Posts Tagged ‘friends’

October 17, 2014

Munzee Player of the Week: Wes Griffith (arts5)

As great as the Munzee game is, what makes us stand out are our players. Our players have formed a distinct community and built relationships through Munzee and we’re proud to bring the world together one cap at a time. This week’s Player of the Week first met fellow Munzee players in Franklin, TN where they’re known for their kindness (almost) as much as they are for their virtual gardens. Wes Griffith (arts5) may live in Ohio, but his interactions with Munzee players all over the world has made him an international hit! Read on to learn more about arts5.

Who are you?
I am arts5, real name Wes Griffith.

Where in the world do you live?
I live in Findlay, Ohio, USA.

How long have you played Munzee?
I have been a “playa” for a little over 2 years. Wished it was longer, because I want my early bird badge!

How did you find Munzee?
I was attending a special event at the Boonshoft Museum in Dayton, Ohio for the other game. After checking out all the GPS related coins, the maze, history of gps, etc inside, my wife and I went outside to cache. Someone asked me if I found the munzee and I said what the heck is a munzee!? They showed me the munzee inside the cache. I downloaded the app and captured my first munzee titled Boonshoft Munzee on August 25, 2012. I wasn’t too active until later when my brother got interested in the game. I’m a competitive person and had to crush him! LOL. But I don’t think I got totally addicted until Jason Brown (jarcc) and I drove down to Franklin, TN. We walked 30+ miles that whole weekend on about 5 hrs of sleep. I could barely walk anymore. We met Tammy Teel and Jay Piper. Talk about class! They were both very friendly and welcoming! I’ve been down there 2 more times since then. Last time we met Sheryl Crow at the little theater in downtown Franklin! I’ve been trying to convince my wife to move there ever since.

What do you enjoy most about Munzee?
I enjoy all the different things about the game. I like the badges. I like how competitive the clan wars are, whether you want to compete against other clans one-on-one for bragging rights or go for world domination that month for a bronze, silver, or gold medal.

I like how you can search for munzees in urban areas or take a nice peaceful stroll through the woods and cap too.

BUT the biggest thing about munzee is the people! Starting with Franklin, TN and beyond, I’ve met so many nice people. July 2014 when my clan The Plankers won gold, I had the pleasure of meeting Rod “Rodz” Howie from the UK. And at the MHQ Bash I met Griff (Georiffles) Halliwell and his wife Lesley, also from the Plankers and UK. Very very nice people!!! I wanted to take Lesley home with us, but Griff wouldn’t let me! LOL The last day of the MHQ Bash Douglas Lynch (5daughters) and his wife and daughters got me a birthday cake. Everyone sang happy birthday. It was a really, really nice day!!!

What is on your wish list?
I want badges for clan medals, since we don’t get medals anymore! A job at munzee would be cool. I seem to miss out on badges and specials that go on at events, so maybe something on the calendar to draw your attention to events that will have specials and badges. I would’ve gone to several of them if I had known.

Tell us about yourself!
I’m 41, married to a smokin-hot chick named Deanna, and we’ve got 2 cute girls. I like to joke around and have fun. I poke fun at myself and others all the time.

Other hobbies include:
I like to take the jeep out to hit the trails, we’ve been to several jeep jamborees with the Rubicon. I have the need for speed and love corvettes, so I like me some racing every now and then. I also love to express my 2nd amendment rights by target shooting. We like to go up in the mountains in our “top-secret bug out location” in TN and have fun and go boating on the lake. (I cannot tell you which lake! It’s a secret LOL). My wife and I are competitive into fitness. She runs marathons and I like to do competitive powerlifting. I’ve tore both of my shoulders doing that (rotator cuff and labrum), so I have been restricted from lifting for awhile, but those restrictions have been lifted recently! Woohoo!!! So I am very excited to start challenging myself again. Thank you to those for nominating me and thanks for the opportunity to play the game. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

arts5 was kind enough to share his social, so cap away!

October 14, 2014

Podcast Episode 33: Video Killed the Podcast Star

This week on the Munzee Podcast we talk about the Munzee Munch pellets and ghostzees, discuss the future of videocasting the podcast and talk about Haunted Hotels arriving tomorrow morning.

