Racing around: Facebook app puts Mini on the map

France – Paris-based advertising agency DDB has created the Mini Maps Facebook app that lets users race a virtual Mini car on any road in the world via Google Maps in a game reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto.

After selecting a city location, a bird’s eye view of a Mini car appears on the map. The car is controlled using arrows on a keyboard, while other keys control a radio, horn and local time notification.

Players can customise the Mini, choosing between five models, and can compete against friends or other users around the globe.

This is a great example of a brand harnessing the gamified world, as noted in our Ubiquitous Gaming Culture macrotrend, to encourage consumers to connect with the brand. Read our Mini Getaway Stockholm Seed to find out how Mini used a real-life game in a previous advertising campaign.