Augmented Reality is becoming increasingly relevant for the gaming industry. Now, Nintendo has announced a game with Pokemon Go that shows where the future of online and mobile games could be heading.
We have already reported on how Augmented Reality could change mobile and online gaming. Google’s game Ingress was even a pioneer in this regard. But with Pokemon Go, this type of gaming could now become mainstream. The online game is set to be released in 2016, which can be downloaded on your smartphone. When you are on the go, you can search for Pokemon in the real world. These will be displayed on the screen through the phone’s camera.
It will look as if a Pokemon is hopping around in front of you in the park. You have to catch it. To catch one, you throw a virtual Pokeball at it. The Pokemon can be found everywhere. Whether in a department store, in an alley, in a field… the game invites you to search for the creatures anytime and anywhere – “Catch them all” is the motto once again.
Challenge other players to Pokemon duels online
If you meet other players who are also using Pokemon Go, it is possible to challenge them to a duel. This will also be displayed via Augmented Reality on the smartphone’s screen, and it should look as if the creatures are battling on the street.
If you do not want to fight with other players, you can alternatively trade Pokemon you have caught with them. So that you do not always have to walk around with your smartphone in hand to make sure you don’t miss a Pokemon, Nintendo offers a smartwatch-like device called Pokemon Go Plus. You wear it on your wrist. If a Pokemon is nearby, the device starts to light up, and you can quickly grab your phone to search for and catch the creature. Pokemon Go is set to be released in 2016 as a free app for Android and iOS devices.
Andreas says: It begins. I believe that Augmented Reality will play a very large role in the future. Pokemon Go shows a mass-market beginning. From there, it could very well continue. You complete quests in the real world, battle other players in parks against orcs or dragons, and improve your hero. This will likely not be limited to smartphones but eventually extend to Augmented Reality glasses if Google’s Glass should ever be released for the consumer market.