This week’s topics:

The arrival of the Munzee Munch.
Looking back on the Videocast and what to expect next.
Haunted Hotels launch tomorrow (Oct 15 at 10am CST) — NOT a limited supply so there is NO NEED to set your alarms. Find all the information on the blog and in the help manual. https://munzee.zendesk.com/entries/57617900-Hotel-Munzee Details: $4 each, premium members only.

October 9, 2014

Munzee Player of the Week: Adam Moritz (ActMoritz)

Munzee encourages our players to get outside and explore to find Munzees. The combination of technology and exercise is perfect for anyone, but we especially love to see families join together and Munz. Whether your children play a lot or a little, or your wife encourages your Munzee fandom, the family that Munzees together stays together. Family man and Early Bird Adam Moritz (ActMoritz) may not live in the most populated Munzee area, but he works hard to get his family moving and in turn grow the map. This week’s Player of the Week is a shining example of Munzee and we’re proud to have his family as part of our community!

Who are you?
ActMoritz but, most people call me Stud Muffin!!! Others people call me Adam Moritz

Where in the world do you live?
Just past BFE on the corner of Nowheresville right next to Carman Santiago and Waldo. In the Booming town of Longview, MO with a population of 4 Munzees, 3 of witch are mine.

How long have you played Munzee?
Since the beginning of time!! All 3 years got the badge to prove it! Early bird baby…

How did you find Munzee?
At an event “TNT” introduced me way back when the app SUCKED (:-P Rob). I capped like 5 at the event and didn’t play again till the same event a year later then I got hooked!! The app was 100X more gooder!

What do you enjoy most about Munzee?
That they are everywhere and that it’s super easy to play. But, mostly the COMPETITION of competing with friends mostly made through Munzee. This is kids odd as I HATE sports and I am not usually competitive. My Wife finds it funny how obsessed I get if someone passes me or I get close to someone. Making friends that I am closer to than most of my family.

What is on your wish list?
Number one on my list would have to be leveling up after 100!! Ability to change your username at least once. (That ones for my wife 😉 Rob)

Tell us about yourself!
I am pretty awesome, or so they tell me, and I love long walks on the beach. I love traveling as one could probably tell by looking at my Munzee account. I am a steel building detailer and own a small sign shop on the side. I have two boys that are nothing but trouble (they might get that from their momma;-)) several of you guys have probably met them. The oldest loves Munzee the youngest not so much he would rather go hiking and hunt for one of those treasure box GPS game things. Been married to the most smoking hot, beautiful, amazing, and successful woman in the world for 12 years. She Munzees (that’s pretty hot itself) a little. But, I think just to make me happy and pretty sure she really only likes the VM’s and MVM’s.

Other hobbies include?
I may maybe a little obsessed with my hobbies! 😉 Saltwater and Reef aquariums!! Reptiles snakes and lizards, Scuba, Custom show trucks, Hunting, fishing and I little thing called Munzee.

ActMoritz was kind enough to share his social, so cap away!

If you know a player that should be nominated for Munzee Player of the Week, shoot us a message at iLoveYou@Munzee.com and let us know just why this person is outstanding in the global Munzee community!

-Please note, this is a super active campaign. We may not be able to get back to everyone, but you’re helping to grow the list of amazing people in the Munzee community!

October 6, 2014

Meet Munzee Munday: State of the Munion

Although Munzee is only 3 years old, Team Munzee has grown like the game’s map: quick. Over the past few months we’ve seen a Marketplace open, a Bash blast off and a world freeze over. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg (pun intended). In the near future our players will see a new app, a subscription service and, as always, game growth. This growth is what we at Team Munzee pride ourselves on. We’re unwilling to rest when there are improvements to be made and through trial and error we’re making the most of Munzee. Through this all our faithful leader has stood tall, even when his back has crumbled. Like all great leaders, Munzee President Rob Vardeman has been the power behind the game’s recent growth and as he celebrates his first year in the books he has a few thoughts on how it has gone. October 4th, 2014 CoachV celebrated the end of his first year as Munzee president and we’re proud to congratulate him on a fine term.

