Help
Here are some answers to common questions regarding CellGuided.
General
What is CellGuided?
CellGuided is a modern version of traditional treasure hunts. The difference is use of a mobile phone in order to receive directions and solve clues. The directions and clues are only spoken when the user reaches the appropriate point in the route. On an iPhone or iPod Touch the directions and clues are displayed on the screen. No longer do you need to print and distribute directions. And you don't need ciphers to decode clues. All directions and clues are stored with CellGuided.
Why Should I Use CellGuided?
CellGuided can be used for a variety of occasions such as treasure/scavenger hunts, historical tours, team building activities, etc. Just imagine the possibilities!
Do I Need a Special Phone?
No. Any mobile or cellular phone will work. We do not rely on GPS or any other location identification services to know where you are. iPhone and iPod Touch users get an enhanced experience with pictures!
Do I Need to Stay Connected?
No. You can hang up once you receive directions to the next location. CellGuided will remember who you are and where you are going. Call back when you are ready to enter an answer or if you need to hear directions again.
Route? Location? Artifact? What do These Mean?
CellGuided allows you to create a Route. A route "guides" you through a series of Locations. Each location has an Artifact. An artifact is a puzzle which must be solved (and the answer to which entered into a mobile phone). Successfully finding and solving an artifact allows you to proceed to the next location in the route. Artifacts are typically natural or man made characteristics of a location, such as a date on a monument or the number of steps up a walkway.
iPhone & iPod Touch
How does it work on an iPod Touch?
Connectivity to the internet is only required to install and update a route. Once installed, a tour or treasure hunt can be played without a network connection. This allows you to enjoy a tour or treasure hunt with the same experience as iPhone users.
What is a PromoCode?
A PromoCode allows you to share your tour or treasure hunt when it is unpublished. An unpublished tour or treasure hunt is not displayed to users in the "Nearby" tab. But a PromoCode allows them to install and play such a tour or treasure hunt.
Creating Routes
How do I Create A Route?
We have a couple of tutorials here:
Creating a Route
Adding Existing Locations
Route Descriptions
Why aren't Directions and Artifact available for the First Location in my Route?
The first location in a route acts as an "anchor" for the route. This is where the user needs to go before calling and entering a code. Also, there is nothing to solve at this first location. Thus the directions and artifacts are hidden. If you want to have the user solve an artifact at the first location just add it to your route again as the second location and leave the directions blank.
Can I Put my Back Yard in a Route?
Yes. You can put any location into a route. By default a route is private which means that only it's creator can see it. As such, you would need to tell your family/friends/colleagues the phone number and code in order for them to use the route.
How do I Share my Route with Everyone?
See "Publishing" below.
There Isn't a Local Phone Number in my Area (for Ordinary Phone routes).
We are currently evaluating a number of areas in which to add local phone numbers. Until then, you can use any phone number currently in the system. Typically this will result in a long distance call (with the associated charges) for people using the route.
Publishing
What is it?
Publishing allows you to share your routes, locations and artifacts with everyone. This makes them available for everyone to use and enjoy. By default, routes, locations and artifacts are private (unpublished).
Why Should I Publish My Route?
Publishing allows your route to be found by anyone. You don't need to explicitly tell people the phone number and code for your route as they can find it themselves. And it allows you to share your creativity with everyone!
Why Would I Publish a Location or Artifact?
Publishing allows your location and/or artifact to be used in other people's routes. This make it easy for others to create routes and to visit places you have defined. An artifact that you publish is only visible by name to other users. Thus someone else can use your published artifacts but they don't know the answers!
What Should I be Aware of When Publishing a Route?
Publishing a route makes it visible to everyone. In addition, any locations and artifacts in that route are automatically published. Please review your route carefully prior to publishing to ensure you don't lead people to places you don't want them to visit (such as your living room or a private country club).
Contact Us
Still stumped? Email us at . We'd love to hear from you!
