The idea was around long before that.
I actually was trying to start a project called 'Landmarks' which was meant to develop 'location based faucets' and the Geocoin team even used some of my writing word for word in their ICO after contacting me after posting my idea and discussing similarities with their project (yes I have proof). Location based faucets being ones you can access with a GPS enabled smart phone and actually have to be at the location.
It is a little unfortunate because they did not follow through with the vision. First of all a portion of the coins would be released slowly over time at 'landmarks' or location based faucets at different landmarks like the statue of liberty. A number of coins would be sold via ICO.
What I wanted to do was several things: let merchants set up location based faucets through our web portal which they could load with coins and configure. The idea was that by giving away free coins at your custom faucet at your store you would attract traffic. Second I wanted to set up landmarks or fun faucets that gave out coins over time to whoever visted, each with their own icon on the map and info screen. Third I wanted to hold 'scavenger hunts' where certain landmarks would pay out big but to find them you had to follow clues.
We had graphics and other things, but when I found out what was needed in terms of development I decided to let the Geocoin team pursue the idea and not compete with them. But they just did not follow through with the vision... It could have been so much better Geocoin guys!
This was before Pokemon go too.