Spooooooky: Foursquare announces new Halloween badges

By Chris Thompson on October 26th, 2012

Halloween is almost upon us, which means this weekend will be filled with Halloween parties and last-minute costume preparations for the big day. As they have since 2010, Foursquare is again offering special new badges for Halloween revelers.

The first badge is the standard Halloween 2012 badge. You can earn it by including “Happy Halloween” along with your check-in. If you’re hitting up a Halloween party or other big nighttime gathering, you’ll be able to earn the Spooky Swarm badge by checking in along with at least 10 other people (UPDATE: This badge appears to be US only).

Since Halloween falls on a school night this year, Foursquare is also launching a special edition of the School Night badge to honor those late night Halloween revelers. Called “Ghoul Night” you can earn it with a Halloween-themed shout on Halloween night (after 7 pm local time).

Foursquare typically stays away from releasing badges for holidays since most are tied to religious events or only take place in one country, but Halloween is fair game since it’s not a religious holiday and is celebrated worldwide. Foursquare previously released similar badges for Halloween in 2010 and 2011.

Do you have plans to hit a big Halloween event this weekend? Which year’s badges are your favorites?

Badges, Featured

http://twitter.com/easyoko Elvis Alves

Winning the Spooky Swarm badge should be much more difficult. Especially those who can not meet all the friends in one night. It would be better to win when 10 people put in their Happy Halloween check-ins.
- https://www.foursquare.com/user/121824 @nolim1t
  
  So true. Even harder if you don’t live in one of the “tech hubs” in the world (NY and SF)
- Amy hanavan
  
  For some reason I have been unable to get the 2012 Halloween Badge. What am I doing wrong ?
https://www.foursquare.com/user/1653603 Murilo Delmondes

10 friends? That will be difficult to accomplish! But I guess it’s still better then 50 random people.
- https://www.foursquare.com/user/3485579 ‘Sal
  
  *than
  
  It should be possible with a “pocalypse” venue I guess…
http://robert.aitchison.org Robert Aitchison

10 Friends is a pretty tall order, though if I was able to pull that off I’d also probably finally get Player Please.
- Mike
  
  Ah, the elusive Player Please Badge. I only have two females who I actually know who use 4sq. 2.5 years and still haven’t gotten it.
  - http://twitter.com/pzumk Patrick
    
    Same here, Mike. I wonder if I’m able to unlock it before Foursquare shuts the badge down.
- Ruffian
  
  Few of my friends use foursquare to begin with, let alone friends in the same area who I’m likely to meet up with all at once. I haven’t managed to get Player Please either, and I have essentially no hope of getting the Spooky Swarm with these requirements. I like the suggestion above of earning the badge when ten or more people (friends or not) shout something about Halloween while checked in at the same venue.
Queena

If I manage to stay out on actual Halloween night to the wee hours of the morning, I’ll probably earn myself that Hangover badge the next morning.

Are these effective today? I’m going out tonight.
http://www.beejer.com Beej

The clock with the spider web. Hmmmm……
http://mrgregoc.blogspot.com Greg

I checked Foursquare’s blog, and the swarm badge unlocks if 10 or more people (not necessarily friends) are checked in at the same place. Also, the badges should start this weekend.
https://www.foursquare.com/user/34187019 Results Doc

Would someone mind linking Foursquare’s blog? I can’t find it. Thanks!
- http://mrgregoc.blogspot.com Greg
  
  http://blog.foursquare.com/
PantsParty

Got the swarm badge last night. Checked in at a big party at a club but it wasn’t with 10 friends so looks like it is pretty easy to get.
https://www.foursquare.com/user/34187019 Results Doc

Thanks Greg!
http://www.twitter.com/newantt newantt

Got the Halloween 2012 badge last night while costume shopping. Costume was my unlock word.
- http://foursquare.com/bauserdotcom Michael Bauser
  
  Yes, the unlock conditions have gotten more flexible. A friend of mine seems to have unlocked it with “trick or treating.”
http://aboutfoursquare.com Chris Thompson

Sorry, that’s my fault on the wording. They don’t need to be actual foursquare friends. It’s actually much easier to earn than in the past.
Carlo

How does one unlock the Halloween-version of the School Night Badge? Thanks
https://www.foursquare.com/user/34187019 Results Doc

I thought I had the Spooky Swarm today when I check into a mall with 13 others that were already checked in, but it didn’t work. I’m guessing there is a time factor involved as I checked in at 3:30 in the afternoon. Maybe it needs to be an evening check-in. Does anyone know?
Aditya

Last night I checked in with 10 of my friends but I didnt unlock the swarm badge. I also checked in @ 3:18AM but no school night badge. Does anyone know why?
- https://www.foursquare.com/user/2334931 Monika Stewart
  
  Last night being Friday, it wasn’t a school night. =P I think it applies only on Halloween itself.
Aditya

@ Monica: Thank you. What about Spooky Swarm?
HUURDUUR

i heard that spooky swarm is us only? that would be lame
https://www.foursquare.com/user/226014 Éric F.

