Do you like strategy games like Risk and Settlers of Catan but wish they involved something a little more physical than rolling dice? You’re in luck—a new app is in development to bring running into the world of massively multiplayer gaming, an online genre featuring large numbers of simultaneous players.

Run An Empire challenges users to conquer territory in the real world by literally running or walking around it. The larger the loop, the more territory is claimed, though the area must then be reinforced with repeated runnings to prevent others from swooping in and seizing portions of the map for themselves. From preliminary descriptions, the app sounds a little like Strava for the Game of Thrones crowd, except unlike on Strava, claiming turf is based on diligence and strategy instead of speed.

According to Run An Empire’s London-based developers Ben Barker and Sam Hill, this focus on determined gameplay over “natural ability” is an intentional distinction.

“We want to make Run An Empire because basically it’s the kind of game we want to be playing ourselves—something that has the same strategic elements of games we already enjoy but is based in the real world where actions make a difference.” Hill says in a video on the project’s recently funded Kickstarter page. Barker adds, “This is not about making a fitness app; this is about something that’s compelling to play.”

Of course, it would be easy to just establish a sweeping monopoly over your small town or suburb, but to actually play the game, you need at least one other local competitor. You also have to conquer or defend your territory on foot—the game will use the phone's accelerometer to prevent motorists or cyclists from unfairly seizing the domain of others.

You can find out everything else you need to know about Run An Empire and how to get in on the Beta testing on Barker and Hill’s Kickstarter page. The app is intended for international use on iOS and Android devices.

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