Pokémon Go has rapidly become a cultural phenomenon. I’ve never seen any sort of game – mobile or otherwise – become such a part of the zeitgeist this quickly, or this profoundly. Even though it’s yet to officially launch here in South Africa (and much of Europe), I’ve already seen grown adult human beings and children alike going outside for walks, looking for virtual creatures.
In some decidedly terrible times, it’s been a strangely positive, unifying experience – bringing people together to catch digital critters. While I played and enjoyed it for a bit, I’ve run out of Pokeballs, and the nearest Pokestops to me just aren’t near enough. I’m also not spending money on this, so my time with Pokémon Go is effectively over.
Am I an outlier though? Does Pokemon Go have the mettle – or feature set – to be more than just a passing fad? Do you think, months from now, people will still be walking outside trying to catch em all, or is this odd phenomenon just a fleeting, passing fad?
Last Updated: July 15, 2016
Ottokie
July 15, 2016 at 10:35
Yup
Dutch Matrix
July 15, 2016 at 10:36
Yes. Yes it is.
Umar
July 15, 2016 at 10:37
I don’t know how long it’s going to last to be honest. I never saw it getting this big and Nintendo could easily add new features that could make people go crazy all over again. That said, there is only so much pokemon to catch, and most people are only really familiar and attached to gen 1 pokemon. We’ll see, I hope it’s not a passing fad though.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 15, 2016 at 10:38
Absolutely
miaau
July 15, 2016 at 10:43
Like all crazes, it should last in one form or another for years to come, with ever decreasing usership. The real question, to my mind, is how fast the number of active users drops off. 3 months? 6 months?
The Order of the Banana
July 15, 2016 at 15:40
You mean, this could be like Evolve? hehehe too soon?
Ghost In The Rift
July 15, 2016 at 10:44
You can’t stop progress, whichever direction it goes lol
Original Heretic
July 15, 2016 at 10:44
I sincerely hope so.
Guild
July 15, 2016 at 10:48
Played for 5 days then got bored and deleted it
Pariah
July 15, 2016 at 10:56
I played for 0 days, got bored, and didn’t install it.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 15, 2016 at 10:58
Same
Guild
July 15, 2016 at 11:01
XD
The Order of the Banana
July 15, 2016 at 15:41
I played Pokemon on my first generation gameboy and then drank some tea
Viking Of Science
July 15, 2016 at 10:48
The Bigger question is, why is it not available locally yet (And NO, I don’t mean downloading an APK and sideloading, I’m talking about IN the actual Play store)
miaau
July 15, 2016 at 10:57
I know several people are playing it locally. Lady in my office has caught lots and lots, even drives a slightly different route to work to catch some.
So, you are saying app is not launched in SA BUT the game works here? Weird. (and I checked, only guides for download on PlayStore)
Viking Of Science
July 15, 2016 at 11:00
Yes, It’s Possible to side-load on android, but It’s not in the store yet.
And I Refuse to sideload because of security concerns.
miaau
July 15, 2016 at 11:02
A) side-load, new term, thanks
B) you are getting scarcer and scarcer
C) BUT why does it even work? Must be servers that decide where to put Pokeman and crap like that, so the company is supporting it in South Africa, while not actually releasing it
Viking Of Science
July 15, 2016 at 11:05
A) Yep, It’s a term used a lot when talking about Android Apps
B) shit man, Life, you know 😛
C) From what I’ve read, The App Uses Google Maps data and Algorithms to place pokemon (Just like Ingress, niantic’s previous game). So, Those features still work, Although you’re pinging to “the wrong” server.
miaau
July 15, 2016 at 11:08
B) shit man, Life, you know 😛
I work in new product development, with not enough resources, not enough time (every development teams problem!), and all that. I understand. I really.do.
And you are a Scientist. With a beard. So we can trust you. With a beard. See, I remember a comment you made on the site, to my wife, to help convince her to to buy my Civ: Beyond Earth.
Matthew Holliday
July 15, 2016 at 11:17
should probably mention his beard one more time.
miaau
July 15, 2016 at 11:22
thanks, I did.
hairyknees
July 15, 2016 at 10:48
Probably, but I love it 😀
hairyknees
July 15, 2016 at 10:49
I really hope they support it for long term though. Honestly been loving the experience!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 15, 2016 at 10:50
As long as people pay for their balls they will
hairyknees
July 15, 2016 at 10:51
I’ve got many 😛 I shall not pay! At least not until a wall that might require me to O_o
Matthew Holliday
July 15, 2016 at 11:11
got 2 pokestops like 100m from my house, seeing as i work from home, my lunch and coffee breaks are alot more proactive.
pokeballs for days
Kromas GG
July 15, 2016 at 10:51
Some people still have a tamagotchi but for the rest of us that was just a passing fad. Same with this game.
