History from one of the creators of Turf
The idea for a location-based mobile game came several years ago, long before the "smartphone" was something that everyone wanted. We then made playful theories about how such a game could be made using WAP, GSM, triangulation, etc. But soon we realized that it was too big obstacle that it could succeed. But then came the smartphone revolution with GPS, 3G, etc. And suddenly we realized that all the pieces had fallen into place for it would be possible to start the project. During the fall of 2010 the first version of Turf was released, first only to a limited group and later for public download. Initially there were only coverage for the game in Sweden, and it took another six months or so before the game was released on trials in other countries.
Turf project has always been aiming that individual users should not have to pay large sums to participate and play, and that they should not have to be disturbed by the unappetizing advertising. This has led us to the current situation of Turf being financed by private donations from players, private efforts of the developers and to some extent the sponsorship of various companies. No matter how you choose to proceed with a project of this caliber, the costs for servers, certain development and marketing must be covered in any way.
Turf-crew, which is a voluntary group that has made possible the expansion of the game, launched in 2011 and today consists of over 15 highly committed members. One of the keys to the health aspect of the Turf we believe is accessibility. Everyone can play the turf, it is not required that you are part of a particular team or doing the activity at a certain time of day.
(Drassen 2014-03-05)
Contents
Version history and other major events
Color coding for history
■ = Passed milestones. Ex: First luck to achieve rank.
■ = Version releases
■ = Major individual change. Ex: "Nya ranker"
■ = Ex: Facebook, Google+, Wiki.
■ = Establishment in a new country.
■ = Event / Competition. Ex: Bonanza
■ = Turf is mentioned in the media. Ex: TV / Radio / Internet / Larger newspaper.
2010
2010-07-10 | ■ The first player to register | 20:03 - felixfelox |
2010-07-10 | ■ First zone is taken | 23:19 - Turfer hence takes the zone NackaZone. |
2010-07-18 | ■ Turfs Facebook group is created | Link to Turfs Facebook group |
2010-08-01 | ■ The forum thread on Swedroid is created | 13:00 - Drassen - Link to forum thread |
2010-08-04 | ■ Version 0.3 | First version of the Turf that is posted on Google Play. Included the: encrypted transmission, help box, about box, a toplist with yourself, people who ever owned a zone and people who are online. |
2010-08-31 | ■ Version 0.3.5 | Included medals and some additional features ... |
2010-09-13 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Dark Ninja | 07:16:22 - eddyueue |
2010-10-02 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Decacity Star | 12:37:16 - simon |
2010-10-02 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Expandator | 15:37:18 - simon |
2010-11-28 | ■ Version 0.5 | Included the chat function and some additional features ... |
2011
2011-01-04 | ■ Zone take 25 000 | Sweet - Kingsgarden, Stockholm |
2011-01-30 | ■ Fairy 0.1 | Link to forum thread |
2011-0?-?? | ■ First turfer to achieve the rank of Turf Master | tomtebloss - Information is missing: DATE (and time) |
2011-05-17 | ■ Version 0.6 | Included the Pro mode... |
2011-05-21 | ■ Turfs first Bonanza - Bonanza:Stockholm 2011 | Winner: Fredrick |
2011-05-28 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Restless | 13:33:27 - OlolaKok |
