If you haven't heard, Pokémon Go builds on the Pokémon franchise of capturing creatures and the augmented reality game called Ingress to created a highly immersive and addictive MMO.
Pokémon Terms (short list)
Gym - A place to train and battle other teams. Players that are level 5 or greater can leave one of their creatures behind and instantly receive Pokémon coins that are redeemable for in game resources.
Pokéstop - A place to gather free resources. It refreshes every 5 minutes and players can apply a lure to attract other Pokémon for 30 minutes.
Lure - A devise that can be applied to a Pokéstop that attracts Pokémon. This can be used with a Lucky Egg to rapidly increase experience.
Trainer - A Pokémon Go player is referred to as a trainer due to the focus on finding, training, and evolving Pokémon.
Team - There are three teams to choose from when a trainer gets to Level 5: Team Mystic (Blue), Valor (Red), or Instinct (Yellow).
I have fallen hard into the Pokémon Go fanboy camp and wanted to tally my thoughts on the game and focus on the general and very specific good I've seen so far.
1) It brings people together.
The concept of seeing strangers vanishes, and instead I think, "Is that person staring at their phone playing too?" Pokémon Go trainers have a pretty distinguisable profile as they are consistently holding up their phones, walking in loops, or persistently swiping their phones. As a trainer, you will be welcomed when you walk up to them and see what they are up to. If a trainer has found a rare Pokémon, they let others know where to go even if they are on a different teams.
2) It brings to life hidden or lesser known landmarks.
I've played in Portsmouth, NH and was suprised to find a tomb hidden in plain site among several businesses.
A Pokémon Gyms will gather a crowd in a city and inform others about the landmark that may have been missed or underappreciated.
When a player or business places a lure at a Pokéstop, it serves as a temporary hub to attract Pokémon to that location for 30 minutes and people will gather like a flashmob without the dancing.
I've often chosen to have lunch at a business that is between a set of Pokéstops.
3) It brings families together.
I started out playing on my own, but have roped in my kids, as they wanted to help capture these creatures hidden by reality. It is also a great way to avoid the incessant "Are we there yet?" inquiries during a road trip.
Discussing the strategies gets kids to think big picture, identify their in game goals, and figure out if they want to level up quickly or have a diverse set of Pokémon.
4) It subtly brings more excercise into your life.
Many of the milestones, egg hatching, and game play involve physically moving from one place to another. There is a speed where this game is difficult to play, so it is often best to play on foot or with a bike.
Early gameplay is all about learning what can be done and improving capture techniques, but as the game progresses, players will find themselves doing the following:
- Focus on taking over as many gyms as possible to get free Pokécoins.
Pokémon Gyms are often found at a churches, businesses, conservation land, or other establishments with a high volume of foot or vehicle traffic. The best gym strategy is to visit as many gyms as possible and immediately cash out Pokécoins. If a Pokémon you've left behind is bumped out of the gym during a battle, you won't receive that immediate instant Pokécoin.
- Focus on walking / biking to hatch as many eggs as possible.
Pokémon spawn in many areas, but they can also be hatched. Pokéstops give out Pokéballs, healing resources, and eggs. A player gets one incubator at the start of the game, but can buy more. Each egg requires the trainer to walk 2km, 5km, or 10km to get the egg to hatch. The longer distance eggs yield the most rare Pokémon.
- Focus on catching the most rare Pokémon and evolving them into strong creatures.
If someone wants to search for Pokémon while hatching eggs, there are several 3rd party sites and apps to help trainers in their quest. Most will experience seeing more common Pokémon in their travels, and rare Pokémon in areas they have not visited. This encourages trainers to visit new locations to help have a diverse collection.
Through all this travel I have racked up about 80km of walking/biking and have done it each day I have owned the game. I can't remember a time where I have excercised for several weeks in a row.
5) It replaces Social Media with Social Gaming.
I think any social media users seeks a level of connection that is quick, but often fails to be meaningful or have additional benefit beyond having the latest piece of news on hand.
Pokémon Go gets people in the habit of being comfortable with the outdoors and meeting new people in ways that would normally be difficult. It gives them a means of learning about an area and engaging with people and surroundings that can help some overcome shyness with people they do not know.