The Order of the Banana
July 15, 2016 at 15:42
Holy cow… imagine that… keeping a tamagotchi alive for the last 20 years.
Commander Bob
July 15, 2016 at 10:53
I hope so. I’d even consider praying to the Gods of Chaos to make it so.
miaau
July 15, 2016 at 10:55
why?
Commander Bob
July 15, 2016 at 11:16
I think it’s a silly idea and I don’t want to see other developers taking the same route. Doesn’t mean I’m wrong (or right) nor does it mean you are wrong (or right) for enjoying it. Just don’t like it 🙂
miaau
July 15, 2016 at 11:22
Oh, I think the idea is clever, but I will not spend my valuable time playing it, as I probably would not enjoy it either
Captain JJ off track
July 15, 2016 at 10:57
I don’t play it myself, because it doesn’t interested me. But that said, I don’t believe it’s a fleeting fad. Just like most games, the novelty just wears off over time. Doesn’t make it a fad, it just means that it doesn’t entertain you forever.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 15, 2016 at 10:59
So what if it is? As long as people are enjoying it, let them have their fun.
Captain JJ off track
July 15, 2016 at 11:03
^ this
Commander Bob
July 15, 2016 at 11:10
It’s all fun and games until someone hits a tree while driving.
Captain JJ off track
July 15, 2016 at 11:12
That’s being an asshat idiot. If you’re driving and doing this then I have no sympathy for you. It’s fine if you get hurt, but you’re putting other people’s lives in danger.
Ir0nseraph
July 15, 2016 at 11:15
Ok so the fun is over.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/07/14/pokemon-go-gamer-crashes-car-into-a-tree/
Commander Bob
July 15, 2016 at 11:18
Tree-kemon uses “jumped in front of me” attack. It’s super effective.
kieker
July 15, 2016 at 10:59
I haven’t played it yet, but from what I see, a few things need to happen: it has to launch, some people are sceptic about getting the apk, they would much rather just download the app from the play store and keep it updated from there. Wild pokemon should not be able to get caught straight away (except maybe zubat 🙂 ). Whittle away their health to ensure a sure catch. Trading, obviously(make trade evolutions possible as well) better mechanics to the fighting system, e.g. pp for moves (not sure if this is implemented yet) If this doesn’t work, they can always release gold/silver gen pokemon.
Matthew Holliday
July 15, 2016 at 11:13
pp is sorta implemented, kinda more like a cooldown like most other games, but since it only really affects gym battling, its a minority feature.
but definitely down for a more immersive fighting experience.
kieker
July 15, 2016 at 11:18
A cooldown makes sense, since most people wouldn’t be bothered with going to a pokestop to restock. Are players able to battle each other? Also, tm’s should also be available.
Matthew Holliday
July 15, 2016 at 11:21
only in gyms, and its still sorta PVE, you leave a pokemon at the gyms and they go to auto mode when the gym is attacked, no player vs player interaction yet. its your pokemon, but its not you playing.
Matthew Holliday
July 15, 2016 at 11:10
i dont see it becoming a lasting phenomenon like certain mobas have, but depending on how its handled post release, with new content etc, i could see it staying around for a while.
if trading becomes a thing, if PVP and battling becomes a thing, this game could become a real thing.
But if it stays as is, no, one can only throw so many pokeballs befor it gets old
DragonSpirit009
July 15, 2016 at 11:17
I think so yeah. But when seasons change will people then stop going out. I mean it sure stopped me going out in the cold but that’s just me. But if they keep adding stuff the will keep people interested then I believe people will play it for a long time.
Matthew Holliday
July 15, 2016 at 11:18
The rain and weather was sorta an obstacle yesterday / today, atleast the weather was glorious the first two days I was playing.
DragonSpirit009
July 15, 2016 at 11:21
I played over the weekend and it was sunny but then the wind started getting bad so I went home. I don’t need sand in my ears again!
HairyEwok
July 15, 2016 at 11:37
Now that you mention seasons, a really cool idea would be pokemon that can only be caught at certain seasons. There are pokemon that go into hibernation after all.
DragonSpirit009
July 15, 2016 at 11:47
Very true. It could either keep people interested in playing the game or the long wait could make them forget. It all depends on how willing people are.
