The Pokemon trainer walks through the tall grass, eyes keen on spotting a wild Pokemon. All of the sudden, like a speeding bullet, a wild Pikachu has appeared. Excited and uneasy, the trainer reaches for a Poke Ball and hurls it toward the electric mouse. The Gameboy and Nintendo DS games produced by Nintendo have long simulated this encounter from the comfort of our own home. Now, imagine if one could have this experience happen in a real-world setting. Enter: Pokemon Go.
From the moment of its conception, the iOS and Android app known as Pokemon Go has taken the world by storm. Its users show no bounds, as people of all ages can be seen walking around, gently glancing at their mobile device hunting for Pokemon. But what is it exactly about the newest installment of the beloved Pokemon franchise that has everyone is the mood to catch them all?
WHAT IS IT:
When broken down to its most basic element, Pokemon Go truly puts the word ‘go’ into affect. Unlike its predecessors, the app, using augmented reality, immerses the creatures that fans have come to know and love in reality. Rather than having users sitting on the couch and pushing buttons on a Gameboy, the app forces players to walk around to find ‘wild’ Pokemon. By using a combination GPS signals and the camera on your device, the game is able to place these creatures within the real world; thus turning the world into your own Pokemon sandbox.
HOW TO PLAY:
Once the app has been downloaded and you’ve gone through the introduction with the in-game teacher known as Professor Willow, you will see your created avatar standing on a landscape that is reminiscent of Google Maps. As your character is standing, you will notice that wavelengths are emanating from its base. Once a Pokemon is in range of these waves, it will appear alongside your avatar in 3-D form on the screen. By tapping the respective Pokemon, the augmented reality with your camera kicks in, and the said creature will appear in real-time wherever it is that your phone is pointing. All that’s left now is to catch the monster. In Pokemon Go, the capturing process is as simple as flicking your finger. The catch is that you must make solid contact with your Poke Ball on the creature, but once that has happened all that’s left is three shakes and stars to appear near the center and congratulations, you’re now the proud owner of a Pokemon.
WHERE TO FIND POKEMON:
Once you’ve laced up your running shoes, and have charged your device, you’re ready to begin your Pokemon journey. By walking outside your house, you can now interact with the creatures in a brand new way. A user of this app can find Pokemon virtually anywhere. Whether it be your backyard, in a park, in a city, or even on the highway, these creatures seem to be crawling all over the place. This hunting process is made easier by using the ‘nearby’ feature in the lower righthand corner of the screen, which hints the whereabouts of certain types of Pokemon. The location of the creatures that appear in this screen are corresponded by a pattern of steps below the creature’s icon in sequences of 1, 2, or 3 footprints (each represents 100 meters). It’s up to the trainer you to catch the Pokemon with this information. In addition, to being able to find these creatures in the real-world, the game has also incorporates Gyms at real landmarks where you can test your mettle in battle with other trainers. Not to mention, if you run out of Poke Balls on your quest to complete the Pokedex, you can always stop at a PokeStop. These are places where items are received and, just like Gyms, are located at a myriad of landmarks
By combining the seemingly easy to play and navigate interface, love and joy of the cult-hit Pokemon, as well as nailing down the nostalgia factor of using the original, Kanto region from the smash-hit debut Red and Blue renditions of the game, it’s no wonder that Pokemon Go has everyone wanting to be just like Ash Ketchum.
