role for those who envision themselves a spy.
(These are the terms my area has used, if you use different terms I would love to hear them.)
The magic of this game for me as that the rules haven't yet been set in stone, you can help shape the direction it goes by playing the game in the way that makes you happiest.
What am I? I guess my role would be leader. More importantly for me I am a community builder, or community mom as someone from the opposite team called me the other night.
Figure out what you enjoy doing in this game. And if you haven't already find people who like to do the other jobs, because you probably won't get much out of it if you're not willing to work in a team.
No matter what you like to do or where you want to go with it Be Safe and Have Fun.
@lantis Media
Agent Kira here.
I received information yesterday that lead me to believe that maybe there was something more going on at the largest tower here in Seattle. Some of the information seemed outdated but it was from a credible source so I at least wanted to check it out. I needed to investigate a company named @lantis that may or may not be on the 42nd floor of the Columbia Tower.
As a resourceful woman I will use every advantage I have at my disposal to get what I want in this war. So, before I set out on my first reconnaissance mission I made sure that I was prepared to use my most prominent assets.
At dusk I headed back into the city I had left only hours earlier after a day of battle. I made my way to the jet black building at the heart of the city and hid my car close buy so I could get away quickly if necessary.
The building was intimidating, but I made my way to the lobby and found myself facing a fresh faced civilian security guard. Not wanting to scare him with the reality of the world he lives in I leaned forward on the counter with my finger pointed at my phone, gave him my sweetest smile and told him "I'm playing this scavenger hunt game thing and I was wondering if could tell me if this company is here on the 42nd floor".
He told me to hang on and picked up the phone. He explained into the phone what I was doing and then started to snicker. Immediately I was on guard, why would it be funny I was looking for this company. After hanging up the phone he turned to me and said with a smile "Yea, they don't tell us what's on the 42nd floor, but you're welcome to come back during the week and check it out for yourself. And you can check through the directory to see if you find he company name". I looked through the directory and found nothing.
Discouraged I headed home to re-examine the intel I was given and discussed it with a confidant who has proven helpful in deciphering these clues. Upon further investigation I realized that maybe I was wrong about where I should be looking. The intel references "unmarked top floor of the tower". I went back to the tower today and investigated the highest point I could get to without suspicion and again nothing.
I guess I'll just have to do the one thing I'm terrible at, wait. Maybe the mystery informant will pass on some additional information and help me understand what that tower in the heart of my city has to do with this global ware we find ourselves in.
I received information yesterday that lead me to believe that maybe there was something more going on at the largest tower here in Seattle. Some of the information seemed outdated but it was from a credible source so I at least wanted to check it out. I needed to investigate a company named @lantis that may or may not be on the 42nd floor of the Columbia Tower.
As a resourceful woman I will use every advantage I have at my disposal to get what I want in this war. So, before I set out on my first reconnaissance mission I made sure that I was prepared to use my most prominent assets.
At dusk I headed back into the city I had left only hours earlier after a day of battle. I made my way to the jet black building at the heart of the city and hid my car close buy so I could get away quickly if necessary.
The building was intimidating, but I made my way to the lobby and found myself facing a fresh faced civilian security guard. Not wanting to scare him with the reality of the world he lives in I leaned forward on the counter with my finger pointed at my phone, gave him my sweetest smile and told him "I'm playing this scavenger hunt game thing and I was wondering if could tell me if this company is here on the 42nd floor".
He told me to hang on and picked up the phone. He explained into the phone what I was doing and then started to snicker. Immediately I was on guard, why would it be funny I was looking for this company. After hanging up the phone he turned to me and said with a smile "Yea, they don't tell us what's on the 42nd floor, but you're welcome to come back during the week and check it out for yourself. And you can check through the directory to see if you find he company name". I looked through the directory and found nothing.
Discouraged I headed home to re-examine the intel I was given and discussed it with a confidant who has proven helpful in deciphering these clues. Upon further investigation I realized that maybe I was wrong about where I should be looking. The intel references "unmarked top floor of the tower". I went back to the tower today and investigated the highest point I could get to without suspicion and again nothing.
I guess I'll just have to do the one thing I'm terrible at, wait. Maybe the mystery informant will pass on some additional information and help me understand what that tower in the heart of my city has to do with this global ware we find ourselves in.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Restarting the Battle in Seattle
Agent Kira here.
I can't believe it worked! Okay, maybe it didn't work out exactly how I planned. But either way with a little help I managed to restart the war here in Seattle.
