CacheWalker
Caching => General Caching => Topic started by: Griff Grof on August 24, 2017, 06:34:28 pm
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Virtual Rewards (https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2017/08/virtual-rewards/)
Interesting announcement - new Virtual caches are coming soon!
Has anyone here been selected to place
one?
Thoughts?
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The first new Virtual in the UK for 12 years has been published today!
https://coord.info/GC7B9VA (https://coord.info/GC7B9VA)
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Virtual Rewards (https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2017/08/virtual-rewards/)
Interesting announcement - new Virtual caches are coming soon!
Has anyone here been selected to place
one?
Thoughts?
Well, if wrighty hasn't been selected, no chance for the rest of us :o
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For me, this was a surprising announcement.
Who remembers when Groundspeak introduced 'Geocaching Challenges' back in 2011? They had launched a feedback centre (or something like that) in 2010/11 and someone asked to bring back Virtual caches. If I remember rightly, you had to vote for the ideas you liked. That idea got an unbelievable number of votes in a very short period of time. GS had to act. But they didn't bring back Virtuals - they brought in 'Challenges', completely separate to geocaching but on the same site. In other words, they didn't add to your find count.
There was outrage as people asked for Virtuals and GS gave them something completely different! Eventually, I recall that they had to shut down the feedback site due to the uproar ::) :o - and eventually they did "retire" Geocaching Challenges. But they didn't bring back Virtuals to replace them.
We've had loads of threads and polls on this forum (including the last poll) where we expressed a desire to see Virtuals return. I really didn't think it'd happen - I didn't think GS would go back on their word. They didn't then so I thought they wouldn't now.
But 'Virtual Rewards' brings them back in a controlled way. There'll be up to 4000 new Virtuals by August 2018. Maybe this shows GS is finally listening to the community? After so many years, they've thought that it's time to give us what so many of us want - new Virtuals. Does this mark a new (welcome) direction for GS as a company? A community-driven business?
I don't know what algorithm they used to determine the 1%. I read elsewhere that all the reviewers have been selected - what are the chances that they'd all be chosen?! :D Obviously there are thousands who should be placing Virtuals as well. But I do think this avoids the issue of poor quality, pointless Virtuals (hopefully).
Will they come back properly? Is this just GS's way to stop everyone complaining as they can say "we did that"? Only time will tell. I hope they do come back full-time for all, in which case they could be quality controlled by reviewers (like Earthcaches - if they don't make the cut, they don't get published)... why haven't they thought of that?
For now, I'm just happy that we're seeing some new Virtuals - let's hope some pop up nearby ;D
What's your view?
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...and eventually they did "retire" Geocaching Challenges...
GS got so wound up by it, Challenges were wiped off their systems completely - talk about throwing your toys out :o
The new Virtuals, is a good way to reward good cachers and may get people to up their 'game'.
I don't think GS will put them out for everyone.
There is a new one in Oxford University Challenge 8 (Brmm Brmm) (https://coord.info/GC7B696) and now a Virtual Below Above :D Below Above - Virtual Reward (https://coord.info/GC7B9EZ)
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Yes, no new cachers would know that Challenges ever existed. No trace of them anywhere.
a new one in Oxford University Challenge 8 (Brmm Brmm) (https://coord.info/GC7B696) and now a Virtual Below Above :D Below Above - Virtual Reward (https://coord.info/GC7B9EZ)
Great that this has offered a chance for the University Challenge series to grow. No 5 is great. I look forward to finding the new one.
Interesting to see a Virtual BA. The reviewer notes that it's "currently the only D5/T4 rated virtual cache anywhere in the world" ;D - and the only BA not to be a 5/5, but it's rated a 10 on the cache page. That's higher than several others which are 5/5 :o :-\
I see there's one at the top of the Eiffel tower (https://coord.info/GC7B9JV) - I think that was needed! Hope to see some pop up in Rome... there are none. I often associate Virtuals with beautiful, notable cities (e.g. all the ones in London) so it would be good to have some there. After all, famous sights in urban areas are good for caches but not really physical ones (in my opinion).
Let's see if any others are published closer to home!
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GS got so wound up by it, Challenges were wiped off their systems completely - talk about throwing your toys out :o
And what did they say at the time... "Better mistakes tomorrow." :D
::)
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The reviewer notes that it's "currently the only D5/T4 rated virtual cache anywhere in the world" ;D - and the only BA not to be a 5/5
Reviewer is incorrect. For a short period whilst the Below Above's changed owners, they were labelled just (BA) caches. Under authority of the original Below Above's owner I had BA - Oil Drum Lane (https://coord.info/GC4VFF4) published. It was very short lived, but still part of the BA history.
IMO Groundspeak are right in bringing back virtuals in a limited capacity. There is a space for good virtuals out there in the mix of caching sites.
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Reviewer is incorrect. For a short period whilst the Below Above's changed owners, they were labelled just (BA) caches. Under authority of the original Below Above's owner I had BA - Oil Drum Lane (https://coord.info/GC4VFF4) published. It was very short lived, but still part of the BA history.
I think he meant first Virtual D5/T4 (in the world), rather than BA cache. Although I do correct myself, as I said they were all 5/5 before, I had forgotten about that one :)
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and Gackt and myself found the cache today, missed FTF by about 2 hours :(
Did bag a couple of BA Earth caches while there as well :)
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Just spotted that there's a new Virtual on the top of Ben Nevis: BEINN NIBHEIS - VIRTUAL REWARD (https://coord.info/GC7B76V).
That means that there's now one on all of the three peaks :)
Any one fancy the Three Peak Challenge to grab it on the way? :D
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And you could complete this challenge ;D
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4334/36792196256_2b387a0c9c_z.jpg)
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And you could complete this challenge ;D
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4334/36792196256_2b387a0c9c_z.jpg)
Your halfway there :)
CacheWalker does Ben Nevis? :D
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Here's a bookmark list (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=67a4bb63-c17e-4e59-b071-8a7c52b0e668) containing the new Virtuals in Britain and Ireland.
Good to see some Virtual Church Micros :)
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Just published - The Elephant Stone (https://coord.info/GC7B6P6) on Bredon Hill. Placed by @L8HNB :)
Looks good.
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Just published - The Elephant Stone (https://coord.info/GC7B6P6) on Bredon Hill. Placed by @L8HNB :)
Looks good.
Well deserved!
(And, yes, it does look a good one ;D )
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Just published - The Elephant Stone (https://coord.info/GC7B6P6) on Bredon Hill. Placed by @L8HNB :)
Looks good.
Well deserved!
(And, yes, it does look a good one ;D )
Yes, I doffed my 'hat' when I saw L8HNB last night ;D, agree well deserved.