What's the purpose of a 'Check-in' section on a forum site?

I'm thinking about starting a forum website which is based on a video game. I've looked at someone else's gaming forum website to see what sections a gaming forum should have... and this guys forum has a section called 'Check-ins'.  Within this section is numerous threads titled 'New York players check in!' and such.  

I'm assuming that this thread was made so the thread-creator could contact fellow New-Yorkers.

So, is a 'Check-ins' section just to help forum members find others who are like-minded/of a certain group and orientation?