Sunday, March 31, 2013

Introducing Google Treasure Maps


In order to help the ailing global economy Google Maps has today unveiled a new map layer, 'Treasure Maps'.

The new Treasure Maps layer should help all fortune seekers find any nearby hidden booty. To view the Treasure Maps layer just select the button on the top right of Google Maps. If you need additional help in finding any hidden treasure, whilst in Treasure Maps, open Street View which now has a very handy black and white telescope view.

There are actually a number of hidden clues on the map. Look for icons that have numbers beside them - the numbers are map co-ordinates that you can follow to new locations. Check out the comments below for help on where to find the treasure or check out this Treasure Maps - Spoilers post.

If you do manage to find the two passwords hidden on the map then you should be able to access two zipped files that Google have now posted online. Here's what Google says about the files:

"Have you found Captain Kidd's long-lost treasure yet? We found some locked treasures on the map, but Captain Kidd locked these with a secret code:"

http://www.google.com/mapfiles/treasure1.zip

http://www.google.com/mapfiles/treasure2.zip


The new Treasure Maps layer of course has nothing to do with April Fools Day.

MapsTD has already hacked the new map layer. You can now play Tower Defence on the Treasure Map layer of Google Maps. 

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

is it april already?

Anonymous said...

Check out Bermuda and follow on locations for Google's Treasure Hunt

Anonymous said...

Got as far as the Sword at -21.530296,46.054945, but Sword doesn't seem to lead anywhere.

Anonymous said...

Found a red ax that started in Puerto Rico

Joe said...

For the anon stuck at the sword, the 9 in the handle is relevant.

Anonymous said...

So, taking three separate paths, I have found a upside down red ax, a red sword, and a red compass...

Bryan said...

7.05,20.47 - Red circle

post co-ordinates of all finds. do they relate for a bigger picture?

Anonymous said...

29.14, 129.19 - Red compass
81.9, -71.66 - Red Ax
68.67, -122.38, Red sword
52.27, -7.11 - Red Rope (R)
50.62, -113.81 - Red Coin
-5.06, -64.36 - Red gun
-39.13, 175.64 - red 9
72.97, 7.91 - red 1
-137.81, -66.08 - red m
-84.34, 167.22 red p
21.76, -82.85 - red s

Anonymous said...

The compass, ax, sword, rope, etc. look like letters.

Louise said...

44.96, -82.02 black coin
48.58, -89.31 black key
49.4, -102.91 black dominoes
56.74, -98.12 guillotine?
68.67, -122.38 red sword

Louise said...

There is a tower with what looks like a chair falling onto an "X marks the spot" near Naglee Park in San Jose, CA

Anonymous said...

I found a treasure chest at -21.293293, 55.575542
What does that mean?

- said...

Spoilers, I'm keeping a spreadsheet of all info here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ajc_VqH8uv38dFdnbnBhMlBLNjRMRmFISEFXNUFSMEE&usp=sharing

It's open for public edits if you want to help!

Anonymous said...

possibly may eventually spell, 'google maps mania', with all the clues, sure they may add an april fools somewhere, but alls the clues mentioned so far are going that way..

Unknown said...

Huh, there is a falling chair on a tower in San Jose, CA with an "X" next to it. Regular satellite view lead me to a tower on the San Jose State campus. Indeed, there is a chair that is falling out of Tower Hall at times of the year... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H550VMf57z0

Keir Clarke said...

Looking at all the clues so far it looks like all the letters will spell,

'April Fool'

Pierre said...


Here's the solution to the #treasuremap (I cleaned the several tabs we used to summarize)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmZ-7cB-sMWOdFA2NWhfQ0pkUm1KeEFkRmVPWDB0UUE#gid=3

DO NOT OPEN IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE SPOILED

Kudos to +Takashi Beppu with who I did the first collection of red letters, +Gerwin Sturm who built a nifty and comprehensive list which enabled me to what seems to be the end #MMC-Google

Unknown said...

What is MMC Google?

Luís Miguel Viterbo said...

Keir, should be APRIL'S FOOL, not APRIL FOOLS :)

Luís Miguel Viterbo said...

I stand corrected. The order you put it is apparently right.

MMC-900913 (or MMC-GOOGLE as you found out) was already on last years April's Fool prank as the name of Google Maps 8-bit for NES control unit :) Check http://youtu.be/rznYifPHxDg?t=29s

Anonymous said...

50.628122,-113.818531 after starting in Bristol I ended up here...nowhere else to go!!!!

Fluffy Cloud said...

Am I the only person this isn't working at all for?

Unknown said...

Looks like Austin has bats!

Anonymous said...

I found https://twitter.com/MMC_Google
This thing is giving me a headache