2011-05-29 | ■ Fairy 0.2 | Link to forum thread |
2011-05-29 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Insomnia | 21:41:40 - eddyueue |
2011-06-16 | ■ Zone take 100 000 | Goose72 - Domparken, Östergötland |
2011-06-19 | ■ Turf event at DreamHack - Jönköping | Winners: iostream and eddyueue |
2011-06-29 | ■ First turfer to take the medal 500 Unique | 12:06:39 - eddyueue |
2011-??-?? | ■ Zone take 250 000 | Information missing: DATE (Turfer, Zone & Time) |
2011-08-?? | ■ Turf launches in the Netherlands | Information missing: DATE |
2011-08-18 | ■ Sweden's regions changed | From municipalities (approximately) to the county - Link to forum thread |
2011-09-25 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Revisitor | 21:08:41 - uw12345678 |
2011-10-12 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Netherland Explorer | 17:05:07 - Fredrick |
2011-12-12 | ■ Version 0.8 | Included the Region chat, graphics updates, support for Korean... |
2011-12-13 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Eager Weasel | 14:39:30 - Zontjuven |
2011-12-22 | ■ Turf launched in South Korea |
2012
2012-01-?? | ■ First turfer to achieve the rank of Turf Hero | Thunell - Information missing: DATE |
2012-02-26 | ■ Turf launched in Denmark | |
2012-03-02 | ■ Zone take 400 000 | Optimus - BermudaZone, Västmanland |
2012-03-10 | ■ Turf's second Bonanza - Bonanza:Sundsvall 2012 | Tid: 14:00-16:00 - Winner: bUs |
2012-03-18 | ■ Swedroid wrote about Turf | "Swedish Turf is a different game..." - Link to article |
2012-03-20 | ■ Turf launched in Finland | Åland was the first province to have zones, Finnish mainland began to have zones in late July/August 2012. The zones were implemented with different dates. |
2012-03-23 | ■ Turf's Facebook page launched | Link to Turfs Facebook page |
2012-03-28 | ■ Version 0.9 | Included New server balance system, name above the players, new takemedals... |
2012-04-01 | ■ Version 0.9.1 | Included the Contribution medals... |
2012-04-01 | ■ Block times are lowered | |
2012-04-05 | ■ Zone take 500 000 | 08:13:28 - Blajo - GranloCenter, Västernorrland |
2012-04-07 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Denmark Explorer | 19:33:48 - FinnJ |
2012-04-11 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Sweden Explorer | 15:56:40 - Jojje |
2012-04-21 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Donation God | 10:58:32 - Blabert |
2012-04-16 | ■ Turf's Google+ page launched | Link to Turf's page on Google+ |
2012-05-02 | ■ First turfer to take the medal 1000 Unique | 21:53:58 - KP |
2012-05-25 | ■ Turf launched in Norway | |
2012-07-10 | ■ Version 0.9.2 | Included New menu system... |
2012-07-25 | ■ Swedroid wrote about Turf again | "Turf soon reaches new milestone..." - Link to article |
2012-07-28 | ■ Zone take 1 000 000 | Madmax - wins a Nexus 7 and gets the zone renamed to MadMegaZone |
2012-08-19 | ■ New medals are introduced | Stamina medals |
2012-08-24 | ■ First turfer to take the medal El Staminatore | 23:22:03 - Wettis |
2012-09-01 | ■ Turf's third Bonanza - Bonanza:Västerås 2012 | Tid: 14:00-16:00 - Winner: bUs |
2012-09-10 | ■ Turf on ABC-nytt (TV news) | Stockholms local-tv - Link to broadcast |
2012-09-16 | ■ Turf is aired on the TV program called "Landet Runt" | |
2012-09-29 | ■ New servers | |
2012-10-21 | ■ Region Ethnicity changed | Turfers now belongs to the region where they have the most zones, but the chat region are changed as soon as the turfer takes a zone outside the home region. |
