In summer 2016, Pokémon GO was released and immediately caused a huge hype. Our editor Alexander Leitsch couldn’t escape it either. However, after a short time, his interest waned. Due to his work at MeinMMO, he returned to Pokémon GO and has particularly enjoyed it in recent months.
My past with Pokémon GO: I’ve actually been accompanied by Pokémon since my childhood. I played the Red, Blue, Yellow, Silver, and Gold editions multiple times and even collected almost all 151 or 251 Pokémon from that time – only Mew is still missing from my collection. The Game Boy Colour and I were good friends; I still have the trading cards from back then.
But with age and new handhelds, our paths parted for many years, until Pokémon GO was released as an app for smartphones in 2016. I couldn’t resist the hype and, like almost all the younger people I know, went hunting for the cute monsters.
My highlight came in August when I made the beach of Kijkduin unsafe with hundreds of Dutch people. There was free Wi-Fi everywhere, several PokéStops next to each other, plenty of seating, and modules running continuously. I can still hear the outcry proclaiming a Gyarados was found right at the water today. Everyone, without exception, suddenly stormed down.
At that time, I also spoke with many gamers in a funny mix of German, Dutch, and English. For those who want a glimpse into those experiences, you can find them captured in a video on YouTube:
What happened next? With the autumn/winter season, my interest in the game faded. There were missing features and tasks, and at home, then still in Neuss, the community was much smaller and less interesting than in Holland. At the beginning of 2017, I got a new smartphone, and Pokémon GO had no place on it.
This changed again only at the end of 2019, with my permanent position at MeinMMO. Through our author Noah Struthoff and the many articles I was able to read and correct, my interest in the game grew.
And now, in the summer of 2020, I am experiencing something like a second spring with the game.
Collecting Fever and the GO Fest as a Highlight
What fascinates me about Pokémon GO right now? Actually, I am an MMORPG fan when it comes to video games. I like:
- the vast game worlds
- the seemingly endless number of tasks
- collecting equipment, pets, or mounts
- the sociability with other players
Much of this can surprisingly be transferred to Pokémon GO, especially the vast worlds (in this case, the RL) and the collecting of monsters. Once you get caught in the whirlpool, you just want to catch all Pokémon. It was already like that in my childhood.
Pokémon GO, on the other hand, is currently a welcome change for him.
What I underestimated for a long time, however, was the sociability. I only discovered that in December by making my first friendships via the app, exchanging gifts and Pokémon, and even finding friends in real life with whom I can go out hunting.
I still benefit a bit from the Corona adjustments, which have accompanied me for more than half of my entire playtime, including:
- Longer incense
- Eggs hatch twice as fast
- More Pokémon
- A greater range at PokéStops and arenas
These led to me being able to catch many Pokémon and to spin a stop from my apartment without leaving the house.
But the real highlight that increased my love for the game was when I experienced the GO Fest 2020.
Why was the GO Fest so wonderful for me? At the GO Fest, I again experienced that feeling I had in 2016 in Holland. I met a group of players in the city center, at a place with many PokéStops and an arena, who were sitting together, battling Team GO Rocket, exchanging and laughing.
And I joined them.
Although there was a slight distance and some discomfort due to Corona, we had fun together and even went for ice cream. Just like that. With complete strangers.
During the afternoon, the group dispersed, but you kept encountering people with smartphones in their hands, of whom you just knew were also on the hunt for Pokémon.
You nodded to each other, smiled, and even had conversations with a few. For me, it was essentially something like a real MMO, only I wasn’t wearing any cool armor. That, however, did not apply to the people I met.
Some individuals even used the event for cosplays and looked like Ash or Misty. I even came across a Pikachu.
Another highlight for me was the rewards. I found plenty of new entries in the PokéDex, finally encountered the legendary flying Pokémon Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, and also found 12 Shinies.
While I completely understand our editor Noah Struthoff when he says that he wasn’t so enthusiastic about the GO Fest, for me it was the best experience I’ve had with the series so far.
A return with obstacles
I was not the only editor at MeinMMO who got caught up in the Pokémon GO fever of the editorial team. Philipp Hansen, who is primarily responsible for Destiny 2 at our place, also reinstalled the app.
However, he faced some obstacles, as he shares in an experience report:
This is what my return looked like: Early Saturday morning, Pokémon mania broke out in the MeinMMO editorial team – the GO Fest was to blame. Somehow all of that spilled over to me. Just like our editor Alexander Leitsch, my phone was Pokémon-free for years. That was supposed to change, but my old profile just wouldn’t reactivate.
I spent almost an hour trying to lure my old self onto my new smartphone. Ultimately, I had to create a new account and log out of it to finally have the option to log in correctly via Google Play (of course, I also had to have a new password sent to me).
When I finally got started, it felt like rummaging through long-locked attics for memories. “Ahh, this Vaporeon named Rainer rings a bell!” A warm feeling of familiarity spread.
What surprised me about PoGO: Not only was my account from 2016, but my knowledge about PoGO also came from the past. Barely started, I was overwhelmed: The friendly professor bombarded me with quests and information.
Field research, raids, a buddy that I should feed with berries, and Team Rocket grunts wanted to fight – all new and somehow overwhelming for me.
But after the first breathless excitement and, as a good editor should, I did some research, I had a lot of fun. Because now I had clear goals in mind.
The highlights of my first weekend were:
- A Rocket balloon was patrolling over my house – they should have thought twice about invading my airspace.
- I got my first Shiny – a golden Magikarp that will soon become an angry Gyarados.
- I soloed a raid – The enemy was a Meditite, a little guy who still wears diapers and was far too weak.
- Now I am the proud owner of a flying robot crab: Metagross – which is now my buddy and already has 15 kilometers under its belt.
I had a lot of fun at this PoGo weekend, only my sore calves have complained since then.
Is starting or returning to Pokémon GO worth it?
With Pokémon GO, a love of mine and Philipp’s childhood (Pokémon) has paired with a love of mine in the present (MMORPGs) and at least gave me a wonderful moment that I will probably often remember.
With now 5 generations, numerous Shinies, quests in the form of field research, PvP leagues, and raids, Pokémon GO currently offers plenty of content that is truly worthwhile for newcomers and returnees.
In my opinion, the game is most enjoyable when you have a few friends around to go hunting together. Of course, you should also have a good connection to Pokémon and the collecting aspect.
If you now want to catch the Pokémon hype too, you are in good time for a (re)return. After all, soon 3 bonus weeks with many rewards will take place that we earned at the GO Fest.
