u/jakeyboyz11

Hi everyone,

I'm a solo developer who's spent the last year building an Android app called Touch Grass, and I thought this community might actually appreciate the idea.

As you walk around in real life, the app gradually uncovers a fog-covered map of everywhere you've physically been. Every few metres, another small square is revealed, almost like exploring a game world.

What started as a simple "where have I been?" tracker gradually evolved into something much bigger. It can show things like:

• How much of a suburb, park, city, or region you've explored.
• Discovery notifications when you enter somewhere new.
• Heatmaps and timelapses showing how your exploration habits change over time.
• Journals, photos and voice notes attached to places you've visited.
• Offline exploration after an area has been cached.

I built it because I realised that even in places I'd lived for years, there were still countless streets, parks and paths I'd never noticed before. It's genuinely changed the way I walk. I take detours, choose different routes home, and find myself wondering:

>

I'm currently in closed testing before release and would genuinely love feedback from people who walk for enjoyment rather than just as exercise.

If you guys want to early test for free

1. Join this Google Group: https://groups.google.com/u/0/g/touch-grass-alpha-testers
2. Install the app to test using this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beansgames.touchgrass

Would something like this appeal to you?

Hi everyone,

I'm a solo developer who's spent the last year building a location-based exploration game called Touch Grass, and a huge part of it wouldn't exist without OpenStreetMap.

The basic idea is simple: as you walk around in the real world, you gradually uncover a fog-covered map of where you've physically been. Every 10 metres or so, new squares are revealed.

Where OSM comes in is the part I'm most proud of.

I use OpenStreetMap boundaries and place data to calculate things like how much of a suburb, park, city, or region you've actually explored. The result is that you can look at a place and say things like:

>"I've physically visited 78% of this suburb."

or

>"I've finally explored 100% of this park."

It has given me a completely different appreciation for the amount of work that goes into maintaining accurate boundaries and geographic data. I've even found myself noticing odd edge cases and appreciating how messy the real world can be compared to neat polygons on a map.

I'm curious what the OSM community thinks about this kind of use case.

• Have you seen other projects using OSM data in a similar way?
• Is there anything you think developers building on top of OSM often misunderstand?
• Are there any best practices you'd recommend when working heavily with administrative and place boundaries?

I mostly wanted to share something that genuinely couldn't have existed without the work of OpenStreetMap contributors, and to say thank you for creating such an incredible resource.

If you guys want to early test for free

If you're willing to help, please:

1. Join this Google Group: https://groups.google.com/u/0/g/touch-grass-alpha-testers
2. Install the app to test using this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beansgames.touchgrass

there is an export and import option so any progress made in this pre-release build will be able to ported over with no issues! thanks guys, If you do try it out hope you enjoy!

https://preview.redd.it/ib5pto9k6r6h1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=0174338151a7d4ea30a27edb37a4579fe61b5944

Here's an example of the usage

I built a game, but I have absolutely no idea how to market it.

I'm a software engineer, not a marketer.

For the last year I've been building a location-based exploration game called Touch Grass. The basic idea is that instead of spending all your time scrolling social media or grinding another game indoors, you go out into the real world and explore. As you walk, travel, hike, or commute, you gradually uncover a fog-covered map of everywhere you've physically been.

Building the app has been one of the hardest things I've ever done, but at least coding had a clear path forward. Marketing feels like a completely different skillset.

I don't have a social media following.

I don't know how to run ad campaigns.

I don't know whether I should be making TikToks, posting on Reddit, contacting gaming creators, building a Discord, or doing something else entirely.

The audience I'm hoping to reach is people who enjoy games but also want a reason to get outside more, explore places they've never been, and spend less time endlessly scrolling.

If you've launched a game, app, or other consumer product, what actually worked for you?

How did you get your first 100 users?

What marketing advice would you give someone starting from absolutely nothing?

Any advice would be appreciated.

I built a game, but I have absolutely no idea how to market it.

