Shadow Cities

SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
  • Year: 2012
  • Award: World Summit Award
  • Category: Entertainment & Lifestyle
  • Producer: Andreas Karlsson
  • Country: Finland

Shadow Cities players are technomages, rediscovering the long lost parallel shadow world and its magic by using their mobile device. The game challenges players to rediscover their surroundings in a way never before seen. Using location-based augmented reality technology, Shadow Cities creates a revolutionary global arena in which players delve into real-time, large-scale epic battles with other gamers in their very own transformed neighbourhoods. At the core of the game lie spells cast by drawing runes on the mobile device screen. Shadow Cities builds on traditional roleplaying concepts, offering a deep levelling system that allows players to customize their character by learning spells and developing attributes. An entirely new feature layers the game world on top of real-world locations. Players are challenged in mission-based gameplay, as well as by Player vs. Player and Player vs. Environment territorial conflict and control, and weekly campaigns between player factions, with unique medals as rewards that define the player’s character over time. Communication plays a vital role, ensured by in-game chat and social networking functionalities. Players can call on friends for help, discuss campaign progressions, display achievements and most importantly, remain easily connected with friends inside Shadow Cities.