Earning points in game of life

NEW YORK -- In the world of foursquare, life can be a lot like a video game: earning points and badges for places you visit and engaging in a nonphysical sort of "King of the Mountain" competition to be "mayor," or the most frequent visitor to a particular location.

Dennis Crowley, co-founder of foursquare, an online hyperlocal social service that mixes users' current "check-in" locations and tips with gaming aspects, described the service as "a lot like Twitter but with location."

And while that concept has been carried by a couple of other online sites, what makes foursquare different is that "we're trying to turn life into a game," Crowley said during a Wednesday presentation at the Real Estate Connect conference in New York.

Referencing a Nike mobile device that helps users track their running performance and a photo of a badge-covered Eagle Scout, Crowley said foursquare can actually inspire some users to change their behavior by offering incentives to explore their neighborhoods and cities.

For example, someone who seeks to earn a particular badge or become a "mayor" may visit

Inman News tech columnist Gahlord Dewald has noted that foursquare can be useful for business travel and has other business potential, too -- even if you're not interested in the "game" part of the service. ...CONTINUED

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