Pokémon GO – What’s All the Buzz About?

The estimated reading time for this post is 5 minutes

The Wonder of Tech is delighted to welcome Jess Mohr as a guest author. She has been playing Pokémon GO frequently and is just about to hit Level 9 in the game. As Jess is my resident expert on the game (literally, since she’s my daughter), I asked her to let Wonder of Tech readers know what the buzz is all about with Pokémon GO.

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Recently, a lot of people around the world have been playing a new app called Pokémon GO. This game is at the top of the app charts and the first one to incorporate the popular Nintendo series Pokémon.

But how does this app differ from other apps and why is it so popular? Part of the reason could be that Nintendo is a ten-billion dollar company and is known world-wide, but it also is because the game is very interactive and addictive.

Unlike previous Pokémon games, this game is played on smart phones, not a Nintendo gaming device. The Pokémon GO app is available free for iPhone, and Android. In-app purchases are available to help you level up faster. This app does require GPS and Location Services as well as strong Internet connection.

About Pokémon GO

Pokémon (meaning “pocket monster”) is a series of games by Nintendo that started in 1996. In the Pokémon GO game, there are different species of creatures called Pokémon, each species with a different name such as Pikachu and Jigglypuff. The goal of the game is to catch all of the different types of Pokémon as well as following the storylines. Players can find these Pokémon creatures hiding in places throughout the game.

Since it began, Pokémon has been a game where your avatar walks around looking for new Pokémon. But rather than sitting at home with a gaming device, Pokémon GO players get up and walk around with their phones, looking for Pokémon using GPS signals.

Playing Pokémon GO

After downloading the app, you log in using a Gmail or Pokémon GO account. Once you log in, the game starts by having you choose the sex and clothes of your avatar.

After creating an avatar, you get three choices of starter Pokémon: Squirtle, Bulbasaur or Charmander. Then a man will appear on the screen and explain the basics of the game and ask for permission to use your camera, for reasons I’ll explain later. After the introductions, you can begin to play.

In the beginning, you might see a giant tower near you and a small blue stick with a square ball on it. The tower is called a Gym and the blue sticks are “PokéStops”. PokéStops are places where you get items like Poké Balls, potions and other items you might need in the game. The Gyms are where you can fight against other people who play Pokémon GO in the area. You cannot use Gyms until you get to level 5.

In order to level up, you must catch Pokémon or visit PokéStops.

Pokémon GO uses augmented reality, meaning you look through your camera and see the actual world, with layers of computer-generated images on top. When catching a Pokémon creature, you have the option of having the camera on. With augmented reality, the creature will look like it is standing in front of you when you look through the camera.

Pokémon creatures are all over the world. They may be in your favorite restaurant, park, store or other places around town. Your phone buzzes when you’re near a Pokémon creature.

In order to catch the creature, you have to throw a Poké Ball at it, which you can get at a PokéStops. There are many different tips and tricks to catching Pokémon all over the Internet including the ability to throw a “curve ball” at the Pokémon, but I personally think it’s best to stick to the basics.

The Buzz about Pokémon GO

Since this game came out earlier this month, Pokémon GO has been the app that everyone is talking about. A lot of people have become obsessed with finding Pokémon, so that people will be looking at their phones too much and crash into things while walking down the street.

See Business Insider, ‘Pokémon Go’ is already almost as big as Snapchat and Google Maps

Adults and kids are both enjoying playing this game. I think it is okay for parents to set limits on how much a child plays the game so they don’t get hurt. When I play the game, I understand that it is more important to avoid hurting others or myself than it is to get any new Pokémon.

I usually play this game when riding in a car so I’m not walking into people, but if I am walking down the street and I feel a buzz on my phone, I stop walking and step to the side because trying to walk and catch a Pokémon is a recipe for disaster. People also shouldn’t play Pokémon while driving or go to unsafe places when trying to find creatures. See Polygon, Police are warning Pokémon GO players to stay safe after injuries, dangerous encounters

If your children are playing this game safely, it can have a lot of benefits. The game gets kids to go outside and explore places they usually would not. The game is best for people living in urban areas because there are many more PokéStops and places to explore. Video games used to keep kids inside all day, but with Pokémon GO, their new obsession can now be used to get them outside and active.

Your Thoughts

Have you heard the buzz about Pokémon GO? Have you seen people playing the game? Have you tried playing Pokémon GO?

Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!

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When Jess Mohr isn’t playing Pokémon GO she keeps busy by working a the Ronald McDonald House and Five Below, as well as working on her college applications.

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* Hand holding phone image (edited) courtesy of Robert Couse-Baker via Flickr and Creative Commons

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