Intrigue á la ferme
Geocaching recreational game supporting the discovery of Belgian farms and rural villages
Description
Intrigue á la Ferme is an outdoor recreational activity developed in Wallonia (Belgium). Participants in this location-based game make use of a connection to the Global Positioning System via a mobile device as well as other navigational techniques in a game of hide and seek. Participants hunt down caches, known as geocaches, at specific locations marked by coordinates around selected farms and rural villages. The digital game has been developed to support rural and urban communities in discovering local legends, cultures and histories in Wallonia while engaging in a fun activity. The online game guides the participants on a walking journey during which they must solve puzzles, identify objects and perform tasks requiring them to share their knowledge, collaborative skills and creativity. To date, eight different journeys have been created, set around five operational farms and three rural villages.
Technology
Intrigue á la Ferme is a mobile application that runs on Android or iOS smartphones or tablets, and can be accessed from the Apple App or Google Play Stores. Players are directed to geocaches distributed around the farms or rural villages through the Global Positioning System, taking them on a playful journey. The game is promoted also on the official website www.intriguealaferme.be/fr , but can only be played through the mobile app, which has the language options of French, Flemish, German and English. An online community has developed devoted to the location-based game, with social media groups on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram.
Target
The main users of the game are urban and rural communities, children and visitors to the area with smartphones or tablets. Farmers and rural villagers can use the game to attract visitors to their facilities, where they can learn more about the local products, stories and locations while making purchases. Around 1000 users have downloaded the app from Google Play Store since 2020.
Business model
Access to the game is free via the app, which is also free to download. The app was developed with financial support provided through the public funding project of the European Fund for Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as the General Wallonian Committee for Rural Tourism. The app is also supported by volunteers of the non-profit organization Accueil Champetre en Wallonie, as well as the farms and rural villages who have given their time to customize the game to their stories.
Impact
Intrigue á la Ferme is expected to revitalise rural areas through the promotion of interactive services and the promotion of rural-based attractions that integrate tourism, agriculture, culture and local foods. There have as yet been no studies carried out to collect evidence or testimonials of the ex-post impacts of this recreational activity. The fact that the app has been downloaded by more than 1000 times from Google Play Store, and updated at least four times, suggests that the pilot project is gaining traction.
Partners
N-Zone; Wallonie tourisme Commissariat général au Tourisme (CGT); Fonds Européen Agricole pour le Développement Rural (FEADER)
Four Betters
Better life
