From what I see, there’s a lot of people still don’t get the idea of what the heck is Foursquare. In fact, user base in Malaysia still hasn’t reached significant number. So, this is where I’ll explain what really is Foursquare and the idea behind it.

The Idea

An excerpt from the website:

People use foursquare to “check-in”, which is a way of telling us your whereabouts. When you check-in someplace, we’ll tell your friends where they can find you and recommend places to go & things to do nearby. People check-in at all kind of places – cafes, bars, restaurants, parks, homes, offices.

Simply said, it tells your friends where you are at the moment (if you check-in at a particular place). This check-in doesn’t have to be like staying at a hotel for a night, like we always referring to. It can be any place that has a name. You can search for it, and if it is not there yet, just add it on the spot.

How To Start

First, sign up (it’s just a basic thing). Complete your profile, upload an avatar and link your Twitter or Facebook account, if you wish to. Then at the profile page, you can see badges, mayorship, feed and also top 12 and to-do tabs. Don’t worry about it just yet (I’ll explain it after this).

Next, if you have iPhone or Android phone, just download the application (of course it would be more convenient to have those). But don’t lose hope yet, we still have a mobile site which can be accessed using any type of phone, as long as it has at least GPRS connection and a browser. I would recommend you download Opera Mini 5 if your phone supports JAVA (MIDP).

Once you at some particular place (eg. a cafe near your campus), start the application or the mobile site, select check in and enter name of the place. If the place is already on the database, proceed with check-in button. Add some shout if you want to (eg. ‘having some dinner my bestie’). If it’s not there yet, add the place, enter few particulars and you’re set. You will be rewarded with some point for check-in and more points for adding a new place.

One quick tip if you don’t have WiFi enabled phone on a place that has WiFi and don’t want to be charged for using GPRS, you can use your laptop to access the mobile site. It will work just fine. And, it’s not called cheating ;)

The Competition

And we’re not doing this for nothing. There is a game behind it. This is what we’re fighting for. Frequent check-ins, adding places, is how we’re competing each other to be on top of the leaderboard. Besides, we could unlock some pretty badges upon completing some tasks (eg. a ‘Bender’ badge when you check-in 4 night in a row). Not to forget, to be honored as a ‘Mayor’ if you check-in at a place more than anyone.

As a precautions, the competition is not by how much are your friends, so avoid adding too many friend and make sure only the one you know is accepted. You don’t want some stranger suddenly waving at you or some Ah-long chasing you, do you?

Website Usage

One of my confusion when using the service for the first time is the website itself. Let me make it easy for you. Main navigation on top is pretty straight forward. You can add venue or to-do list, see you stats and history, view friends, and change account settings.

Credit to Tekong for the screenshot

On your profile page, there are stats how much you have check-in, how many nights, and to-do completed. At the center, you can see Top 12 tab and To-do tab. Now, what we mean by ‘to-do’ is what you want to do when you visit a particular place. That’s why it ask you for the place first, when you want to add one.

Once you complete a to-do, it will shown up on the Top 12 tab. Top 12 is where you have done something at a certain place and want others to do the same. The idea is to avoid just some review like “the coffee is nice” but rather, in the form of instruction like “order this and ask that”.

**Update**
Top 12 is much like a tips at certain place, whilst To-do is something you want to do at certain place. If you’ve done the to-do it will not show up at Top 12 and likewise. It’s a different list.

On the side is where your achievements and progress shown. Badges, mayorship and your last location is all you can show off be proud of.

Wrap Up

So remember kids, at the end of the day, you should be proud that you know every spot on your city. Don’t stop exploring and discovering new places, and share it with everyone :)

**Update**
If I want, I can check in at almost every place I pass through, but that’s not the point of this game. So please please, stop checking in to meaningless places such as home, LRT station, highway, you know it better.  Don’t clutter the database with trash and start contribute in better places. Also, read the style guide first, not that I want to tell you write like a child.

P/s: Do add me up if you have the account. It’s boring that no one challenge my reign here at B.B.Bangi ;p