Halloween is not celebrated in France, at least not widely. Some companies still want to make money off of it but eventually fail. You’ll also find some French people who believe Halloween is popular in France, but they would be lying.
Ashley

It is almost 10 pm here on Sunday now and I didn’t get spooky swarm, so not sure when its going live. I haven’t seen the jumpers with it yet either though and I have a couple as friends for that reason. They are there there so I can spy on them. Haha.
Ashley

One of my jumper friends got it at 9:42 pm on the 26th.
Ashley

Well the swarm badge is confusing. Me and two friends checked in and they got it and I didn’t. Granted I checked in first and the last one made the qualifying badge one, but why the one prior got it and I didn’t, I have no idea. I’m friends with all three and the other two aren’t friends. :0/
- https://www.foursquare.com/user/2334931 Monika Stewart
  
  I unlocked Spooky Swarm at 7:38pm today. I was the 10th person to check in at the venue. My boyfriend was the 9th, and did not get the badge when he checked in, but it appeared in his badges as soon as I checked in, so I think all people checked in at a venue get it as soon as the total number of people checked in hits critical mass.
Byron

Is this badge actually meant to work only in the US? I was the 25th (or thereabouts) person who checked into a Halloween party in Toronto yesterday evening, and no dice. But I have friends who were in NYC for the weekend, and they unlocked it late afternoon on Friday at Penn Station….
https://www.foursquare.com/user/4002094 Kristin Tangel

I unlocked the Zombie Swarm at a Hurricane Sandy/ Frankenstormpocalypse venue from Philadelphia. It didn’t work at the football game I was at on Saturday though. (does cell reception affect badges? A crowd that size can get poor cell service when packed into a stadium.)
- Ashley
  
  I’ve checked into four different hurricane Sandy venues and nada! What time did you check in?
Ashley

I’ve checked into four different hurricane Sandy venues and nada! What time did you check in?
5square

So.. Is the special School Night badge only for Halloween Night? I just so happened to get up in the middle of the night this morning and thought I would check in to try and get it because technically it was a school night and had no luck.. Suggestions?
- http://aboutfoursquare.com Chris Thompson
  
  Yes, I believe so.
https://www.foursquare.com/user/162536 Timm McIntosh

Just checked into the Frankenstorm venue for Providence, RI and was awarded the Zombie Swarm badge, and none of my friends are checked in with me. So it definitely works solo, and now.
Ashley

I just got it too. Same venue I was denied it at yesterday. Only difference is I checked in after there were 10 people there this time. Yesterday I was number 8 and today I was number 17. My two friends got it after it reached critical mass yesterday but I didn’t. It was later yesterday (around 9:30 my time) and today it’s only shortly before 7. Also, I’m guessing the school night one is only for Halloween night. They did mention Halloween proper after all, but I happened to be up at 4:30 so I checked in… No badge.
Ashley

Oh and I didn’t check in with any friends today.
Jim S.

I checked into a Frankenstormocalypse in my area at 3:30am and was the 47th person to check in (only one of my friends was checked in to it) and earned no badges. I checked in again a little over an hour ago and was something like the 349th and this time earned the Spooky Swarm. Three other friends were checked in at the time – one had checked in 3 hours before me (and earned the regular super swarm badge), one had checked in 6 hours before me and a third had checked in 12 hours before me. None of them earned the spooky swarm. So I’m assuming there still has to be at least 50 people plus it has to be after a certain time (maybe 6pm.)
- https://www.foursquare.com/user/2334931 Monika Stewart
  
  It’s definitely only 10 people to get the badge (I got it for being the 10th person to check in at a venue), but there may very well be a time limit on it (I earned it at 7:38pm).
https://www.foursquare.com/user/34187019 Results Doc

What are these Frankenstorm venues, and do we have amy in Western PA? I’m totally confused, but would really like to get this badge.
wessel nijboer

