# OpenWIG

> alternate Wherigo player for JavaME phones

**Wikidata**: [Q109851891](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109851891)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/openwig

## Summary
OpenWIG was an alternate Wherigo player designed specifically for JavaME phones, allowing mobile devices to run Wherigo interactive experiences. It was open-source software that provided a portable solution for playing location-based adventure games on feature phones.

## Key Facts
- OpenWIG was a mobile app application that ran on Java Platform, Micro Edition (JavaME)
- It was released under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0
- The final version was 0.4.3, released on March 11, 2012
- An earlier version, 0.4.1, was released on November 30, 2010
- The project development appears to have ended around March 2012
- OpenWIG served as an alternate player for Wherigo, a location-based gaming platform
- The source code was hosted on Google Code under the URL https://code.google.com/archive/p/openwig/
- One of its known aliases was "openwig" in lowercase

## FAQs
### Q: What was Wherigo and how did OpenWIG relate to it?
A: Wherigo was a platform for creating and playing GPS-based adventure games, similar to geocaching but with interactive story elements. OpenWIG served as an alternative player that enabled mobile phones with JavaME capabilities to run Wherigo cartridges, which otherwise might not have been compatible with these devices.

### Q: What JavaME phones supported OpenWIG?
A: While specific compatible phone models aren't detailed in the provided source, OpenWIG was designed to work with JavaME-enabled phones, which were common feature phones before the smartphone era. This compatibility allowed users of these devices to participate in Wherigo games that previously required specialized GPS devices.

### Q: Why did OpenWIG development end in 2012?
A: According to the available information, OpenWIG's development appears to have ceased around March 2012, coinciding with the release of its final version 0.4.3. This timing likely reflects the broader technological shift from JavaME feature phones to smartphones running more advanced mobile operating systems.

## Why It Matters
OpenWIG filled a significant niche in the early mobile gaming ecosystem by enabling location-based interactive experiences on feature phones that lacked the advanced capabilities of dedicated GPS devices. As an open-source project, it provided developers and enthusiasts with a free alternative to proprietary Wherigo players, democratizing access to location-based gaming. The project arrived during a transitional period in mobile technology and ultimately became preserved as a historical artifact showing how developers adapted gaming experiences to different hardware ecosystems. Its existence demonstrates the ingenuity required to bring interactive location-based gaming to devices with limited capabilities.

## Notable For
- Being one of the few open-source Wherigo players available for JavaME phones
- Providing a free alternative to proprietary Wherigo players during the feature phone era
- Supporting location-based gaming on devices without built-in GPS capabilities
- Maintaining development through multiple versions until 2012, reflecting a commitment to the platform
- Preserving the ability to play Wherigo games as JavaME technology became obsolete

## Body
### Project Overview
OpenWIG was developed as an alternate player for Wherigo, a GPS-based interactive gaming platform. The project focused on compatibility with JavaME phones, which were prevalent before the smartphone era but typically lacked the capabilities of dedicated GPS devices.

### Technical Specifications
- **Operating System**: Java Platform, Micro Edition (JavaME)
- **License**: GNU General Public License, version 2.0
- **Development Timeline**: The project saw at least two major versions:
  - Version 0.4.1 released on November 30, 2010
  - Version 0.4.3 released on March 11, 2012
- **Project Status**: Development appears to have ended around March 2012 with the release of the final version

### Development and Distribution
The project was hosted on Google Code, with source code available at https://code.google.com/archive/p/openwig/source/default/source. Downloads were available at https://code.google.com/archive/p/openwig/downloads/, with the project archived in 2012. The source code repository provided transparency for developers and users interested in the implementation details.

### Alternative Naming
The project was known by both "OpenWIG" and the lowercase alias "openwig," as indicated in various references and documentation. This dual naming convention was common in open-source projects during that era.

## References

1. [Source](https://code.google.com/archive/p/openwig/)
2. [Source](https://code.google.com/archive/p/openwig/downloads)