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Viral treasure hunt game Jagat leads to damage to public facilities

Authorities say players destroyed plants, dismantled paved pathways and stairs and dug up grass in the parks, creating safety hazards for other visitors. 

Wahyoe Boediwardhana (The Jakarta Post)
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Surabaya
Wed, January 15, 2025

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Viral treasure hunt game Jagat leads to damage to public facilities A coin from viral game app Jagat is shown on Thursday, January 16, 2025. The app has triggered treasure hunts in big cities in Indonesia since successful players that can find the coins, placed in actual locations such as parks or sports stadiums, receive cash from the game company. (X/X)

O

fficials in several major cities have raised concerns about a popular augmented reality mobile game following reports that players have damaged public facilities while playing it.

The new game, run through an app called Jagat, is an interactive digital treasure hunt that has players walk around their neighborhoods on the hunt for virtual coins.

Players can exchange the coins for real money, which can range between Rp 300,000 (US$18) and Rp 100 million, depending on the type of coins they discover.

Jagat coins were introduced as a supplementary feature on the Jagat app, an interactive location-sharing platform that allows users to share their whereabouts with others. 

But the gaming feature quickly became the main attraction of the app, especially among young people seeking entertainment as well as opportunities to win cash prizes.

The app was developed by Singapore-based company Jagat Technology Pte. Ltd. and has been downloaded more than 5 million times on the Google App Store. 

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In Indonesia, the Jagat coin game is available in three major cities: Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya.

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