It’s been a year since you took the reins on Munzee. How has it been?
This first year has exceeded any expectations I could have dreamed a year ago. The response of players around the world to some of the new game play and charity initiatives has been amazing!

What are some of your highlights from your first year as president?
So many highlights it is difficult to only choose a few, but I’ll give it a try. Multiple events around the world meeting new people has to be top of my list. Adding amazing new team members and truly growing the game from the inside has done wonders. Special charity Munzees and fundraising campaigns have touched me and impacted the lives of the recipients in great ways.

Anything you would have changed?
As with any new venture there are always things you look back and know you would change. I’m a risk taker and believe we have to try new things to find our sweet spot. The Munzlympics for example, big fail. However, it lead to a more successful Copa do Munzo, which will lead to an amazing next run along the same lines.

What’s your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is where my passion in life has always been, the people. I love the interaction. I love talking with players who visit MHQ. I love traveling to events and meeting the people who make this game what it is. Without the people, Munzee does not exist and that is never taken for granted.

Least favorite part?
Learning all the tech terms from Scott. I’m very fortunate to have a great team in place with each person having strengths in areas where I am lacking. Scott is very good at sharing issues we have in “Rob terms” so I can understand. I have a great appreciation (and limited understanding) for what Scott and his team do everyday!

What expectations do you have for your second year?
What can you expect from year 2.0 with me at the helm? Expect the Unexpected has been the slogan of the year and I think everyone (including the team) has come to know it to be true. We have some plans for expansion via the new Eventzee app for special events and private scavenger hunts. We will continue to press forward, innovate, and evolve the game of Munzee with new and unique ideas, contests, and prizes. Players should prepare for an exciting ride as we look to Munzee 3.0 (launch: TBD). Let’s just put it this way, year one was just the opening act, there is still plenty ahead for Munzee players to be excited about!

Any words of enlightenment, El Presidente?
Our players now should be excited to have built Munzee to this point. They are still part of our early years and growing pains, members of the first 200,000 player club. We strive daily to prepare for the future, for the millionth player. Will that player join Munzee in the next year? Only time will tell, but when they do, we will be ready! We appreciate the passion seen from players worldwide and will work with the same passion to make Munzee the scavenger hunt of the future! Grow the map, grow the game!

September 23, 2014

Podcast Episode 30: A Wild Work Week with Words of War, but “WE’RE #1!”

We keep it brief this week to make sure the MHQ Bash is ready to go, we hint at a Clan Wars announcement soon and talk about how awesome it is to be in McKinney.

This week’s topics:

1. Some final details about the MHQ Bash this weekend

2. McKinney being named the #1 place to live in America by Money Magazine.

3. A very quick word about the upcoming clan wars.

To check past, present and future Munzee Podcasts, visit www.munzeepodcast.com.

September 11, 2014

Munzee Player of the Week: Markus Gillgen (zeusi)

Since it’s inception, Munzee has been about conquering goals and reaching new heights (sometimes literally). Munzee and our players have proven time and time again that we are limitless and with every achievement a new standard has been set. This week’s Player of the Week really has had an excellent week. Markus Gilligen (zeusi) is currently living up to his mythological username as he has become the first Munzee player to reach 2 million points! We know this strike of lightning is far more than coincidence and zeusi will continue to wow, so read on to learn more about Markus!

Who are you?

My name is Markus Gillgen aka zeusi.

Where in the world do you live?

I live in Bonn, Germany, the former capital. That is 25km south of Cologne, one of the biggest Munzee hot spots around.

How long have you played Munzee?

I started playing in June 2012, so that’s more than 800 days now, but I was too late for the “early bird” Badge. We traveled some kilometers for a handful of greenies, 100 points was an amazing day score. Then the birthday cakes popped onto the map and or score exploded to over 1.000 points… yeah!

How did you find Munzee?