Why did I want to restart the war when my side (The Resistance) won you ask? Well, it turns out if the sky remains one color for too long there are unfortunate consequences. Even if the sky is the beautiful blue that makes me feel so at home, both factions start to experience distress, get very restless and agents start to disappear!
The reality is that neither faction can survive if one completely defeats the other.The relationship, as horrible as it sounds truly is symbiotic.
Pulling this off was no easy feat. It took weeks of planning, lots of negotiations with both sides and a little (okay maybe a lot) of blind luck.
The plan had two parts:
Part 1:
Operation Snow Ball - Securing an area for the Enlightened for a period of time in order to generate resources. They've been starving for weeks and it's killing them and unbeknownst to us it starts to damage us as well. This Operation required a lot of time and energy to convince my fellow Resistance that this truly was in our best interest. They couldn't see the damage that was being done to us because the Enlightened were starving. It took pleading my case several times and finally respectfully requesting they show some restraint in order to get them to hold on to their XMPs in one area for 48 hours.
Part 2:
Operation Mad Maru - which was conceived and executed perfectly by Agent+Happy Stick Person . We sent three strike teams of our finest agets to Portland, OR. There were many objectives but the most important for the bigger picture was to get our AP hungry level 7s out of town so they wouldn't attack the vulnerable Enlightened while they had created so much valuable AP. For more details on operation Mad Maru please see amazing account here:http://goo.gl/gx3F6
The operations have been over for several days now and I think they can be called a success. I can already see the difference it's making. Although there is more of that repugnant green on my scanner, there is more activity from my team in response to the increased activity from the Enlightened. The ebb and flow of the blue and green seems to be increasing which seems to give everyone more energy and drive. I know this is going to be a long battle and I don't know what's coming next in this +Ingress war but I know that my team is ready for it and that as a team we're capable of taking on whatever Challenge comes next.
I can't believe it worked! Okay, maybe it didn't work out exactly how I planned. But either way with a little help I managed to restart the war here in Seattle.
Why did I want to restart the war when my side (The Resistance) won you ask? Well, it turns out if the sky remains one color for too long there are unfortunate consequences. Even if the sky is the beautiful blue that makes me feel so at home, both factions start to experience distress, get very restless and agents start to disappear!
The reality is that neither faction can survive if one completely defeats the other.The relationship, as horrible as it sounds truly is symbiotic.
Pulling this off was no easy feat. It took weeks of planning, lots of negotiations with both sides and a little (okay maybe a lot) of blind luck.
The plan had two parts:
Part 1:
Operation Snow Ball - Securing an area for the Enlightened for a period of time in order to generate resources. They've been starving for weeks and it's killing them and unbeknownst to us it starts to damage us as well. This Operation required a lot of time and energy to convince my fellow Resistance that this truly was in our best interest. They couldn't see the damage that was being done to us because the Enlightened were starving. It took pleading my case several times and finally respectfully requesting they show some restraint in order to get them to hold on to their XMPs in one area for 48 hours.
Part 2:
Operation Mad Maru - which was conceived and executed perfectly by Agent+Happy Stick Person . We sent three strike teams of our finest agets to Portland, OR. There were many objectives but the most important for the bigger picture was to get our AP hungry level 7s out of town so they wouldn't attack the vulnerable Enlightened while they had created so much valuable AP. For more details on operation Mad Maru please see amazing account here:http://goo.gl/gx3F6
The operations have been over for several days now and I think they can be called a success. I can already see the difference it's making. Although there is more of that repugnant green on my scanner, there is more activity from my team in response to the increased activity from the Enlightened. The ebb and flow of the blue and green seems to be increasing which seems to give everyone more energy and drive. I know this is going to be a long battle and I don't know what's coming next in this +Ingress war but I know that my team is ready for it and that as a team we're capable of taking on whatever Challenge comes next.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
So you just finished your Ingress Training, what's next?
Congratulations! You are a bright shiny +Ingress n00b. Whether you're a toad (enlightened) or a smurf (resistance) you're still a n00b nd there are a few things you should do before you try and conquer the world. These are my suggestions based on experience that really have nothing to do with the mechanics of the game.
1) Realize that this game is closed Beta which means that there are bugs and glitches and you've just signed on to help make the game better, if you do find bugs they can be submitted at http://support.google.com/ingress click contact us and select the appropriate action.
