Run An Empire lets players take over territory in the real world and get exercise simultaneously.

Play an alternate reality game with friends or strangers and burn a few calories by walking or running while you’re at it. That’s basically the gist for new app Run An Empire, created by London-based PAN Studio.

Run An Empire is a multi-player alternate reality game where players compete against others to “own” territory in their local environment. To capture a territory, players must walk, jog or run around it. Players use the same map and a territory can be invaded and captured by another player if they walk or run around the same area of land. To maintain a territory, players must go around it regularly.

The app is programmed to use the accelerometer of the phone so players can’t cheat by driving or riding a bike. They must capture and maintain territories on their own two feet, and it doesn’t matter how fast or slow they do it because the game rewards effort over ability.

Strategy games have traditionally challenged players to out-think and out-maneuver one another. What’s incredibly exciting for us is the potential to see this mechanic played out away from screens and keyboards, playing pieces and dice rolls-–where the game board is overlaid on the world around us.

The app turns the real world into a physical gameboard and encourages people to go outside and engage in a physical activity they are comfortable with.

The game has already reached its goal on Kickstarter with less than a week to go. Supporters get beta access to the game and opportunity to participate in testing and provide feedback.

Check out the Kickstarter video for Run An Empire below.

Run An Empire
Source: Co.Design