We played another Scavenger game like many other players did and found a blue plate with “Mystery ?” on it while searching the stash of a mystery cache. I thought I had found it and looked for log book, but found none. Made a picture and we continued our journey. Home again we looked at the picture and googled “munzee mystery” since we expected a new log solution or another step in solving the mystery.

We found the Webpage and installed the App on the same evening. A guy named Louboey deployed a lot of greenies around the place where we live so we went out to capture one of his stickers. Some days later we started with our first deploys in our homezone.

What do you enjoy most about Munzee?

There are many things that I enjoy, but here’s a selection :

I love the fund raising charity actions like Movember, RMH and ALS. The idea is really awesome and I supported all three charities. And not to forget: Munzee is unique and your deployment work is honored in points, the more you do, the more points you get day by day. Brilliant.

Being a team player it’s wonderful for me to be part of a clan, one of the best things Munzee established were the clan battles. We have a wonderful clan with great team spirit, from CW#1 till now.

And last but not least : 2014 my friend Robje64 and me hosted the 2nd European Munzee Event with more than 100 players in Cologne and CoachV and Dafi87 were our special guests – that was soooo awesome and everybody had a lot of fun. RobV was under siege from the first second. Everybody wanted to scan, take selfies, and touch him to see if he’s real – just like a pop star. That spirit was unbelievable. Thanks for being part of it!

What is on your wish list?

Since I love badges, definitely badges for blasts (20,50, 250) and the Clan War medals should be switched to badges soon.

I’d love to get credits right out of the App via Paypal or InApp purchasing & to see the amount I have left for blasts.

A “repair overview” filter on the map would be nice to see my own “yellows” not to miss them.

And if you could extend the Early Bird Badge counter by let’s say 50 days – wonderful 🙂

Tell us about yourself!

I’m 42 years old, married and we have four kids, all of us are active players with dedicated accounts. We found lots of friends and mates over several different countries. That is so amazing. I like to walk, but I need a target. With Munzee I walk a lot to move from code to code. I got my first Fitbit device two years ago and was very happy about the cooperation and integration of Fitbit. I love being out to grow the map!!!

I was addicted since the map around my hometown started to grow and my family and I deployed a lot in Bonn and Cologne and many other spots. Before we decide a destination for holidays we look first, if there are enough Munzees on the way or at the destination. And I have always some stickers with me 🙂

Other hobbies include:

Yes, there is time for other hobbies: family, time with the dogs, collecting and painting Warhammer fantasy miniatures with the kids.

Markus was kind enough to share his socials, so cap away!

-Please note, this is a super active campaign. We may not be able to get back to everyone, but you’re helping to grow the list of amazing people in the Munzee community!

September 9, 2014

Podcast Episode 28: Onezees, Zuesi and Icees

In this episode of the podcast we congratulate a player on their 2 millionth point and release the final ALS Ice Cube donation amount.

This week on the Munzee Podcast, we talk about:

1. The D.D. Errybaby and the new line of Munzee Onezees.

2. Zeusi hits 2 Million Points

3. ALS Ice Munzee Results

4. Info on MHQ Bash

August 14, 2014

Munzee Player(s) of the Week: Dale and Barb Swinehart (DalenBarb)

Munzee may be a business, but our employees and our business partners are still players too. It’s this love of Munzee that brings us together and helps us do great things to make the game better for all. One such partnership is with Dale and Barb (DalenBarb) from Space Coast Geo Store, one of our authorized resellers. Dale and Barb help spread the Munzee word as well as expand our business, not to mention they’re dedicated players too! Take a look at our Player(s) of the Week DalenBarb!

Who are you?
We are a husband and wife team known as DalenBarb (yes our Munzee name is our real names as well). Barb plays under this account and Dale plays under the account known as SpaceCoastGeoStore.

Where in the world do you live?
We live in Merritt Island, Florida (The Space Coast)

How long have you played Munzee?
Since August of 2011.

How did you find Munzee?
A friend and fellow cacher was visiting our store and asked if they could place a Munzee in our window. We asked what it was and downloaded the app so we could “cap” our first Munzee. That was in August of 2011, only 1 month after Munzee started.