2012-11-10 | ■ Rank system changes | New ranks added (35-60) and points levels for rank 31-35 modified. More info here: http://turfgame.com/info/ranks |
2012-11-17 | ■ Version 0.9.5 | Included new ranks and changed GPS bonus... |
2012-12-02 | ■ Turf v0.1 för iOS (pre-alpha) | Available to a select few testers... |
2012-12-05 | ■ First zone with over 5,000 takeovers total | GAZone, Västra Götaland |
2012-12-06 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Norway Explorer | 13:54:40 - Klemfare |
2013
2013-01-13 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Take-25000 | 18:01:04 - Thunell - Coinbridge, Östergötland |
2013-01-15 | ■ First turfer to achieve the rank of Turf King (First turfer with over 5 000 000 points) |
12:52 - Thunell |
2013-01-16 | ■ Zone take 2 000 000 | 08:19:44 - Trysse - NydalaGrill, Västerbotten |
2013-01-22 | ■ TurfWiki launches | 20:58 |
2013-02-03 | ■ Turf v0.1.1 for iOS (pre-alpha) | Now with Swedish chat - Link for more info |
2013-02-03 | ■ Turf launched in Iceland | |
2013-02-18 | ■ TurfWiki milestone | 22:08 - Turfwiki gets its 100th article after 27 days. |
2013-04-20 | ■ Turf's fourth Bonanza - Bonanza:Uppsala 2013 | Tid: 14:00-16:00 - Winner: SunYour |
2013-05-05 | ■ First turfer to take the medal 2500 Unique | 18:48:56 - kingenin |
2013-05-05 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Finland Explorer | 18:49:11 - kingenin |
2013-05-21 | ■ Forum milstone | ca 16.00 - The first forum thread with more than 15 000 views: Var med och sprid Turf! (Join and spread Turf!) |
2013-05-22 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Greed-250 | 09.09.10 - kingenin |
2013-06-03 | ■ Zone take 3 000 000 | time? - ezGenesis - zon?, Västmanland |
2013-06-15 | ■ Turf launched in the United Kingdom | |
2013-07-30 | ■ Turf beta for iOS (closed beta) | - Link to more information |
2013-08-02 | ■ v.0.9.9.1 for iOS | A small update of the beta-version |
2013-08-30 | ■ API v4 released | Brand new API engine with more functionality |
2013-09-14 | ■ Zone take 4 000 000 | TomteBloss - KingsHarbour, Västmanland, KingsHarbour |
2013-09-29 | ■ Turf v1.0 for iOS | IPhone release on App store. 1000 downloads first day, #38 in free games on App store, #99 in free apps |
2013-11-03 | ■ 0-PPH-zones introduced | Previously only 1-9 |
2013-11-07 | ■ "Mobil Galan 2013" | Turf is nominated as best health app |
2013-11-26 | ■ Version 0.9.7, Supporter introduced | First Android version released with the new feature |
2013-11-27 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Dawn Ninja | 04:02:29 took MarresmacK Dawn Ninja |
2013-12-06 | ■ 50.000 downloads | Turf was downloaded for the 50 000 time. |
2013-12-08 | ■ Zone take 5 000 000 | 07:55:49 - Jojje - Benchzone, Västernorrland, ' |
2013-12-09 | ■ Musikhjälpen charity | Around 11.000 SEK contributed by turfers |
2013-12-20 | ■ First zone to reach 10 000 takeovers | playstreetking - SkrapanZone, Västerås |
2013-12-21 | ■ Turf v1.1 for iOS | First update of turf for iOS, including for example the searchfunction, more information Link |
2014
2014-04-03 | ■ First regionteam in a regionbattle to reach 100 participators | 13:10:44 - Skåne |
2014-04-30 | ■ New medals | Country medal and Region medal |
2014-05-31 | ■ First player to reach 1 million points during one round | 15:58 - Loaf |
2014-06-07 | ■ Turfs fifth Bonanza - Stockholm - Bonanza:Turf Bonanza 2014 | Time heat 1: 10:00-12:00, time heat 2: 14:00-16:00 - Winner: Thunell |
2014-06-10 | ■ Version 0.9.7.1 | New android version that replaced Version 0.9.7 |