I'm a software engineer, not a marketer.

For the last year I've been building a location-based exploration game called Touch Grass. The basic idea is that instead of spending all your time scrolling social media or grinding another game indoors, you go out into the real world and explore. As you walk, travel, hike, or commute, you gradually uncover a fog-covered map of everywhere you've physically been.

Building the app has been one of the hardest things I've ever done, but at least coding had a clear path forward. Marketing feels like a completely different skillset.

I don't have a social media following.

I don't know how to run ad campaigns.

I don't know whether I should be making TikToks, posting on Reddit, contacting gaming creators, building a Discord, or doing something else entirely.

The audience I'm hoping to reach is people who enjoy games but also want a reason to get outside more, explore places they've never been, and spend less time endlessly scrolling.

If you've launched a game, app, or other consumer product, what actually worked for you?

How did you get your first 100 users?

What marketing advice would you give someone starting from absolutely nothing?

Any advice would be appreciated.

The Tldr is it is a realtime tracking gps game that clears fog to show you where you've been.

If you're willing to help, please:

1. Join this Google Group: https://groups.google.com/u/0/g/touch-grass-alpha-testers
2. Install the app to test using this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beansgames.touchgrass
3. Keep the app installed and test it occasionally for 14 days.

Hi everyone! I'm working on getting Google Play production access and need 12 testers.
The Tldr is it is a realtime tracking gps game that clears fog to show you where you've been.

If you're willing to help, please:

1. Join this Google Group: https://groups.google.com/u/0/g/touch-grass-alpha-testers
2. Install the app to test using this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beansgames.touchgrass
3. Keep the app installed and test it occasionally for 14 days.

I'd be happy to return the favor and test your app as well. Thanks

Hi everyone! I'm working on getting Google Play production access and need 12 testers.
The Tldr is it is a realtime tracking gps game that clears fog to show you where you've been.

If you're willing to help, please:

1. Join this Google Group: https://groups.google.com/u/0/g/touch-grass-alpha-testers
2. Install the app to test using this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beansgames.touchgrass
3. Keep the app installed and test it occasionally for 14 days.

I'd be happy to return the favor and test your app as well. Thanks

Hi everyone! I'm working on getting Google Play production access and need 12 testers.
The Tldr is it is a realtime tracking gps game that clears fog to show you where you've been.

If you're willing to help, please:

1. Join this Google Group: https://groups.google.com/u/0/g/touch-grass-alpha-testers
2. Install the app to test using this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beansgames.touchgrass
3. Keep the app installed and test it occasionally for 14 days.

I'd be happy to return the favor and test your app as well. Thanks

Hi everyone! I'm working on getting Google Play production access and need 12 testers.
The Tldr is it is a realtime tracking gps game that clears fog to show you where you've been.

If you're willing to help, please:

1. Join this Google Group: https://groups.google.com/u/0/g/touch-grass-alpha-testers
2. Install the app to test using this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beansgames.touchgrass
3. Keep the app installed and test it occasionally for 14 days.

I'd be happy to return the favor and test your app as well. Thanks

Hi everyone! I'm working on getting Google Play production access and need 12 testers.
The Tldr is it is a realtime tracking gps game that clears fog to show you where you've been.

If you're willing to help, please:

1. Join this Google Group: https://groups.google.com/u/0/g/touch-grass-alpha-testers
2. Install the app to test using this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beansgames.touchgrass
3. Keep the app installed and test it occasionally for 14 days.

I'd be happy to return the favor and test your app as well. Thanks

Hi everyone! I'm working on getting Google Play production access and need 12 testers.
The Tldr is it is a realtime tracking gps game that clears fog to show you where you've been.

If you're willing to help, please:

1. Join this Google Group: https://groups.google.com/u/0/g/touch-grass-alpha-testers
2. Install the app to test using this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beansgames.touchgrass
3. Keep the app installed and test it occasionally for 14 days.

I'd be happy to return the favor and test your app as well. Thanks!