HairyEwok
July 15, 2016 at 11:54
I should work for Nintendo’s Pokemon GO creative division, I’ll keep their game alive for them. Oh, it’s Holloween, amp up the ghost type pokemon and bring out the special shiny pokemon.
DragonSpirit009
July 15, 2016 at 13:13
Just make finding the shiny’s easy!
Dane
July 15, 2016 at 11:29
I think it will certainly pass out of mainstream when a large enough amount of players are too strong to combat for a casual player. It’s taken me a good dozen hours to get to level 10 and there are fewer and fewer gyms available to take over since the guarding Pokemon are just way too strong.
It ultimately depends on how the devs play it. If they keep updating the game with fresh features and non-level biased events, then maybe it will keep a solid player base. They could run it into the ground in such a way that 80% of players decide it’s not worth it anymore.
For me, it was simply the nostalgia. Having played the card game and gameboy color/advance installments in and around my 10s, the nostalgia and mere boom of this launch was enough to put it in my pocket. I still have all my original Pokemon cards in a box, sometimes I look through them and still get a warm fuzzy feeling.
HairyEwok
July 15, 2016 at 11:39
Wonder if somebody still have like a fully collected tazo book. That thing will sell for so much with the Pokemon boom now.
Kaihaku
July 16, 2016 at 04:34
I don’t know that most players are really all that interested in the competitive aspect of it. Most of the people I’ve run into are more interested in the collection aspect (unlike me, who dislikes collection and likes competitive battling) and who take a cooperative approach to collection (giving tips on where to get different Pokemon in the local area).
HairyEwok
July 15, 2016 at 11:30
They’ve already mobilized all the Pikachu. Just a matter of time until all hell breaks loose.
Deceased
July 15, 2016 at 11:52
It’s a fad – and I’m giving it a skip ( FOR THE WATCH!!!! )
Gavin Mannion
July 15, 2016 at 13:50
YOUR FACE IS A FAD… Pokemon Go 4 lyf
VampyreSquirrel
July 15, 2016 at 14:59
Depends on:
1. The features they release in future, and if they’ll release the other pokemon that SHOULD be on the app.
2. the area you work/live in, or how much traveling you do on a daily basis. I’m always moving around the city, so always pokemoning somewhere else and finding new stuff (or a kak load of pokestops).
The Order of the Banana
July 15, 2016 at 15:21
Yep, it’s a fad. Give it a month or two and the hipster scum will find something else to masturbate over.
Kaihaku
July 15, 2016 at 15:27
Yes and No. It won’t maintain the massive level of activity it has now but, judging from previous Pokemon titles, it will maintain a very respectable user base. Especially as new features like trading and later generations are added.
The Order of the Banana
July 15, 2016 at 15:43
This is how we’ll have world peace…. Daesh (ISIS) will stop being dicks because Nintendo will drop android phones (with Pokemon Go pre-installed) on Syria.
Sigh one can wish 🙁
http://d1ayctixdv89j1.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/peace.jpg
sagewisdom
July 15, 2016 at 18:03
It depends on the features they add. Most people only know about Battling and Trading but there’s more they can add to that. Since the Third Generation, Pokemon have been given personality types, and give each personality it’s own poses – which remain in your Pokedex. Suddenly, catching multiple ones is about finding all of the personalities as well. Then there’s gender differences added as well – a female Pikachu in the games for instance has a slightly different looking tail.
After that, there is clothing and accessories you can add to give your Pokemon their own flavor and looks. Allow players to take pictures with them and it will inspire the selfie generation. Let there be pattern adding and haircuts as well. Add in shinies.
Trading is simple but battles don’t have to be one-on-one. Double battles are a thing after all. Married couples, siblings, dating couples, parent and child, etc.? Being able to cooperate with friends and family or even random people in battles against actual trainers will be exciting glorious. Allow for six players against six players and you have a team.
Beyond battling, you have Pokemon contests that could be implemented – just have Pokeblocks be used to improve a Pokemon’s base category for contests – beauty, cute, tought, smart, cool – and have players make Pokeblocks. Hell, let players make Pokeblocks together. Create a Pokecenter where you can do it and maybe make it a hub for trading as well? A contest hall could be something that you leave your Pokemon there to compete with when a certain number reaches and hold contests once a week or month. Judge based on beauty stats of your Pokemon and there moves. Save a picture of the Pokemon that anyone clicking on the contest hall can look at and scroll through (accessorizing would become huge). Have tiers so that new contest winners aren’t competing against veterns.
And, of course, there’s the other six hundred Pokemon they can add. Pokemon has long lasting power if they add some of those features.
bluegoon
July 18, 2016 at 09:36
Lacks depth