2) Announce yourself in Faction COMMs. This will let other players in your area know you're there and if there is a presence in your area they can tell you how to get involved in that community. And often these groups will help you understand how to play.
To announce yourself: In the lower right hand corner of your client there is a tab that says COMM. When you first open this chat you are in All COMM which means both toads and smurfs can see what you post. Up at the top of the tab you'll see the words All and Faction click on Faction and type your message. You will probably screw up more than once and say something intended for Faction in All, it's okay everyone does it and the COMM can be a little glitchy sometimes.
This is usually a better way to find people in your area than announcing yourself in the Ingress Community because not everyone watches that.
3) Check out www.ingress.com/intel this will allow you find out what portals are in your area. If you live in a major metropolitan area than finding portals shouldn't be too difficult but if you're in a more rural area you might not see all that many. If you don't see many portals it's okay more portals are being brought online all the time and you can submit new ones, it does take time for submitted portals to come online but this is a new game and you're comitted to making it better right? To submit a new portal follow these instructions http://support.google.com/ingress/answer/2808254?hl=en
One final piece of advice n00bs:
Just because you can create a link doesn't mean you should Sometimes factions will make long links to mess with the other team but if you are new to the game when you see you can create a link you'll get very excited and want to do it. Slow down, breath and maybe ask in Faction chat if it makes sense. Otherwise you might really annoy high level players on your team who are already trying to build something.
But no matter what HAVE FUN!!
1) Realize that this game is closed Beta which means that there are bugs and glitches and you've just signed on to help make the game better, if you do find bugs they can be submitted at http://support.google.com/ingress click contact us and select the appropriate action.
2) Announce yourself in Faction COMMs. This will let other players in your area know you're there and if there is a presence in your area they can tell you how to get involved in that community. And often these groups will help you understand how to play.
To announce yourself: In the lower right hand corner of your client there is a tab that says COMM. When you first open this chat you are in All COMM which means both toads and smurfs can see what you post. Up at the top of the tab you'll see the words All and Faction click on Faction and type your message. You will probably screw up more than once and say something intended for Faction in All, it's okay everyone does it and the COMM can be a little glitchy sometimes.
This is usually a better way to find people in your area than announcing yourself in the Ingress Community because not everyone watches that.
3) Check out www.ingress.com/intel this will allow you find out what portals are in your area. If you live in a major metropolitan area than finding portals shouldn't be too difficult but if you're in a more rural area you might not see all that many. If you don't see many portals it's okay more portals are being brought online all the time and you can submit new ones, it does take time for submitted portals to come online but this is a new game and you're comitted to making it better right? To submit a new portal follow these instructions http://support.google.com/ingress/answer/2808254?hl=en
One final piece of advice n00bs:
Just because you can create a link doesn't mean you should Sometimes factions will make long links to mess with the other team but if you are new to the game when you see you can create a link you'll get very excited and want to do it. Slow down, breath and maybe ask in Faction chat if it makes sense. Otherwise you might really annoy high level players on your team who are already trying to build something.
But no matter what HAVE FUN!!
Monday, January 7, 2013
Rogue attack in Seattle
So this afternoon Seattle got visited by a toad (enlightened) named Kirchhoff who very thankfully gave us a bit of entertainment and a whole lot of AP. He didn't say much but the one message he did communicate was loud and clear.
----------
2:00PM Kirchhoff: I'm your new jobless level 8 trustfund nightmare.
----------
He tore through the city on a rampage dropping fields left and right and leaving vulnerable portals in his wake. He wasn't too aware of his surroundings though because one of our top Agents walked past him three times and he didn't even notice. The Resistance here in Seattle has been experiencing a bit of an AP drought because the toads are not putting up much of a fight so this was a welcome distraction and gave us a lot of AP.
We've confirmed that Kirchhoff has been spotted in both Texas and Virginia so this is a warning to any cities with a large Resistance presence. There is a rogue toad on the loose roaming the country and he may come for you next.
And Kirchhoff thank you again for what you did. You helped us immensely next time you come to town you'll have to join one of our joint faction meetups for drinks I'll buy.
----------
2:00PM Kirchhoff: I'm your new jobless level 8 trustfund nightmare.
----------
He tore through the city on a rampage dropping fields left and right and leaving vulnerable portals in his wake. He wasn't too aware of his surroundings though because one of our top Agents walked past him three times and he didn't even notice. The Resistance here in Seattle has been experiencing a bit of an AP drought because the toads are not putting up much of a fight so this was a welcome distraction and gave us a lot of AP.
