Pokémon Go (stylized as Pokémon GO) is a free-to-play, location-based augmented reality game developed by Niantic for iOS, Android, and Apple Watch devices. It was initially released in selected countries in July 2016. In the game, players use a mobile device's GPS capability to locate, capture, battle, and train virtual creatures, called Pokémon, who appear on the screen as if they were in the same real-world location as the player. The game supports in-app purchases for additional in-game items.
Pokémon Go was released to mixed reviews, with critics praising the game's concept and the incentive to be more active in the real world, while criticizing frequent technical issues apparent at launch. Despite such reviews, it quickly became a global phenomenon and was one of the most used mobile apps in 2016, having been downloaded more than 500 million times worldwide. It was credited with popularizing location-based and augmented reality gaming, promoting physical activity, and helping local businesses grow. However, it also attracted controversy for contributing to accidents and becoming a public nuisance at some locations. Multiple governments expressed concerns over the game's security, with legislation regarding it being passed in some countries as a result.
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 depend 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.[note 2][13]
Although the game is free to play, it supports in-app purchases of Poké Balls and other items.[14] 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.[15]
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 color-coded teams (red for Team Valor, blue for Team Mystic, or yellow for Team Instinct), which act as 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.[16]
In September 2016, Niantic announced a "Buddy Pokémon" feature, which will allow players to pick which Pokémon to appear alongside them on the profile screen, and allow in-game rewards and bonuses.[17] The "Buddy Pokémon" feature was released on September 10, 2016.[18] During that same update, Niantic updated Pokémon Go to prevent players with rooted or jailbroken devices from logging into the game in an effort to reduce cheating.[19]
The concept for the game was conceived in 2014 by Satoru Iwata of Nintendo and Tsunekazu Ishihara of The Pokémon Company as an April Fools' Day collaboration with Google, called Pokémon Challenge.[20] Ishihara was a fan of developer Niantic's previous transreality game, Ingress, and saw the game's concept as a perfect match for the Pokémon series.[21] Niantic used the crowdsourced[22] data from Ingress to populate the locations for PokéStops and gyms within Pokémon Go, and data from Google Maps to spawn specific Pokémon on certain terrain or environment.[23][24] In 2015, Ishihara dedicated his speech at the game's announcement on September 10 to Iwata, who had died two months earlier.[25] The game's soundtrack was written by longtime Pokémon series composer, Junichi Masuda, who also assisted with some of the game's design.[26] Among the game's visual designers was Dennis Hwang, who previously worked at Google and created the logo of Gmail.[27]
On March 4, 2016, Niantic announced a Japan-exclusive beta test would begin later that month, allowing players to assist in refining the game before its full release. The beta test was later expanded to other countries.[28] On April 7, it was announced that the beta would expand to Australia and New Zealand.[29] Then, on May 16, the signups for the field test were opened to the United States.[30][31] The test came to an end on June 30.[32]
At Comic-Con 2016, John Hanke, founder of Niantic, revealed the appearances of the three team leaders: Candela (Team Valor), Blanche (Team Mystic), and Spark (Team Instinct).[33][34] Hanke conveyed that approximately 10% of the ideas for the game were implemented. Future updates, including the much-anticipated addition of trading, more Pokémon,[35] implementation of Pokémon Centers at PokéStops, a patch for the "three step glitch", and easier training, were also confirmed.[36] He also stated that Niantic would be continuing support for the game for "years to come".[35]
Pokémon Go was released to mixed reviews, with critics praising the game's concept and the incentive to be more active in the real world, while criticizing frequent technical issues apparent at launch. Despite such reviews, it quickly became a global phenomenon and was one of the most used mobile apps in 2016, having been downloaded more than 500 million times worldwide. It was credited with popularizing location-based and augmented reality gaming, promoting physical activity, and helping local businesses grow. However, it also attracted controversy for contributing to accidents and becoming a public nuisance at some locations. Multiple governments expressed concerns over the game's security, with legislation regarding it being passed in some countries as a result.
Gameplay
Gameplay screenshots of Pokémon Go
As players move within their real world surroundings, their avatar moves within 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 screenshots of the Pokémon they encounter either with or without the AR mode activated.[11]
Although the game is free to play, it supports in-app purchases of Poké Balls and other items.[14] 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.[15]
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 color-coded teams (red for Team Valor, blue for Team Mystic, or yellow for Team Instinct), which act as 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.[16]
In September 2016, Niantic announced a "Buddy Pokémon" feature, which will allow players to pick which Pokémon to appear alongside them on the profile screen, and allow in-game rewards and bonuses.[17] The "Buddy Pokémon" feature was released on September 10, 2016.[18] During that same update, Niantic updated Pokémon Go to prevent players with rooted or jailbroken devices from logging into the game in an effort to reduce cheating.[19]
Development
John Hanke, the founder of Niantic
On March 4, 2016, Niantic announced a Japan-exclusive beta test would begin later that month, allowing players to assist in refining the game before its full release. The beta test was later expanded to other countries.[28] On April 7, it was announced that the beta would expand to Australia and New Zealand.[29] Then, on May 16, the signups for the field test were opened to the United States.[30][31] The test came to an end on June 30.[32]
At Comic-Con 2016, John Hanke, founder of Niantic, revealed the appearances of the three team leaders: Candela (Team Valor), Blanche (Team Mystic), and Spark (Team Instinct).[33][34] Hanke conveyed that approximately 10% of the ideas for the game were implemented. Future updates, including the much-anticipated addition of trading, more Pokémon,[35] implementation of Pokémon Centers at PokéStops, a patch for the "three step glitch", and easier training, were also confirmed.[36] He also stated that Niantic would be continuing support for the game for "years to come".[35]
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