What’s going on with Pokémon Go?

The 90’s phenomenon that was Pokémon is back in the form of Pokémon Go – and millennials are going nuts for it.

But what is Pokémon Go? How do I get it? And if I don’t care, how do I get rid of it from my news feed? We have the answers below.

 

What is Pokémon Go?

Pokémon Go is a free game download for Android and iOS devices which uses your GPS to help you locate Pokémon. It’s an augmented reality game that mixes real world elements within the game. The point of the game, like in the TV show, is to catch ‘em all with your device’s GPS guiding you to the location of Pokémon, and depending on where you are different Pokémon will appear – so if you’re by water, more water types of Pokémon appear, or if it’s night the ghost and fairy types appear.

But although the game is free, of course something has to make the game developers money, and that’s where PokéStops come in. These are gyms based on real world locations and allow you to fight gym leaders, meet other players or buy (with real money) items to lure Pokémon to the PokéStops.

Why are we writing about it?

Because it’s taken the world by storm, and even though it initially wasn’t available in the UK, many people found a workaround by downloading the US version from the app store and changing the location settings. It’s the first game of its kind, and might be the beginning of a revolution in gaming – are we going to have more gamers out on the streets searching for Pokémon than sat at home in front of the TV? Maybe, and maybe that’s a good thing.

Shares in Nintendo have skyrocketed since the release of Pokémon Go by more than 50% and it has topped the download chart both on the iPhone App Store and Google Play.

 

How do I get it in the UK?

Pokemon Go is now available in the UK, and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Here’s a complete guide to playing the game and how to download it.

 

What if I don’t care?

Fed up of hearing about Pokémon Go? There’s an answer for that too! A developer by the name of Jamie Farrelly has created a new Chrome extension called PokeGone which detects and removes any mentions of Pokémon Go from the internet. So, in his words, “you can get back to normal watching funny cat GIFs.”

 

Is this the future of gaming?

It’s free, it’s addictive (apparently), and it’s getting people outside and exploring. Augmented reality is on the rise. But is it a phase or the beginning of a gaming revolution?

Let us know what you think in the comments below!

[Image: AFK]