Pokémon Go

[chouette]

Can someone please explain to me what is that big rave about the "Pokémon Go"? It's apparently a big thing nowadays and I'm even hearing that people are being killed for real or something? That can't be true but what is it? I don't want to google it and get all kinds of crap. I would like to hear it from people who are actually involved or knows someone that is. It's really not a big thing around where I live but I've heard a bit here and there. Anyone knows?

pokgo.jpg (148.11 KiB) Viewed 11041 times

[VincentLupo]

I have no idea and don't want to know.

[bankska22]

Not sure! Crazy!!

[Fogdude]

From Wikipedia:

Pokémon Go (stylized as Pokémon GO) is a free-to-play location-based augmented reality mobile game developed by Niantic for iOS and Android devices. It was released in most regions of the world in July 2016. Making use of GPS and the camera of compatible devices, the game allows players to capture, battle, and train virtual creatures, called Pokémon, who appear on device screens as though in the real world. The game is free to play, although it supports in-app purchases of additional gameplay items. An optional companion Bluetooth wearable device, the Pokémon Go Plus, is planned for future release and will alert users when Pokémon are nearby.

Pokémon Go was released to mixed reviews. Reviewers praised the overall experience of the game and the incentive to adventure the real world, while noting technical issues that were apparent at launch. The game quickly became one of the most used smart device apps, surpassing the previous record held by Candy Crush Saga in the United States, and was a boon to the stock value of The Pokémon Company and Nintendo. The game was credited with popularizing augmented reality, and was praised by some medical professionals for potentially improving the mental and physical health of players, but also attracted some controversy due to reports of causing accidents and being a public nuisance at some locations.

GAMEPLAY:

After establishing a game account, the player creates an avatar by selecting a hair, skin, and eye color; style; and outfit.[1][2] After the avatar is created, it is displayed at the player's current location along with a map of the player's immediate surroundings. Features on the map include a number of PokéStops and Pokémon gyms. PokéStops provide players with items, such as eggs, Poké Balls, and potions and can be equipped with items called lures, which attract wild Pokémon.[3][4] Gyms serve as battle locations for team-based king of the hill matches.[5] These are typically located at places of interest.[6] These locations are re-purposed portals from Ingress, Niantic's previous augmented reality game.[7]

As players travel the real world, their avatar moves along the game's map. Different Pokémon species reside in different areas of the world; for example, water-type Pokémon are generally found near water.[8] When a player encounters a Pokémon, they may view it either in augmented reality (AR) mode or with a live rendered, generic background.[9] AR mode uses the camera and gyroscope on the player's mobile device to display an image of a Pokémon as though it were in the real world.[10] Players can take screen shots of the Pokémon they encounter either with or without the AR mode activated.[11]

Unlike other installments in the Pokémon series, players in Pokémon Go do not battle wild Pokémon to capture them. During an encounter with a wild Pokémon, the player may throw a Poké Ball at it by flicking it from the bottom of the screen up toward the Pokémon. If the Pokémon is successfully caught, it will come under the ownership of the player. Factors in the success rate of capture include the right force, the right time and the type of Poké Ball used. After capturing a wild Pokémon, the player is awarded two types of in-game currencies: candies and stardust. The candies awarded by a successful catch depends on what evolutionary chain a Pokémon belongs to. A player can use stardust and candies to raise a Pokémon's "combat power" (CP). However, only candies are needed to evolve a Pokémon. Each Pokémon evolution tree has its own type of candy which can only be used to evolve or level up. The player can also transfer the Pokémon back to the Pokémon professor to earn one more candy and create room for more Pokémon.[12] The ultimate goal of the game is to complete the entries in the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing and evolving to obtain the original 151 Pokémon.[13]

All Pokémon are displayed with a combat power. A Pokémon's combat power is a rough measure of how powerful that Pokémon is in battle. Not all Pokémon of the same species will have the same CP. Generally, as a player levels up they will catch Pokémon with higher CP.[14]
Players in Anchorage, Alaska, congregating by a PokéStop in a local park

