Virtuals are set to return to geocaching.com
Just recently, I had changed the poll here to get some feedback on the whole “revive” virtuals debate. For those out of the loop, here’s a quick history lesson.
At one time, you used to be able to list a “virtual” cache on geocaching.com. The idea was that there was a location you wanted to bring people to (many times a location of historical significance) but there was no suitable spot for a physical container. These spawned the “virtual” cache where a person could go to the location and use some other method to verify they had been there (usually photos). However, virtuals degraded to the point where there were many useless virtuals (parking lots, coffee shops, etc) and in many cases, if a regular cache went missing, it would get converted to a virtual. This lead to Groundspeak disabling the ability to create new virtuals, and spawned Waymarking.com.
Since then, there has been a widespread debate about whether or not virtuals should be brought back. Many insist that they still have a place in geocaching but should have tighter controls on them (somewhat like how Earthcaches are controlled). Of all the topics in geocaching, the “Bring back virtuals” is one of the hottest topics.
Back in May, I posted a story about how a user on Groundspeak had claimed Jeremy Irish (CEO of Groundspeak) had told him they were looking at having virtuals return. Today it seems that this may in fact actually be true.
On Groundspeak’s latest “feedback” forum, there is now an official response from Jeremy indicating that the return of virtuals is now “planned” and that “We have been discussing this in-house and plan to work on a solution that should support those interested in virtuals and not upset those who don’t want them back.”.
It would seem they are destined to return. What are your thoughts on the subject?
I was not going to write in this topic as at first I was pretty neutral on the subject. But then I clicked on the “official response” link in Zor’s comment and found Rev Slippery’s note. I very quickly joined his school of thought. Of course there will be a need for sets of rules to make sure we don’t end up with super lame spots like: This is the T.H. where I get my coffee every morning. BUT, on the other hand, isn’t it what I just did with GC2F1XZ ? LOL Some could argue it’s exactly the same, shame on me!
I only found 3 virtuals, and they were all pretty cool. So after all maybe they should come back, but with better sets of rules, and don’t worry, I could be one of the local watchmen! 😈
RevSlippery, people already can own earthcache even if on another continent, but I agree that you should only be able to own a virtual as well as an earthcache as if it was a traditional cache, using common sense, not because you just targeted a neat spot in Egypt using google map and you are presently living in Allardville, NB.
Bring them back I say!!
When i vacationed in Europe last summer, my goal was to find at least one cache per country. I found that virtual caches, of which there are still quite a few in Europe, were the best and easiest to do. They always bring you to really cool places, such as St Paul’s Cathedral in London, a unique statue in front of the Louvres in Paris or a really cool spiral staircase in Venice. Not only did i not have to walk around with a GPS in a very crowded city and not watch where i was going, but these virtual caches took me to some really cool places. OK, granted, i would have seen St Paul’s regardless, but that staircase was really cool 🙂
There is a way to make these virtuals so that you cant log them from home. For example, the sculpture in front of the Livres required that you submit both a picture and the inscription carves into the base. something that would have been hard to find on the internet.
I also feel that it shouldnt really matter how people place or find these virtual caches. so what if you do it from your own home, without actually going on site? or spend an hour searching it online in order to log it, instead of actually going to see it? Its not that different from how some people solve puzzles caches. To each his own. if you want to do it that way, i wont stop you. As long as the caches are acceptable and accurate enough for other people to complete correctly, i couldnt care less. A virtual near the local Tims is no different to me than a micro along a guardrail. Would I put one there? No. But i wont stop you from doing it.
I don’t like the idea of someone from Germany hiding a cache near my house when myself or someone locally could have done it. I know it doesn’t matter to most finders but I like it when I know the cacher who hid it and I would be pissed if someone from far away hid a bunch of virtuals in Moncton before the local cachers had a chance to do it.
We have logged 32 virtuals. Most are at interesting places where a cache could not be placed, or would not be appropriate or would not be allowed.
Some of our logs are for caves and monuments, etc in the Maritimes but others are for places in New York city and Disney World. We alos have one for the place in Virginia where they buried Stonewall Jackson’s arm.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=26c86e4d-71d4-40db-8233-3015a771893a#
Virtuals would be OK if somehow they could control where they are placed. However I really think that you should be at the site to claim it.
I agree Pa. I think it’s far better to do as much as you can to insure that folks logging the cache were actually there.
I agree with Pa and Zor. I love virtuals for their historic value, and they are usually in locations where you just would not, or could not, place a cache, but they are still a must visit place of interest. When I went to Freeport/Portland ME for our family vacation, I visited this wonderful virtual which was a monument to director John Ford, the only man to win the oscar for best director 4 times. Definitely a place you couldn’t actually have a physical container, but one where you want to bring people to visit.