It's 100+ degrees and everyone in Arizona (and all around the world) seems to be obsessed with the newest and coolest mobile game.
Pokemon Go is a free reality game that you download on iOS and Android devices.
The setting? The real world.
The app utilizes you're GPS tracking, camera and photos.
The goal of the game is to walk around while you're character or trainer follows your every move on a map. When you are walking their are checkpoints you can stop at and get rewards such as more Poke balls, eggs, potions and other items.
When walking, you're device will vibrate saying their is a Pokemon nearby. Clicking on the Pokemon opens a new screen where you can see them in front of you. You then swipe your finger to throw Poke balls an capture them.
On the left phone, the screen shows a zoomed out map of where the player is, the second phone screen shows a zoomed in image where the character has a Pokemon in front of them, and the third screen shows them ready to battle!
Once captured they are put in your very own Pokedex (the page where all you're breeds appear) and you can see if you have gained enough candies to evolve them into even more rare types.Below is a picture of what each Pokemon looks like when you click on it from your Pokedex.
Also if where you are has multiple of the same Pokemon you can catch them all and then evolve them. For example if you are in a place where there is lots of Pidgey you can evolve them into a Pidgeotto, and eventually a Pidgeot.
The game includes other cool features once you get to higher levels like a gym where you can have your 'monsters' fight other peoples.
So now that we have the basics of the game, lets talk about everyone's obsession.
Me and my boyfriend decided to take a trip to Tempe Town Lake and walk around the park (trying to catch some water Pokemon). Little did we know almost every person we walked by was playing the same game. People were outside in the 114 degree weather looking for virtual creatures. I am not even ashamed because it is one of the most fun games I have played in forever!
While walking strangers would hear the music playing and say "have you caught anything?"
Everyone seemed to be glued to their phone screens but this game also made everyone walk around! Finally an app that makes people more active instead of encouraging them to sit on the couch inside all day!
If you still have not gotten the app I highly recommended it, there is nothing more fun then running around with your friends trying to get more virtual creatures then them.
GO get Pokemon GO.