2014-06-24 | ■ Turf v1.2.0 for iOS | Turfs second update for iOS with for example the possibility to suggest new zones Link |
2014-07-08 | ■ First turfer to receive the medal UK Explorer | 20:04 - kaninmage |
2014-07-29 | ■ Turf v1.3.0 for iOS | iOS user was able to use Turf on iPads and to use the application in landscape mode Link |
2014-08-17 | ■ First turfer to reach 10 000 000 points in total | 19:29 - Snusmumriken |
2014-09-12 | ■ 10 000 000 zon takes | 08:24:38 - Wsnurr is the winner of a android wear |
2014-10-17 | ■ Turf v1.3.6 for iOS | Spectator mode and better GPS. Link |
2015
2015-02-16 | ■ Turf Version 0.9.9.1 for Android | Version 0.9.9.1 is released to all Supporters using Android |
2015-03-07 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Ghost Minute | 00:00:11 - Spix |
2015-03-20 | ■ Turf v1.3.7 for iOS | Ghost Minute medal and auto-close of takeover dialog. Link |
2015-04-20 | ■ Turf v1.3.8 for iOS | Holy zones and new dialog design. Link |
2015-05-06 | ■ Turfs sixth Bonanza - Stockholm - Bonanza:Turf Bonanza 2015 | Time heat 1: 10:00-12:00, time heat 2: 13:00-15:00 - Winner: Morgam |
2015-09-01 | ■ The first turfer to reach 100.000 takes | Snusmumriken |
2015-10-04 | ■ Turf Aid 2.0 | Turfers was given the opportunity to contribute in Turf Aid 2.0 during round 63. The result of 28 962 SEK was given to save the children foundation. |
2015-10-16 | ■ Turf v1.3.9 för iOS | Link |
2015-10-18 | ■ Turf Version 1.0 for Android | Version 1.0 was released on Google Play. With this version, Pro mode was replaced with Map cache. |
2015-12-06 | ■ 20 000 000 zontakes | TequilaGold |
2016
2016-01-06 | ■ Turf Version 1.0.3 for Android | Version 1.0.3 released on Google Play, contained the new medal Bridge crosser |
2016-01-06 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Bridge crosser. | 19:18:12 - Adde45 |
2016-01-12 | ■ Turf v1.4.0 för iOS | Included the new medal Bridge crosser. Link |
2016-05-10 | ■ First turfer to take the medal Korea Explorer. | 09:31:28 - Munin |
2016-05-18 | ■ Turf Version 1.0.4 for Android | A temporary version to fix the white box issue caused by Google Play. |
2016-05-21 | ■ Turfs seventh Bonanza - Kalmar - Bonanza:Turf Bonanza 2016 | Time for heat by foot: 10:30-12:30, time for heat on bicycle: 14:00-16:00 - Winner by foot: Klintan11, winner on bicycle: Shitty |
2016-05-21 | ■ Turf Version 1.1.0 for Android | Updating the zone system, easier to distinguish blocked zones. Also contained the new medal Eager Ferret |
2016-08-18 | ■ Turf Version 1.1.1 for Android | Chat and toplist remember last viewed. Also contained the new medals Take-30000, 5000 Unique and Staminatrix. Link |
2016-08-18 | ■ Turf v1.5.1 för iOS | Chat and toplist remember last viewed. Also contained the new medals Take-30000, 5000 Unique och Staminatrix. Link |
2016-12-03 | ■ Turf Version 1.1.5 for Android and v1.5.5 for iOS | 17 new medals. 5 new zone types. Reduced takeover time. Changed block time. Better medal graphics. Many optimizations and bug fixes. |
2016-12-04 | ■ Turf v1.5.6 för iOS | Minor cursor update so they do not look flat at a higher zoom level. |
2016-12-08 | ■ Turf Version 1.1.5.1 for Android and v1.5.7 for iOS | New countdown dialog. Fixed size of avatars. Fix so that zones are displayed as captured at all zoom levels. Fix values for supporter views. |
2016-12-13 | ■ 30 000 000 zon takes | Zontjuven made the 30 millionth zone take when he took ChildZone from DaHunter at 2016-12-13 18:00:01 |
2017
2017-02-05 | ■ Turf Version 1.1.6 for Android and v1.6.0 for iOS | Version 1.1.6 for Android and v1.6.0 for iOS is released and contains the new assist function. The function is only available to those who are supporter. |