What do you enjoy most about Munzee?
We really enjoy meeting new people that play the game. It has given us the opportunity to spend time with each other after working all day. Getting outside and capping/deploying has become a favorite pastime for us in the evenings and weekends. Our grandkids (8 and 3) also enjoy Munzee and ask if they can go to the park to cap some Munzees. We also love how Team Munzee is always keeping the game fresh and adding new ways to score points. The badges have been a lot of fun working toward as well.

What is on your wish list?
We would love to see the ability to search for a specific Munzee or player in the app. Also the ability to filter a single players Munzees (allowing us to only search for that players deployments). One other thing I would LOVE to see is a vehicle Munzee. Oh and a visit to MHQ (which we plan to do in September).

Tell us about yourself!
Barb and I met over the internet 16 years ago. We were married on Sanibel Island, FL a year later. She has two kids from a previous marriage and I have one. We have two grandkids (8 and 3) who love to Munzee. We opened up an Automotive Air Conditioning Parts store when the company Dale worked for closed 10 years ago. Two years later we opened the first walk in caching store in the United States. We have since closed the Automotive Air Conditioning business due to the economy once they let everyone go at the Kennedy Space Center. We then focused on the caching store and becoming an Authorized Munzee Reseller. We started playing Munzee in 2011, but it never really clicked with us. We tried it again a year later and thought it was fun until our iPhone had an issue with the app which caused us to give up again. Then we introduced it to our grandkids and they loved it which prompted us to give it another shot. *Third time’s a charm!* Man have we been hooked ever since. We had the opportunity to meet Trish and Rob at an event in Texas back in April (thanks Trish for hunting down Rob and sending him over to our booth). Since then we have reached level 100 in a few months and watched our home town of Merritt Island explode in Munzee activity. Our local community has really taken off and many new players have started playing. We are now hosting Munzee events with a big one planned in November. Munzee has become a very big part of our life now and we are enjoying every minute of it. We have really enjoyed having impromptu meet & greets when fellow Munzee players show up at our store, sometimes as many as 10-12 different Munzee players standing around talking Munzee. This is what we love about owning our own business…where else can you work and do what you love all day long? (Editors Note: The same is said about MHQ!)

Other hobbies include:
Caching, hiking, biking, kayaking and taking pictures anything that will get us outside doing things together. Munzee has really given us a new way to enjoy most of these activities all at once.

Dale and Barb were kind enough to share her social, so cap away!

-Please note, this is a super active campaign. We may not be able to get back to everyone, but you’re helping to grow the list of amazing people in the Munzee community!

August 12, 2014

Podcast Episode 25: Back to the West Coast, Marketplace Opening Anticipation, and MHQ Bash

In this episode of the podcast, we talk about Rob’s travel plans, updates on the Marketplace and hint at some things to come.

This week in the Munzee Podcast, we talk about:

Rob’s trip to Seattle, where Matt just got back from.
The Munzee Marketplace is finishing up, and it’s looking good.
The MHQ Bash is the weekend of September 26th. It will coincide with McKinney’s Oktoberfest and we’ve got a ton planned.
We’ve got big plans for the Podcast and we hope to start videocasting and answering live-tweets when we record.
Finally, we’re working on the servers on Wednesday, So DO NOT FREAK OUT if something seems off. Hopefully it will be seamless and you guys won’t even notice.

To check past, present and future Munzee Podcasts, visit www.munzeepodcast.com.

July 28, 2014

Meet Munzee Munday: Omi Salavea

Here at Munzee we’re constantly encouraging our players to meet and greet and build the personal relationships that make this game so great. Over the next few weeks we’ll be showcasing members of Team Munzee so our players can get to know us a bit better. So each Munday (see what we did there?) check in to see a new member of Team Munzee and you decide if you trust the game in our hands. You know her voice, you probably know her instagrammed face, it’s social media director and podcast host extraordinaire Omi Salavea!

Name and Title:
Omi Salavea, Social Media Director for Munzee

Where are you from?
Everywhere, USA! But I hung my hat in Virginia for the longest time.

Tell us about yourself:
Almost everything people could learn about me can be found online, 🙂 . Well, almost everything.

