Pokémon Go has probably been the most anticipated app of 2016.
There’s good reason why.
The first Pokémon games, Pokémon Red and Green, were released in Japan on Feb. 27, 1996. After fixing the coding and other bugs, Pokémon Red and Blue were released in America on Sept. 28, 1998. Kids of all ages lined up to get the game. After release, Pokémon Red, Blue and Green sold more than 31 million units. Each large Pokémon game duos that followed have also sold multiple million units.
It’s easy to see how much Pokémon has effected the youth of today (And let’s be honest- anyone that’s younger than 35).
Pokémon Go is an augmented reality game that allows you to bring the Pokémon world to life. It uses Niantic’s Real World Gaming Platform to allow and encourage players to travel to be able to catch different types of Pokémon.
You start by signing up either with your Google account or your Pokémon Club account. With the game being so newly released and the servers being on overload, it has been suggested that you sign up using your Google account for better chances of saving and resuming the game. I was one of the unfortunate people that learned that the hard way.
Next, you get to customize your trainer. That’s right! No more “Are you a boy or a girl?” from Professor Oak. In this game, Professor Willow walks you through the steps to be able to initiate yourself into the game. He helps you choose your starter Pokémon (Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle) before releasing you out into the wild.
And while all of this does seem like a dream come true, it does have some cons attached to its name.
Since it is so popular, the servers are working overtime to make sure that everyone can play, but this does leave the servers to be down every now and then. Also, since the game is so new, there are some bugs that need to be fixed.
But for most people, that is a small price to pay for this game.
This game brings people together.
When you are able to go to a gym at level 5, you are required to pick a team: red, blue or yellow. These teams can take over the gyms belonging to other teams, help protect your own team’s gym or even help train your Pokémon at your own team’s gym.
And the gyms can change hands within minutes. You can walk away for a few minutes and come back to see your Pokémon on the verge of death.
And Pokéstops are everywhere. These spots allow you to win either pokéballs, potions, incense and eggs. Once you use this spot though, it deactivates for a few minutes before it resets and you can use it again.
This is where everyone comes together. You can drive to any of the Pokéstops and see dozens of other people there, wanting the same things you want.
Regardless of whether you grew up watching the TV show or grew up playing the game or even none of the above, Pokémon Go is a great game that allows people to come together for a common goal.
