This week, Pokemon Go was released on iPhone and Samsung. There are many different opinions on whether or not this app has been successful since its release, but I have my own opinion.
First, a little information about the game itself. Pokemon Go is more or less a virtual reality version of the original Pokemon game series. The difference is this version is on your smartphone, and it uses GPS to locate the Pokemon in your own neighborhood. There are also Pokestops, usually a local landmark like a park. At the Pokestops you can earn items such as Pokeballs, Revives or Potions. You also earn experience points every time you visit a Pokestop. There are gyms which are usually a library or a police station, it is usually a building of higher importance. At the gyms, you can battle other players that are in the gym as well. What makes this app so unique compared to the original Pokemon games is that it is all in your own backyard. You can walk around your neighborhood and catch Pokemon.
There are a few things, however, that are not very good about the app. For instance, there are a lot of server issues. There are multiple times a day that I want to play but instead I get a screen that says, “Our servers are experiencing issues. Please come back later.” It is slightly irritating to get that screen so many times a day. However, I understand, due to the popularity and the volume of the people playing, that this may happen. There also have been multiple instances where I throw my Pokeball, and it zooms in to show me the catch and the app freezes. The music still continues, but the picture itself freezes. Thankfully, the Pokemon ends up in my collection, but it is still a struggle to have to shut down and reopen the app. Also, the app has a lot of inconsistency. If you live in a rural area, it is very hard to find any Pokestops or gyms, but if you live in a city, it is very easy to find them. This inconsistency is making people very upset because they feel like they are being kept away of Pokemon and Pokestops.
A large number of people worry about the safety of players. There have been multiple stories of people walking into traffic or walking off a cliff because they were focused on their phone. The makers of the app made sure to put a warning on the app as it opens, but people refuse to listen to it. Some stories have arisen of people finding dead bodies while playing Pokemon Go. Now, this may seem slightly morbid, but at least the bodies are being found.
All in all, in my opinion, the app is very good. It is amazing to be able to catch Pokemon in your own hometown and while you travel. The virtual reality makes it fun to look and see where different Pokemon lurk in your town. The app is very true to where Pokemon would be, water types by water, grass types by large grassy areas and dark types found at night. It is a great way to jump into the world of Pokemon and become the very best that no one ever was. Time to catch 'em all!