I spent most of my childhood as a Navy brat in Virginia. I grew up loving sci-fi, fine arts, and the great outdoors. I come from creative artists, but to this day, can barely scratch out a simple stick figure. Being surrounded by creativity, I had to find my own niche. Back in my day, the web and communicating globally was still a very new thing. So I made a decision to attend quite a few technical colleges, majoring in anything from web design (hey, that’s creative) to general IT/Networking studies (pays the bills).

With a whirlwind of half-completed studies, creative endeavors, and general craziness that happens in your 20’s, I landed a very awesome job at a pretty large company. I spent several years working up the ranks from the bottom level, technical support. Working in technical support gave me two things: appreciation and compassion for the customers that sign my paychecks, and time to work on what I wanted to do career-wise.

By now the internet was in the infant stages of global communication and interaction. The ability to enjoy a photo of the Sahara desert taken ten minutes ago, and then turn around and watch a DIY repair video recorded in Seattle intrigued me. This sense of sharing experiences, art, etc… to millions of people planted the seeds in my heart to delve into the world of Social Media.

I officially started in 2008 running several blogs and social campaigns with limited success, until I settled on my old blog and Youtube channels (poor, poor, neglected media outlets). In late 2010, Canon USA & Canon ITS grabbed me out of my current Fraud/Investigations position (at the time), and placed me as lead/senior technical consult for developing and launching Canon’s first ever involvement within Social Media. I assisted in rolling out Canon USA’s presence on all major Social Outlets. In 2011, I shifted to the role of senior Social Media Moderator/Advocate for Canon CITS.

Once this happened, well, I officially designated myself a Social Media Maven :). People have seen my face (or heard my voice) all over Youtube, re-pin ANYTHING any of my Pinterest presences post, deal with my terrible blogs, and “heart” my ridiculous tweets.

How long have you worked for Munzee?
Scott, Rob and the original president of Munzee, Aaron, took quick notice of me online and how pro-active I was in promoting some of my outdoor hobbies. In late July, 2013 Aaron asked me to join the team. Basic stuff first, answering support tickets, providing suggestions/feedback about Social Media. The role has grown from there. Everyone at Munzee wears different hats, currently I’m wearing a painter’s mask and a sailor hat constructed out of 120 grit sandpaper.

How did you find Munzee?
Probably the only normal answer I have for this interview! I found Munzee the same way many of our players did. I went out for a ‘caching break at a rest area during a very cold, bitter December. After rooting around in a tangle of dead branches and snow, I found a very neglected cache. No swag, no travel bugs, but a very large, home-printed Munzee with very vague instructions on the back. When I got to my vacation destination, I looked up Munzee and was instantly intrigued, and confused! It took a better smartphone, and a lot of time out in parking lots to get familiar with the game, as well as time spent in the forums, Facebook, and Youtube.

What do you enjoy most about Munzee?
Unlike some of my other hobbies, Munzee doesn’t have me circling the same area for 20 minutes scratching my head because I can’t locate it. Then someone else finds it 2 hours later and says I didn’t look hard enough. I don’t spend 4 hours carving an elaborate stamp of a heron flying through reeds, weeks planning the special place to plant it, and then days being depressed when someone takes the stamp out of it’s hidden spot because they thought it was a prize (Letterboxers feel my pain right now).

Munzee helps so many people stay active. That makes me super proud of Munzee. Even if I didn’t run almost every evening, I get my daily walk and Fitbit steps in by playing Munzee almost every night. It’s the same for many of our players out there.

What are some of your other hobbies?
Live, Eat, Breathe Social Media (drops mic, walks off-stage). Actually, in my spare time I love hiking, making videos for Youtube, and photography. I’m not that great at any of those, but I still love them. I have taken up running, and hope to take part in my first Color Me Rad later on this year. I love spontaneous road trips and with the amount of road trips I’ve taken this year, I’m sure we can list those as a hobby. Oh, does weight loss count as a hobby? If so, then that too.

Famous last words?
Will be available via podcast, you just need to download a better audio player to hear them.