Treasure Hunting Just Went Global

Swindon based events company Planet Pursuits has just released its first global based App. iTreasure is a mobile phone application, or App, that allows users to Create a treasure hunt using an iPhone and then invite friends to join and play. The company’s research suggests this is the first App of its type in the world.

Anyone can create a treasure hunt using this iTreasure. You start by giving your game a name and location and then you add cryptic questions for your players to answer. You can add clues, photos and hints and then using your phone you fix your location using the inbuilt mobile GPS tracking system.  The player can see their location on a map and easily identify where the clue is, if they merge the two spots by physically going to that location they can answer the question or look at clues and photos to help them - which costs extra points. Once you give the correct answer the next location is revealed.

Purton based Planet Pursuits events is the company behind this innovative new product and Simon Maddison, its founder, is no stranger to treasure hunt style games, having successfully sold a similar Spy-based team building product around the world.

“I see this as a community based extension of our hugely popular spy game”, said Simon, “not only is this a great game to play and enjoy for social groups, it can add real value for a tiny investment to any venue, hotel, recreation space, village, town or city. With this game users can create games to leave online for others to play or create games and keep them private with passwords, like at a hotel or national trust property. The game content is only limited by your imagination. My vision is to get people outside, playing with technology, and developing an appreciation for the outdoors and outdoor recreation!”

With the proliferation of the internet, mobile applications and social networking groups, the company could see an opportunity for technology based games that had a social and physical interaction as well. Apart from the obvious social and health benefits in playing iTreasure, there are lots of key skills exercised by playing a game including problem solving, team work, navigation and orienteering.

The company has already created iTreasure games for Hen and Stag parties and corporate team building away days and are now in talks with a number of hotel chains and historic houses about creating bespoke games. Planet Pursuits feels iTreasure Hunt has all the right qualities for becoming one of the world's fastest growing, live, recreational, location-based social media activities.