I tryed to get the halloween ’12 badge by shouting “Happy Halloween” or “Halloween” but didn’t get the badge at all what am i doing wrong? Its today 30 october… Strange huh? Someone who can tell me..?
- Alice
  
  Same here. (Italy)
  But other friends of mine got it. Weird?
  - Leola Mulia
    
    what date is your friend unlocked it? I heard it’s only limited time for one day. I don’t if it’s true
  - Leola Mulia
    
    I don’t know if it’s true
wessel nijboer

Btw im from holland…
http://blog.fjp.es Javi

The “Halloween 2012 Badge” must be unlocked at a specific time? I tried it yesterday morning, and this morning too (in my time zone, Spain) and didn’t get the badge. Thanks!
Alice

Hi, is the “HALLOWEEN 2012″ badge still available? ‘Cause I just checked into mu fav bookstor including “Happy Halloween” in my checkin and I didn’t get any badge.
Dnyan

Hi, I didnt get it either. my friend unlocked it, but im unable to even though we checked into the same venue and gave a shoutout
https://www.foursquare.com/user/4782271 Chris Artuso

Sometimes these badges are really random… I got the Halloween ’12 badge last Friday night when I checked into a bar on Bourbon St. without any shout at all and then unlocked Spooky Swarm when I checked into another bar later during the night that had about 15 random people checked in.
Lauren

Seems the Zombie Swarm is only available for a swarm larger than 10 people and your check in has to be after 6pm local time. I got the “player please” by begging 5 of my guy friends to sign up for 4square at my birthday party then after they were all checked in, I checked in and got the badge.
http://www.almediapage.info/ Tom Servo

There must be quite a list of trigger words for the Halloween 2012 badge. I posted, “Watching The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: Winding down with Craigy Ferg and his Gangam dance-off.” and it unlocked that badge!
Ricky

I’m not getting the Halloween badge. I’m saying happy Halloween during my check-ins. Any other words set I off or do I need to check-in to a specific place?
- M
  
  I’ve been having trouble earning the Halloween badge too. I thought it might be time-sensitive (i.e. only triggered at night) but I just checked in (with the shout) and still nothing…
Jim S.

Just checked in (to a Neighborhood) at 3:04am local time and did not get the ‘school night’ badge. Tried again with “Happy Halloweeen” and still didn’t get it. Will see if I get it when I check into an Office venue at 9am (and no I did not intentionally stay up to try this! LOL)
C

Why can’t I get any of these badges?!? I’m in Brazil and even though I’ve wrote Happy Halloween I didn’t get it… I can’t seem to get the School Night badge either (I mean the normal one, I’m not even talking about the Halloween one)… I’ve tried after 3 am (my time) and after 5 am my time (that would be 3 am at EDT time zone) and nothing…
http://www.astorminateacup.net Lil

I can’t get the Halloween 2012 badge either. I’m in England and have checked in twice over the past 24 hours with a “Happy Halloween” shout. I also tried a “Trick or treat” to see if that would trigger it. Any help?
BellaLisa

Walking my dogs this morning checked into the dog park, playground, even my house with “Happy Halloween”. So far can’t unlock the Halloween 2012 badge. However I did get the swarm badge the other night checking into Philly’s FrankenstormPocalypse.
http://smalltownbigcincy.wordpress.com Rachel

so does this not actually work ON Halloween?! checked into work this.morning with a “Happy Halloween” shout… and nothing….
- http://shannonsezso.com Shannon
  
  I’m with you…checked in this morning…nothing
Cenk B.

Same in Turkey (Türkiye). I wrote Happy Halloween times and times but nothing happened. Is there any problem with this badge. All over the world so many users say same thing!…
Narfie859

Happy Halloween
Kewpie Piekew

I didn’t get this badge in Bangkok, Thailand as well. I tried to shout at many places I visited but nothing happened too… so sad.
Jim S

I am beginning to suspect the Halloween School Night badge has to be unlocked tonight after 3am (Nov 1st) since I tried multiple times last night to no avail. I’m fairly certain checking in and shouting something with “Halloween” in it after 6pm tonight will unlock the Halloween 2012 badge. I am EST / Philadelphia metro BTW.
- Rinawati Hardjanti
  
  I agree with you, because I’ve been trying from Monday (after 3 am they say) but I haven’t unlocked it, I’ll try again in around 1 hour ( because in Bali now is 2 am, 1st of November
Billy

