Hot and Free App: Pokemon Go!

What is Pokemon Go?

Pokemon Go is a free-to-play game developed by Niantic for the iOS and Android platform. They are the same company who developed Ingress, a game from which the Pokemon Go was based out of. It is mainly an augmented reality game. This enables the game to spawn virtual pocket monsters (Pokemons) on a real world via a real world map using a smartphone\’s camera. The Pokemons are captured, trained and taken to battle by trainers, (the Players).

These are the requirements for you to play the game:

• a supported device (this can be an Android or iOS device)
• internet connection (mobile data can be used for outdoor Pokemon hunting)
• battery pack (continuous on screen time and mobile data connection is taxing to the battery)
• your feet (for outdoor exploration)

Game Mechanics

After logging into the app for the first time, you, as the Pokemon trainer have the opportunity to create an avatar. Choose the avatar\’s gender, hair, skin and eye color and even a number of outfits. After creating the avatar, it will be displayed at the player\’s current location along with a map of your immediate surroundings. Features on the map may include a number of Pokéstops and Pokémon gyms. These are typically located at popular meeting places, such as memorials, places of worship, parks and tourist attractions.

Players have to walk around in the real world to move their avatar in the game. Different Pokémon live in different areas of the world; for example, water-type Pokémon are found near water. When a player encounters a Pokémon, they may view it in either Augmented Reality mode or with a pre-rendered background. AR mode utilizes 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. Players can also take pictures of the Pokémon using an in-game camera that they encounter both with and without the AR mode activated.