Why is the game not made available to the "general public"?

konggkongg ✭✭

In many instances portals are only available if an agent is a member of a club or has security clearance. This means that the "general public" can't get in to hack that portal.

Comments

  • I agree. It is so unfair and strange. Is this really what Niantic intended from the beginning, to have portals that are not reachable?

  • Sometimes during review it is pretty difficult to tell what submission have special requirements to access them and what ones aren’t actually available to everyone who can walk up to them. That is probably why they allow that stuff.

  • konggkongg ✭✭

    I came across three portals today. All were on private property. The sign said "No trespassers". In order for me to cap, link and or field them I would have to trespass. The property was an old folks home. I am a proper player that plays by the rules. I cant hack those portals.

  • CriminalBizzyCriminalBizzy ✭✭✭✭

    I recently came across a player that was visiting from another country. This player told me that everyone has told him that a portal is only valid if everyone can access the portal. We had a long conversation about the validity of portals. I also took the time to explain how just because a portal has limited access does not make it invalid. By the end of our conversation this player agreed with me but was still a little confused by the concept. We need to always keep in mind that access does not determine the validity of a portal. It should be the point of interest and its actual existence.

  • tomogramtomogram ✭✭✭

    You’re playing an augmented reality game. Part of the fun is trying figure out how to reach inaccessible portals. Somebody portals require athleticism. Others require social engineering. Sounds like your old folks home portals require a little social engineering

  • NinthAntNinthAnt ✭✭✭

    The “why” is hard to understand, and is a good question. It could be that it’s easier to implement and manage — for example it’s often easier to verify that something is on private residential property than keep track of which commercial/industrial/etc properties are open to the public or not.

    And it certainly benefits their other games, people in the secure facilities can get enjoyment out of Pokémon’s and wizards and such.  Though with Ingress, the impact of closed-access portals allows these areas to have outsized impact on larger areas and more players.

    For me, a game isn’t fun if the ability to play it is unavailable to me.  If I’m covered by a BAF and I can’t get to any of the anchors, I’ll just stop playing — games are only fun when you can have some control over the outcome.  

    Niantic folks have replied in the past that it’s an opportunity to “make new friends”, but I think that’s a weak response.  There should be a game mechanic to allow people under a field to take it down — easier the longer and larger it is — and this would help balance the impact of these closed-access portals.

    (hope this is a better answer than I have when we talked about this at the bbq)

  • vzdrncekvzdrncek ✭✭✭

    kongg, You should report Invalid Portal via Redacted and specify reason that portal is unaccessible (it's better to take a photo of security sign)

  • LemoMcLemonFaceLemoMcLemonFace ✭✭✭✭

    Life isn't fair.

    Bafs happen.

    Just because 'you/we/i' can't gain access to some portals, doesn't meant other people can't.

    Learn to play around, plan, integrate with your team.

  • FuzzySunFuzzySun ✭✭✭

    "Water Tower [ACCEPT] if accessible without entering a restricted area, is uniquely decorated, or are otherwise a notable monument."

    People with authorisation to access the restricted area could hack such a water tower, but seemingly it shouldn't be a portal regardless.

  • LemoMcLemonFaceLemoMcLemonFace ✭✭✭✭

    Some candidates have specific guidance, others have nothing specific, so revert back to guidelines.

  • In my hometown, Maputo, there are two portals that are totally inaccessible. They are inside areas guarded by military/police. If you even get to close you can get arrested and be in a lot of trouble. I refuse to believe that Niantic wants visiting tourist players to be arrested. I can't report the portals as invalid because I have Ingress Prime.

    Please Niantic, change this!

    It's dangerous and bad.

  • JudyBJudyB ✭✭✭

    Two observations: Niantic regard the employees of closed sites as "public", so secure business areas meet their criteria. However, they now say that portals on military bases should be rejected in OPR, but that existing portals on military bases are regarded as "grandfathered in".

  • DigitalisDigitalis ✭✭✭

    you know old people play ingress too?


    if you were confined to an assisted living facility and were an agent, how would you feel if your portal got taken away?


    the staff on their breaks?


    the legitimate visitors of the establishment?

Sign In or Register to comment.