2017-02-16 | ■ Turf v1.6.1 for iOS | v1.6.1 för iOS released and enables in app purchases and some bug fixes. |
2017-02-23 | ■ Turf Version 1.2.0 for Android and v1.6.2 for iOS | Version 1.2.0 for Android and v1.6.2 for iOS released with many minor graphics fixes. |
2017-03-02 | ■ Turf v1.6.3 for iOS | v1.6.3 for iOS released bay allows you to buy supporter at any time. |
2017-03-10 | ■ Turf Version 1.2.1 for Android | Version 1.2.1 for Android solves a bug with switching between zone information, makes it possible to buy supporter when you already are and shows the number of assist in the supporter view. |
2017-03-13 | ■ Turf v1.6.4 for iOS | v1.6.4 for iOS released with the total number of assist function in supporter view. |
2017-05-13 | ■ Turf Version 1.2.2 for Adroid and v1.6.5 for iOS | Version 1.2.2 for Android and v1.6.5 for iOS released with the new medal Crowdy-34. |
2017-05-13 | ■ Turfs eighth Bonanza - Bonanza:Jönköping 2017 | Time for heat by foot: 11:00-12:30, time for heat on bicycle: 13:00-15:00 - Winner in Bonanza:Foot 2017: rabbit_rail, winner in Bonanza:Bike 2017: Kygni |
2017-05-31 | ■ Turf Version 1.2.4 for Adroid and v1.6.6 for iOS | Version 1.2.4 for Adroid and v1.6.6 for iOS is released and with it introduced Wardrobe, now you can change clothes on your avatar! (Only for supporters). Chat and audio corrections and other minor bug fixes are also made. |
2017-07-11 | ■ Turf Version 1.2.5 for Adroid and v1.6.7 for iOS | Version 1.2.5 for Adroid and v1.6.7 for iOS released with the new medal Event24. |
2017-07-21 | ■ The first 24 hour event is organized in Umeå | 44 turfers participated and received the new medal Event24 |
2018
2018-03-31 | ■ Turf Version 2.0.0 for Android and v2.0.0 för iOS | Version 2.0.0 for Android and v2.0.0 för iOS released which contained a completely new design |
2018-04-17 | ■ Turf Version 2.0.2 for Android and v2.0.1 for iOS | Version 2.0.2 for Android and v2.0.1 for iOS released which contained Japanese translation, clearer zone markings and trainstation attribute. |
2018-05-19 | ■ Turfs ninth Bonanza - Bonanza:Västerås 2018 | Time for heat by foot: 10:30-12:30, time for heat on bicycle: 14:00-16:00 - Winner in Bonanza:Foot 2018: DuKanInteSe, winner in Bonanza:Bike 2018: Ibanezlespaul |
2018-05-19 | ■ Turf Version 2.0.3 for Android and v2.0.2 för iOS | Version 2.0.3 resp. v2.0.2 för iOS is released which contained 8 new medals: Take-75000, Take-100000, 7500 Unique, 10000 Unique, Crowdy-55, Crowdy-89, Crowdy-144 and Trainer |
2018-05-22 | ■ Turf Version 2.0.3.1 for Android | Version 2.0.3.1 released which contained a hotfix to make the trainstation attribute visible inside the game. |
2018-08-05 | ■ Turfo is released | The figure Turfo is released on the turf map and hides in a zone. |
2018-08-07 | ■ Turf Version 2.0.4 for Android and v2.0.3 for iOS | Version 2.0.4 for Android and v2.0.3 for iOS is released and with this update it is possible to take pictures from within zones directly from the game. |
2018-08-10 | ■ Turf v2.0.4 for iOS | v2.0.4 for iOS released to fix a problem with the camera function. |
2018-08-23 | ■ 50 000 000 zones taken | boki made the 50 millionth zone take when he took the zone TrainSpot on 2018-08-23 at 17:40:51. |
2018-08-27 | ■ Turf Version 2.0.5 for Android and v2.0.5 for iOS | Version 2.0.5 for Android and v2.0.5 for iOS is released and with this update it is possible to see other players' zone takeover meters when several players take one zone at the same time. In addition to this functionality, the update contained a number of different minor fixes and bug fixes for the game. |
