Are You Smarter than a
Geography Major? Google Launches Online
Trivia Game
Need to test your map
skills? Google has created an online
geography quiz game using its Google Maps called Smarty Pins.
Players are assigned 1,000 “miles,”
which really serve as points. Categories
for the questions are arts and culture, science and geography, sports and
games, entertainment, history and current events, and featured topics—which included
sub-categories of March Madness and World Cup trivia.
Google asks trivia
questions about a city, country, landmark, or other location, and players must
drop the pin on the correct spot on the map.
(The game positions itself in the early questions in the region of the
correct location and offers clues). If
players put the pin in the correct spot quickly, bonus miles are given. But if a player guesses incorrectly, Google
subtracts how many miles off from the correct spot using the total “miles.”
Encouragement is
given: “Even Columbus took a few years
to find the right way.” “Not bad! Are your initials G.P.S.?” But sometimes Google mocks answers: “Maybe next time you don’t randomly throw a
dart at your screen?” “Wow! Did you Google that?” (See above images--click to enlarge) When the miles are gone, the game ends but
levels of badges are awarded.
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