Since 06.07.16 there is a new top app: Pokemon GO. There are already over 1 million app downloads, although the app is currently only available in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. Due to high server load, the launch of the app in Europe has been postponed.
What is Pokemon GO?
Pokemon (short for “Pocket Monster”) are fantasy creatures from a video game from 1996. Pokemon is now one of the most important franchises of the Japanese game manufacturer Nintendo. The aim of the game is to collect the different types of Pokemon and to become a “Pokemon Master” by competing against others in Pokemon battles.
Pokemon GO is an app from the Californian company Niantic, an internet start-up from Google.
This app combines augmented reality with location-based data (Location-based Gamification) in the Pokemon world. It’s a kind of digital scavenger hunt. The game directs players to certain places, so-called “Poke Stops”, to collect certain things. In addition, the player can “catch” Pokemons, which are virtually displayed in the live image.
We were able to download the game via detours and tested it live ourselves.
Here are a few impressions:
CONCLUSION
The game is fun because of the interaction on the smartphone and the connection to the real world. However, there is a high battery and data volume consumption. In addition, everyone should be aware that by releasing the location, further data is also disclosed.