We've confirmed that Kirchhoff has been spotted in both Texas and Virginia so this is a warning to any cities with a large Resistance presence. There is a rogue toad on the loose roaming the country and he may come for you next.
And Kirchhoff thank you again for what you did. You helped us immensely next time you come to town you'll have to join one of our joint faction meetups for drinks I'll buy.
Invites
So I am generally an extremely forgiving and patient person but I have to say even I am starting to get annoyed with the text only messages asking for an+Ingress invite.
For those of you who are looking for invites and are frustrated, there is a reason that there are a limited number of them. This game is a new technolog in BETA which means that it's not at full scale and I'm sure +Niantic Project is learning new things as they go. And there are a lot of people who get an invite, play for a few hours, realize what's involved and then never come back. For those of us invested in this it's a little frustrating.
I do have invites that I can give out but I am extremely selective about who I'll give them out to because I don't want to waste invites on someone who is not going to contribute to the community that we are building. If someone is going to get an invite they actually have to put in some effort to show that they aren't just looking for an invite because it's cool. To get the most out of this game you have to be willing to be a part of a community and work with other people.
In my case and I know several other cities in the same position we don't want just anyone joining because our factions are currently very imbalanced and we need people to stop joining one and join the other so the game will get more balanced in our area. We would rather give out invites locally then from Niantic because we have a better idea of what's needed on the ground and we can talk to people before they start.
If you're not artistic than be creative in other ways to figure out how to get an invite. A lot of people have invites but they are not going to give them out to some random person around the globe. I think most areas have communities, so find your local communities and see if someone there has an invite and stop bugging +Joe Philley +Brandon Badger & +Anne Beuttenmüller
Show everyone that you really want to play by putting in some effort and stop begging, complaining or trying to buy invites on ebay please!
#ingressinvite
For those of you who are looking for invites and are frustrated, there is a reason that there are a limited number of them. This game is a new technolog in BETA which means that it's not at full scale and I'm sure +Niantic Project is learning new things as they go. And there are a lot of people who get an invite, play for a few hours, realize what's involved and then never come back. For those of us invested in this it's a little frustrating.
I do have invites that I can give out but I am extremely selective about who I'll give them out to because I don't want to waste invites on someone who is not going to contribute to the community that we are building. If someone is going to get an invite they actually have to put in some effort to show that they aren't just looking for an invite because it's cool. To get the most out of this game you have to be willing to be a part of a community and work with other people.
In my case and I know several other cities in the same position we don't want just anyone joining because our factions are currently very imbalanced and we need people to stop joining one and join the other so the game will get more balanced in our area. We would rather give out invites locally then from Niantic because we have a better idea of what's needed on the ground and we can talk to people before they start.
If you're not artistic than be creative in other ways to figure out how to get an invite. A lot of people have invites but they are not going to give them out to some random person around the globe. I think most areas have communities, so find your local communities and see if someone there has an invite and stop bugging +Joe Philley +Brandon Badger & +Anne Beuttenmüller
Show everyone that you really want to play by putting in some effort and stop begging, complaining or trying to buy invites on ebay please!
#ingressinvite
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Thank You
Dear +Niantic Project,
I can't even begin to thank you for creating +Ingress. You created something that accomplished the impossible. You've managed to get all us introverted sedentary geeky gamer nerd types outside interacting with each other in the real world. Even opposing factions are coming together over drinks and stories of battle.
In the last 5 weeks I have gone from a complete couch potato who didn't have many friends and never really left the house to a social butterfly who is constantly running around with new friends learning the area I've lived in most of my life. For someone like me that's a truly wonderful gift. Thank you!
I am very excited to see where you're going to take this and I hope the Battle in Seattle is giving you a lot of information to work with.
I can't even begin to thank you for creating +Ingress. You created something that accomplished the impossible. You've managed to get all us introverted sedentary geeky gamer nerd types outside interacting with each other in the real world. Even opposing factions are coming together over drinks and stories of battle.
In the last 5 weeks I have gone from a complete couch potato who didn't have many friends and never really left the house to a social butterfly who is constantly running around with new friends learning the area I've lived in most of my life. For someone like me that's a truly wonderful gift. Thank you!
I am very excited to see where you're going to take this and I hope the Battle in Seattle is giving you a lot of information to work with.
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