The Pokemon Go Phenomenon

[Overkilled]

Yes Pokemon Go the game that I have seen suck my friends in completely over the last few days. First it was the people who actually like pokemon but it somehow spread to people who would otherwise not even touch a Pokemon game. People who now go out of their means to capture them.

 

Anyone else realised this phenomenon personally?

[LizardsAreOP]

Its just a game,its in a way good so they go out and walk and be all day on there phone just prank calling and eating junk food,but on the other side its a bad thing since people lose there mind and just get hit by a car etc...

[TriFlix Films]

It a mobile device, they are very suseptible to fads. Peer pressure and good marketing are to think for this. Thats because the marketing isn't commericals and companies like 'the old days' its social media and users.

Similar to Angry Birds and the one jumping bird game. Minecraft sort of fell into this catagory as well.

 

UPDATE: Jumping bird game = flappy birds?

[Trey222]

3 hours ago, Jonnyswboy said:

I'm really enjoying it but I can see how it will get boring if they don't spice it up.

Yeah I agree it is fun right now but they really do need to add some stuff. Also they really need to fix their servers. 

[.li0n]

It may be just me, but I wouldn't walk around wit a phone in hand. Why ? - someone could literally take it and run to the nearest pawn shop - and sell it. Or you may get mugged - for a phone.

S*** happens, especially in semi-poor (ish) countries

[porina]

It is early days and we'll have to wait to see what kind of staying power it has. I think a large part of the draw is the Pokemon side since the game mechanics are not exactly that complex, in the player side anyway.

 

I had to region change to get it early in the UK, and it went official today and all the younger people at work were all over it. I never grew up so I'd include myself in that...  created a fresh account to start again, and thankfully my preferred name wasn't taken already. So I need a new set of pokemon...

[imreloadin]

26 minutes ago, LizardsAreOP said:

people lose there mind and just get hit by a car etc...

In which case I commend Niantic for doing it's part to help cull the herd.

[I am an SSD]

25 minutes ago, Overkilled said:

Yes Pokemon Go the game that I have seen suck my friends in completely over the last few days. First it was the people who actually like pokemon but it somehow spread to people who would otherwise not even touch a Pokemon game. People who now go out of their means to capture them.

 

Anyone else realised this phenomenon personally?

In my opinion its pretty cool . It has much more appeal than Ingress, a  game with a similar strategy of "getting off your butt and moving around". + It helps you meet new people in person, and whether thats your cup of tea or not, you have to admit its a lot more productive than sitting at home and grammar Naziing the hell out of youtube comments. 

 

Nevertheless, the drawbacks do exist...one has to be careful

[evilarceus]

Currently, the features are pretty limited but the game is still fun. I have very high hopes for this game, such as actual battling, all Pokemon being added to the game, more areas in rural areas, etc.

[sissj]

36 minutes ago, Overkilled said:

Yes Pokemon Go the game that I have seen suck my friends in completely over the last few days. First it was the people who actually like pokemon but it somehow spread to people who would otherwise not even touch a Pokemon game. People who now go out of their means to capture them.

 

Anyone else realised this phenomenon personally?

A good case study on it.

[Evanair]

The game is pretty good for just launching.  It was especially smart to launch with only the original pokemon, bringing the nostalgia factor in for people who haven't played in ages.  It also gives them room to add more later.

I'm hoping they address a few issues with the game.  #1 being battery drain and the requirement to have your screen on 100% of the time, even with battery saver. 

 

And they can also expand the game to smart watches, even if it's just notifications and pokestops only, that would add more to the game. 

 

Great start... with potential to either be a quick fad or a good platform to keep going.

[kaiju_wars]

I've been enjoying the shit out of this game since it released.  It's actually got me off my lazy ass and outside walking.  They really need to fix the server issues though, there are a bunch.

[Guest]

My girlfriend hadn't touched pokemon  in her whole life and about 2 days ago she woke up and told me she downloaded pokemon go, and that we should go hunting  . its amazing imo.

i didn't like playing it alone, but its good to play with someone you like

[skywake]

11 hours ago, TriFlix Films said:

It a mobile device, they are very suseptible to fads. Peer pressure and good marketing are to think for this. Thats because the marketing isn't commericals and companies like 'the old days' its social media and users. Similar to Angry Birds and the one jumping bird game. Minecraft sort of fell into this catagory as well.

This is true but at the same time the stats don't lie. In terms of simultaneous active users? This is the biggest mobile game ever. It has overtaken Candy Crush which was the previous number 1. It's also quite a bit higher than previous fads like Draw Something and Flappy Birds. So regardless of whether it does last it's still a huge deal. And you could be right, this might be just a fad in the same way all of those others were (except maybe Candy Crush which has lasted). The fact that it was an overnight hit means that it's probably not going to get bigger. It could go as quickly as those other fads did. But it is still huge.

 

With that said it does have one advantage over some of the previous fad mobile games. Draw Something and Flappy Bird? There's not really any way to expand those games, when the game starts to get boring there's nothing the dev can do to stop you from leaving. With Candy Crush they held onto players by adding more levels, more modes and game variations. I think Pokemon is probably closer to Candy Crush in that respect. If people start walking away from the game all they need to do is add the next batch of Pokemon, add features like trading and battling or make a legendary Pokemon appear. All of a sudden people would have another reason to keep playing.

[.li0n]

14 hours ago, I am an SSD said:

In my opinion its pretty cool . It has much more appeal than Ingress, a  game with a similar strategy of "getting off your butt and moving around". + It helps you meet new people in person, and whether thats your cup of tea or not, you have to admit its a lot more productive than sitting at home and grammar Naziing the hell out of youtube comments. 

 

Nevertheless, the drawbacks do exist...one has to be careful

Ingress was a great game... hacking portals, reactors, etc. Factions were a big thing in there. Played it for 2 months, then I almost got my phone stolen. It started to become boring, also. Then I ditched it.

[dtaflorida]

On 7/14/2016 at 11:53 AM, I am an SSD said:

+ It helps you meet new people in person

And want to punch them in the face and take their phone so they don't keep taking your gym.