2018-11-13 | ■ Turf v2.0.6 for iOS | v2.0.6 for iOS released to fix the hidden progressbar issue at the top of the app, on iPhone Xr and iPhone Xs devices. |
2019
2019-03-15 | ■ Turf Version 2.1.0 for Android and v2.1.0 for iOS | Version 2.1.0 for Android and v2.1.0 for iOS is released and with this update it is possible for supporters to create your own groups with leaderboards in the game. In addition to this functionality, the update contained a number of different bug fixes and two new zone attributes, ruin and castle. |
2019-03-21 | ■ Turf Version 2.1.1 for Android | Version 2.1.1 is released to fix some bugs that crashed the game. |
2019-03-28 | ■ Turf Version 2.1.2 for Android | Version 2.1.2 is released and aimed to further correct bugs that crashed the game and other minor tweaks. |
2019-05-18 | ■ Turfs tenth Bonanza - Bonanza:Stockholm 2019 | Winner in Bonanza Foot: Raudonvirsis, Winner in Bonanza Bike: MrJokerit. |
2019-05-25 | ■ Turf v2.1.1 for iOS | v2.1.1 for iOS released with some bug fixes. |
2019-05-26 | ■ Turf Version 2.1.3 for Android | Version 2.1.3 released and aims to further correct bugs that crashed the game and other minor adjustments. |
2019-06-08 | ■ Turf Version 2.1.4 for Android and v2.1.2 for iOS | Version 2.1.4 for Android and v2.1.2 for iOS released with translation into German. |
2019-06-15 | ■ Turf v2.1.3 for iOS | v2.1.3 for iOS released to resolve a crash that occurs when certain zones are opened. |
2019-08-26 | ■ Turf v2.1.4 for iOS | v2.1.4 for iOS released to resolve that the app sometimes crashes when the chat is opened. |
2019-09-08 | ■ Turf Version 2.1.5 for Android | Version 2.1.5 released and should resolve freezing that occur occasionally. |
2019-12-08 | ■ Turf Version 2.1.6 for Android and v2.1.5 for iOS | Version 2.1.6 for Android and v2.1.5 for iOS released and contains the new medal serie Diverse. Take X number of Round unique zones and get the medals: Diverse, Diversier and Diversiest. The medal Germany Explorer is also included in this version. Supporter display update: See how many round unique zones you have taken this round so far. |
2019-12-10 | ■ Turf Version 2.1.7 for Android | Version 2.1.7 released and should solve a sound problem. |
2020
2020-05-16 | ■ Turfs eleventh Bonanza - Bonanza:Örebro 2020 | In an attempt to carry out the Bonanza despite the coronavirus pandemic, the event is moved to 2020-08-29. |
2020-07-08 | ■ Turf Version 2.1.8 for Android and v2.1.6 for iOS | Version 2.1.8 for Android and v2.1.6 for iOS released to celebrate's Turfs 10th anniversary. Take 10 zones on 10/7 and get the medal Cakeday. If you are a supporter, you will also receive a party hat. |
2020-07-10 | ■ Turf celebrates 10 years.. | 10 years since the first player registers and the first zone take is made. Turfer felixfelox was the first to register. The player hence makes the first take on the zone NackaZone. |
2020-08-29 | ■ Turfs eleventh Bonanza - Bonanza:Örebro 2020 | Unfortunately, the Bonanza had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic that ravaged the world. |
2020-08-31 | ■ 0-PPH-zones were phased out. | The reason why 0-PPH-zones was phased out was to increase the attractiveness of players in new areas. |
2020-10-4 | ■ Over 10 000 players | Turf had over 10 000 players for the first time during a game round. |
2020-10-15 | ■ Turf Version 2.1.10 for Android | Version 2.1.10 for Android released to resolve a bug with event zones on Android. |