What’s behind the phenomenon “Pokémon GO” and why is it so popular?
It’s a special time currently in the world of online gaming. The release of Pokémon GO filled a gap that many didn’t even know existed. Within just a few days, Pokémon GO became one of the most successful MMOs in the history of video games. A similar excitement to that felt at the launch of World of Warcraft is again present in the player community worldwide – and there are reasons for that!
The great success of Pokémon GO
Top rankings in various app stores and overloaded servers indicate that Pokémon GO had a fantastic start. This success, however, is not by chance – the game hits a nerve. In Pokémon Go, childhood dreams come true as one can now see and catch Pokémon in their personal, real environment that existed only in a fantasy world before. Using data from Google Maps, aspiring Pokémon trainers can roam the streets of their hometown and suddenly find a small Pidgey or other Pokémon on the sidewalk.
The game does something with gamers that has not existed in this form as a video game before: it rewards them for going outside. Rewards in video games are usually digital items that can’t be used much outside the game – Pokémon GO rewards you in the form of a great adventure in the “real world”.
The augmented reality of Pokémon GO confronts players with reality, the outdoors
Developer Niantic previously had a similar project called Ingress, which also worked with Google Maps data. The data involves interesting places in the “real world” that, in addition to the streets, are integrated into the game. So-called PokéStops offer Pokémon GO players the chance to collect special rewards. The necessity to leave home to collect these special rewards is new for many players, but is especially well received.
Gyms or the church in the neighboring village can gain much more attention this way since there might be PokéStops where rewards or various types of Pokémon can be caught. People are now reading more and more stories of small and big adventures online, especially on Reddit. Players who previously saw no point in leaving the house during their free time now meet with friends in the city park to catch Pokémon.
Children who previously had no desire to go on the weekly shopping trip with Mom are now excited to leave the house because there may be Pokémon on the way that they haven’t caught yet. With a smile on their face, they go shopping with their mother.
Pokémon are even being integrated into our society and merging with reality, creating a kind of parallel universe. It can happen that a child comes late to school because a big Snorlax is lying on the street blocking the way. It can also occur that one takes considerably more time to work in the garden, as weeds can have their own will.
Through these situations that one encounters daily, one enters a co-existence with the little monsters.
Pokémon GO makes a childhood dream “come true”
Through the new Pokémon MMO, childhood dreams that many had during their first game in the series come true: “To see a Pokémon in the real world, that would be amazing…” Catching these little monsters in the “real world”, giving them names and having them always by your side. It suddenly feels as though you really have your own Pokémon in your pocket to play with when needed. The small loyal companions that one imagined as a child, for example, when feeling sad and with whom many adventures were lived through in dreams, can now be seen and present in the real world.
This vision, held by some for more than 15 years, can now become “realer” and allow many players to relive their childhood. Training Pokémon in the real world and being a Pokémon gym leader is a big part of the phenomenon.
Due to the long history of the series, one rarely has to justify why one throws red/white balls at little monsters appearing on a phone screen – When the keyword “Pokémon” comes up, it clicks for most. Thus, it is not a problem for most to openly discuss the topic.
The social factor is more important to players than gameplay
The mechanics in the new Pokémon game are not outstanding – it is a fairly simple control with which you can catch or improve Pokémon, defend gyms, or collect special rewards at PokéStops. Despite this simple gameplay, the game manages to stay at the top of app stores, dethroning games from Supercell and Game of War. What makes the game so special, besides the collecting aspect, is primarily the social factor.
To utilize all features of the Pokémon MMO, you can’t just sit on the couch or in front of the computer, but you need to get out of the apartment and explore various locations. Just yesterday, I went out in the evening with two of my best friends because they wanted to try the game. What started as “trying out” turned into a long exploration tour through our streets because there were Pokémon everywhere waiting for us. There was also a PokéStop nearby that, while it wasn’t on our original path, was worth taking a detour for and rewarded us with Poké Balls.
The first message I received from one of them this morning was “Guess who is the gym leader of our village?!” – Our plan for the coming days is: wear comfortable shoes, catch Pokémon, and take on more gyms.
Not only have my friends and I been bitten by the Pokémon fever again – various social networks are seeing more and more Pokémon images shared by trainers, bringing joy and laughter to people. Through the many different situations experienced with the Pokémon MMO, many of these images and videos go viral quickly and bring joy to people around the world. Here you can find a compilation of funny Pokémon images and tweets.
