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Pokémon GO is a free to play location-based augmented reality mobile game developed by Niantic in 2016.
Game[]
The game allows players to capture, battle and train Pokemon creatures, who appear throughout the real world. It is free-to-play , although it supports in-app purchases of additional gameplay items. To catch Pokemon, the player has to physically move around for a Pokemon to appear. When a Pokemon appears, the device will rumble along with the Pokedex jingling. The player has to tap the Pokemon on the screen to battle it. Unlike previous Pokemon games, the player does not have to battle the Pokemon to capture it. Instead, the player has to simply flick a Poke Ball at the Pokemon to capture it.
Update[]
Due to the large number of glitches in the game, Niantic revealed an update not long after the game got released. The update will fix any bugs or glitches in the game and improve the chance of encountering Pokemon. The update fixed the glitches and also introduced Generation II Pokémon
Reception[]
The game has received varied mixed reviews from critics. Many praised the game for its GPS compatibility, but panned the game for the high number of glitches in the game, and its vulnerability for the game to crash.
Despite such reviews, the game quickly became a global phenomenon, receiving up to 130 million downloads in all stores, making it the most downloaded game of all time. Many health clinics have praised the game as the game involves the player walking around to catch Pokemon, and so it makes the players be active. Some doctors have praised the game as it helped many people combat agoraphobia, which is the fear of leaving the house. The game is also praised for the GPS compatibility, as it encourages sightseeing. Also, religious leaders have praised the game for having many churches as PokeStops, as they think it reminds players to come and pray. Many shops, which are also PokeStops or Gyms have praised the game, saying that business have increased ever since the game got released.
Also, the game has been known to be a public nuisance in some places, such as locations being overcrowded of players, which can result in traffic jams and accidents. The game also received controversy for how players trespass onto private property to capture Pokemon. The game received controversy in Poland, as a large horde of Pokemon called Gastly was encountered in the former Nazi extermination camp, Auschwitz Concentration Camp. As Gastly is supposed to be made of gas, it received controversy as almost 1 million Jews were gassed to death in Auschwitz.
The game proved to be controversial for encountering Pokemon in very emotional and sensitive places like the concentration camps in Europe, the 9/11 Memorial in New York City and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. As a result, many authorities ban the game in these areas, which results in fines if broken.
Also, many injuries have occurred while playing Pokemon GO, such as repetitive strain injury or exhaustion. Many people have been hit by cars for not looking both ways on the road, and two people received critical injuries after falling off a cliff in California.