Players earn experience points for various in-game activities. Players rise in level as they earn experience points. At level five, the player is able to battle at a Pokémon gym and join one of three teams (red for Team Valor, which uses Moltres as their mascot; blue for Team Mystic, which uses Articuno as their mascot; or yellow for Team Instinct, which uses Zapdos as their mascot), which act as larger factions within the Pokémon Go world. If players enter a Pokémon gym that is controlled by a player that is not part of their team, they can challenge the leader to lower the gym's "prestige". Once the prestige of a gym is lowered to zero, the player will take control of the gym and is able to deposit one Pokémon to defend it. Similarly, a team can upgrade the prestige of a gym under their control by battling the gym leader. Each time a gym's level is raised, another player from the same team can deposit one of their Pokémon.[15]

Although the game is free to play, it supports in-app purchases of Poké Balls and other items.[16] By July 14, the game's support page included the ability to submit requests for new PokéStops and gyms, but an automated email response explains that new submissions are currently not being accepted.[17]

[ctaulbee]

It's the latest hot trend in Mobile Game Apps, nothing more really, like Angry Birds was not long ago.

I think the controversy is coming from people, and this is true of all mobile apps really, getting distracted like when driving and then causing accidents etc.

The fad will run until the next hot up and coming thing comes out for phones and then it will be forgotten just as fast as it became a trend...

[chouette]

Oh ok, well it doesn't look like such a big deal then. I thought it was more like a treasure hunt where you can win stuff when you find it. It's just that whatever little I've heard of it, they seem to think it was a biggie and very dangerous. But like CT says, if you're trying to find these weird looking Pokémon while driving, then this could be considered very dangerous and just plain stupid if you ask me, but I can see people doing that, it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Anyway, thanks for your replies. I was just curious to know what the big fuss was all about and it's a little clearer now. It's definitely nothing I would bother with, that's for sure.

[BajeeZa]

http://img-9gag-fun.9cache.com/photo/an1jmpo_700b.jpg

[chouette]

http://img-9gag-fun.9cache.com/photo/an1jmpo_700b.jpg

Thanks Bajeeza for this link. That just proves how stupid people can be. It's like anything else in life, use your frigging common sense... lol

[Pip]

http://img-9gag-fun.9cache.com/photo/an1jmpo_700b.jpg

They do live among us unfortunately but at least this app could wittle them down.
I doubt it though.

[Fogdude]

It never hurts to have a little Darwinian attrition, now & then.

[ctaulbee]

They do live among us unfortunately but at least this app could wittle them down.
I doubt it though.

[Roseflamingo]

More fodder for the phone walking zombies. "feed me... I need more data, feed me!"

[chouette]

More fodder for the phone walking zombies. "feed me... I need more data, feed me!"

Well said...

[ctaulbee]

What is your Pokémon collection looking like chouette?

[chouette]

What is your Pokémon collection looking like chouette?

Oh, it looks like someone who is not interested in playing one bit...

[ctaulbee]

Ah! the "big ol' goose egg" then huh...

[chouette]

Yup, pretty much... lol

[ctaulbee]

I just captured a new Pokémon chouette and I could not be happier...

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[chouette]

That doesn't look like the Pokémon I'm used to see, but I can understand why you like this one better...

[VincentLupo]

You are far to lucky CT. Now go find some more for the rest of us.

[ctaulbee]

You are far to lucky CT...

I know Vince, I have lived a charmed life buddy.

[ctaulbee]

Speaking of Pokémon here is banks doing a respectable (term used loosely here) Trainer Misty cosplay, hey he even has his own custom made Pokémon Ball...

bankspokemon.jpg (49.58 KiB) Viewed 10962 times

[VincentLupo]

Wow. I don't think orange is your color Banks.

[chouette]

[chouette]

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