I have checked in 5 places today with the shout Happy Halloween but no badge
TeeJay

I even went to a cemetery, but still no badge (Belgium)… A friend of mine already got it last Saturday…
http://mrgregoc.blogspot.com Greg

For the Halloween 2012 badge, I wonder if the check-in has to be after 5 p.m. The Zombie Swarm seems to have not unlocked until the evening so maybe it’s the same with the Halloween badge.
- https://www.foursquare.com/user/11581144 Guido Giannelli
  
  in italy just unlocked the Halloween 2012 badge but only after local 7PM
  happy halloween
- https://www.foursquare.com/user/2334931 Monika Stewart
  
  I got my Halloween 2012 badge at 2:09pm, so I don’t think that one has any time constraints. It sounds like it’s just being buggy, with the number of people who are having trouble unlocking it. Unless people are spelling Halloween wrong in their shouts, I don’t know why they wouldn’t be getting it.
Billy

it is working again now, just got it!
https://www.foursquare.com/user/1482870 Dnyan Dharkar

Just got this msg from 4sq support “The Halloween badges are only unlocked on certain days. But no worries, there’s still Halloween night (*wink wink*)!” and try now. i just unlocked it
bf

Just got it. 3:00pm ET in the U.S.
- bf
  
  Halloween 2012 badge that is.
Patricke

https://twitter.com/4squickly/statuses/263375428696289280

What rubbish! Zombie swarm is US only! Rubbish!
http://www.neilturner.me.uk/ Neil Turner

Had problems with this not unlocking earlier, but tried it now and it works, at last!
m54

Hi! I’ve got the Halloween 2012 badge by checking in (village) @ 3:41 AM, Nov. 01 (Philippines). Having these words w/ my shout: happy halloween, trick or treat & costume. But no School Night special edition.
http://www.beejer.com Beej

Has there been a confirmed way to get that 3rd badge? The clock with the web in it?
- https://www.foursquare.com/user/22120852 Grant McFerrin
  
  Try checking in after 7pm with the shout “Happy Halloween” – that’s how I just got it.
https://www.foursquare.com/user/3911599 Brett Garwood

What the crap is going on near Philly where I can get the swarm badge?? No one is on Foursquare!
BaliBennie

I just unlocked the Halloween School Night badge! on november 1 00.50 AM. It is called the Ghoul Night Badge. Unlock text: “Wednesday night Halloween = Thursday morning sugar hangover. But don’t let that stop you. Party hard, and maybe tonight, someone will FINALLY recognize your Susan B. Anthony costume. (People, she’s on the silver dollar)”
https://www.foursquare.com/user/2978947 Jim Saring

Just checked in at 8:15pm and shouted Happy Halloween and got both Halloween and “Ghoul Night” badges.
Rue

Check into “Halloweenpocalyspe 2012″ in New York, the venue is listed as a cemetery. Shout “Happy Halloween” & you should get all 3 badges. Do it ASAP as it’s currently swarming with over 800 & you’ve less that 5 hours until Midnight ET!
Ashley

I think it was a glitch. All my friends got the the Halloween and ghoul night badge but I missed it because I was at work. I think they closed the glitch. :/ Guess those who weren’t lucky enough will have to get it the old school way…
Ashley

Nope, the ghoul night badge is still going. Evidently it isn’t a thing you need to do from a late night check in. I didn’t know they edited their blog though. Haaa…. I see that now. Joes on me…
- serena
  
  is this a US only badge? n
  - https://www.foursquare.com/user/2334931 Monika Stewart
    
    I don’t think so, but I can’t be certain. But you do need to include a Halloween-related shout to get the Ghoul Night badge. I checked in first without a shout and nothing happened, then deleted my first check-in and checked in to the same venue again with a “Happy Halloween!” shout and got the badge. So both Halloween 2012 and Ghoul Night appear to require shouts. The Swarm badge does not require a shout, but I have heard rumors that that one is US-only.
  - http://smalltownbigcincy.wordpress.com Rachel
    
    I didnt have a shout in mine and got the ghoul night at around 10:30 last night….
  - http://aboutfoursquare.com Chris Thompson
    
    It was a venue with Halloween in the name, I think.
Kat

Also didn’t get the swarm badge from checking in at a football game Saturday with 100+ people. Wth.
http://shannonsezso.com Shannon

I got all three badges on Halloween after 5pm.
dakota

I’ve checked in on 31st october but I didn;t get the halloween badge.

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