Pokémon Go, a new mobile game that has gone viral is already a trending app surpassing Tinder and Twitter in terms of daily usage in just a matter of days. The game was developed by Niantic Labs, partnering with Nintendo and Pokémon Co. It uses AR (Augmented Reality) technology with real-world elements, which isn’t a new thing. In case you are wondering, yes, there were AR games previously but they weren’t as famous as Pokémon Go.
We are by no means an expert in this game, but to summarize and explain you in a simple way about this game, you need to collect Pokémons (basically, catch ’em all) and train them to become ultimate Pokémon trainer by involving them in battle.
Pokémon Go uses your GPS location data and the smartphone’s camera to track players. The (in)famous Pokémon will appear in places around you and you need to follow the path to catch them. If you see a Pokémon just tap on it which will access your phone’s camera lets you see the Pokémon in your environment which can be caught with the help of PokéBall seen on the bottom of your screen – just swipe the Poké Ball towards the creature to capture them.
That’s not the only thing this game has to offer, you can visit Pokéstops where you can get PokéBalls and others stuff like eggs. Users are rewarded with XPs, Star Dust and specific candy after capturing every Pokémon based on the time and unique way to catch em. Basically, those Stardust and Candy be used to upgrade the combat power(CP) of your Pokémon or evolve them. You can also purchase varieties of items from the store, including PokéBalls, Incense, Lucky Eggs, Lure Modules, and other Poké Stuff.
Pokémon Go also features the infamous Poké battle, this time around with your friends. To battle, you need to visit Pokémon Gyms(a real-life location) where you can fight gym leaders as well as trainers, which can be a helpful way for users to create new friends in real life. Talking about your safety, well, you need to use your common sense and not stop in the middle of the road or jump in the river. There have been some incidents regarding this game so, you need to beware of strangers and your surroundings.
In conclusion, Pokémon Go is a mix of nostalgic memory and fun from Nintendo’s old school handheld Pokémon games for mobile devices with newer updated graphics and Augmented Reality accompanied by real-world elements.
