Atlas SystemsProject Description
Missions and Madness Source
In today's world, people are becoming more isolated from their peers and communities. Missions and Madness was designed to change that. It’s an active, outdoor, and cooperative adventure that brings people together through fitness, exploration, and teamwork. Missions and Madness is designed to help you develop three pillars of personal and community agency: Decisiveness, Action, and Resilience.
Part scavenger hunt, part fitness training, and all collaboration Missions and Madness blends physical activity with real-world adventure. Teams roll dice to guide them to locations around town, where they complete challenges that build strength, situational awareness, and decision-making skills. It’s a fun, social, and motivating way reconnect with your location and your community!
Originally created by Morgan Boatman in Flagstaff, Arizona, the game has inspired countless players to explore, connect, and grow. Now, with help from NAU Capstone teams, the experience is being expanded beyond the physical kit into a refined app!
Our Predecessors: Task Masters (Fall 2024)
Building on Morgan Boatman’s vision, the Task Masters team took on the challenge of transforming Missions and Madness into a modern, mobile experience. Their mission: make the game more accessible and reachable by all.
The team’s solution was to create a fully functional mobile app version of the game. Their Minimum Viable Product (MVP) allowed players to choose a game location, set preferences, and follow the gameplay flow entirely through their phones. This digital version makes it possible for anyone, anywhere, to enjoy the experience of Missions and Madness.
In addition to translating the gameplay into app form, the team laid the groundwork for future expansion. They envisioned tools for players to create their own objectives and new Areas of Operation, opening the door for communities around the world to design and share their own local adventures. Their work established the digital backbone for what’s to come.
Our Goals with Atlas Systems
Building upon the foundation established by the Task Masters team, our Atlas Systems team is focused on refining and elevating the Missions and Madness app, making it more intuitive, and accessible to players everywhere, through the following key methods:
Implementing Live Map and GPS Functionality
Missions and Madness is, at its core, a real-world exploration game built around local points of interest. Right now, on Flagstaff players are somewhat expected to know the streets But what if you were to play this in a new city? That's why we wish to implement a GPS functionality that shows players their current position and target location on a live map. Rather than offering full turn-by-turn directions, our map will encourage spatial awareness showing landmarks, street names, and surroundings to help players chart their own path.
Improving and Unifying the User Interface
The existing interface provides a solid framework, but it lacks the visual cohesion and usability needed for a truly immersive experience. Our team will redesign and refine the UI to ensure every screen feels intuitive, visually consistent, and accessible. We aim to make the app easy to navigate so that new users can start playing instantly without prior instruction.
Expanding Points of Interest through Crowdsourcing
Currently, Missions and Madness relies on a curated list of local landmarks in Flagstaff. To expand nationwide, we plan to implement a crowdsourced system where players can suggest and verify new points of interest in their own cities. This community-driven approach ensures the game remains dynamic, localized, and ever-growing while empowering players to contribute directly to the Missions and Madness world.