Here are some answers to common questions regarding CellGuided.
General
What is CellGuided?
CellGuided is a modern version of traditional treasure hunts. The difference is use of a mobile phone in order to receive directions and solve clues. The directions and clues are only spoken when the user reaches the appropriate point in the route. On an iPhone or iPod Touch the directions and clues are displayed on the screen. No longer do you need to print and distribute directions. And you don't need ciphers to decode clues. All directions and clues are stored with CellGuided.
Why Should I Use CellGuided?
CellGuided can be used for a variety of occasions such as treasure/scavenger hunts, historical tours, team building activities, etc. Just imagine the possibilities!
Do I Need a Special Phone?
No. Any mobile or cellular phone will work. We do not rely on GPS or any other location identification services to know where you are. iPhone and iPod Touch users get an enhanced experience with pictures!
Do I Need to Stay Connected?
No. You can hang up once you receive directions to the next location. CellGuided will remember who you are and where you are going. Call back when you are ready to enter an answer or if you need to hear directions again.
Route? Location? Artifact? What do These Mean?
CellGuided allows you to create a Route. A route "guides" you through a series of Locations. Each location has an Artifact. An artifact is a puzzle which must be solved (and the answer to which entered into a mobile phone). Successfully finding and solving an artifact allows you to proceed to the next location in the route. Artifacts are typically natural or man made characteristics of a location, such as a date on a monument or the number of steps up a walkway.
iPhone & iPod Touch
How does it work on an iPod Touch?
Connectivity to the internet is only required to install and update a route. Once installed, a tour or treasure hunt can be played without a network connection. This allows you to enjoy a tour or treasure hunt with the same experience as iPhone users.
What is a PromoCode?
A PromoCode allows you to share your tour or treasure hunt when it is unpublished. An unpublished tour or treasure hunt is not displayed to users in the "Nearby" tab. But a PromoCode allows them to install and play such a tour or treasure hunt.
Creating Routes
How do I Create A Route?
We have a couple of tutorials here:
Creating a Route
Adding Existing Locations
Route Descriptions
Why aren't Directions and Artifact available for the First Location in my Route?
The first location in a route acts as an "anchor" for the route. This is where the user needs to go before calling and entering a code. Also, there is nothing to solve at this first location. Thus the directions and artifacts are hidden. If you want to have the user solve an artifact at the first location just add it to your route again as the second location and leave the directions blank.
Can I Put my Back Yard in a Route?
Yes. You can put any location into a route. By default a route is private which means that only it's creator can see it. As such, you would need to tell your family/friends/colleagues the phone number and code in order for them to use the route.
How do I Share my Route with Everyone?
See "Publishing" below.
There Isn't a Local Phone Number in my Area (for Ordinary Phone routes).
We are currently evaluating a number of areas in which to add local phone numbers. Until then, you can use any phone number currently in the system. Typically this will result in a long distance call (with the associated charges) for people using the route.
Publishing
What is it?
Publishing allows you to share your routes, locations and artifacts with everyone. This makes them available for everyone to use and enjoy. By default, routes, locations and artifacts are private (unpublished).
Why Should I Publish My Route?
Publishing allows your route to be found by anyone. You don't need to explicitly tell people the phone number and code for your route as they can find it themselves. And it allows you to share your creativity with everyone!
Why Would I Publish a Location or Artifact?
Publishing allows your location and/or artifact to be used in other people's routes. This make it easy for others to create routes and to visit places you have defined. An artifact that you publish is only visible by name to other users. Thus someone else can use your published artifacts but they don't know the answers!
What Should I be Aware of When Publishing a Route?
Publishing a route makes it visible to everyone. In addition, any locations and artifacts in that route are automatically published. Please review your route carefully prior to publishing to ensure you don't lead people to places you don't want them to visit (such as your living room or a private country club).
Contact Us
Still stumped? Email us at . We'd love to hear from you!