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What the heck is Pokémon Go - and why is it so popular?

To think it all started out as an April Fools’ joke.

IF YOU HAVE been paying attention to the internet this weekend, chances are you have seen at least one mention of Pokémon Go.

For those confused, Pokémon Go is a free app that has taken the internet by storm. It only had a limited release – launching in Australia first on Wednesday before hitting the US on Thursday – but it has exploded in popularity.

It’s been so popular that it comes close to surpassing Twitter in daily active users, and Nintendo’s value has increased by $6 billion because of it.

While it’s not officially available here yet, Android users can download the APK files to play the game now (be very careful about where you download it from), but if you’re confused as to why people are going mad about Pokémon Go, you’re not alone.

pikachu-march-2 mooming013 / YouTube mooming013 / YouTube / YouTube

So what exactly is Pokémon Go?

Pokémon – short for pocket monsters – is a popular videogame series from Japan which lets you capture and train monsters so you can battle them against other players.

Twenty years after the originals were released, Pokémon Go, a free app which places a particular focus on exploration, makes its debut. The original aim, to catch them all, is still the main focus here.

It’s worth mentioning how Pokémon Go started out as an April Fools’ joke back in 2014. The end product might look different but the love for the idea – 18 million views and 122,000 upvotes for one YouTube video – was enough to convince Nintendo and Niantic Labs that it was worth exploring.

Pokémon Go is split up into two main parts. The first part is the actual exploring – a key part of the entire series – as it uses your location to track where you are.

2Q==

Looking at the map, you will see that around you are numerous Pokéstops (real-life areas of interest like statues, monuments and graffiti that you can visit to get items) and Gyms (where you battle against other players) which you must physically walk to. 

There is a lot of walking involved here – this is as much a fitness app as it is a gaming app so bring your walking shoes.

The first part of the game is to find Pokémon. It’s like a hot and cold treasure hunt – monsters don’t appear on your map until you’re close to them. When one pops up on your map, you tap on it to start catching it.

The game switches you to an augmented reality mini-game where the monster appears in front of you through your camera.

Wartortle 1

Part of the fun of the series is the tension involved in catching a monster. A monster like Pidgey is common and easy to catch but a rare monster like the Wartortle above will require more effort to catch.

Catching the same monsters repeatedly is the only way you can evolve them. This is essential if you want to fight other players and take over gyms.

So who is behind it?

The company behind Pokémon Go is Niantic Labs which has a lot of experience in location-based apps and services. Its founder John Hanke originally founded Keyhole, which created Google Earth, and Niantic Labs was spun out of Google itself.

It already has a similar app out called Ingress, which follows the same template as Pokémon Go but with a sci-fi backdrop.

It has a core group of players and regularly holds gatherings where the two main teams can play against each other – Dublin recently played host to one last month – but isn’t near the level of popularity as Pokémon Go.

PKMN Go map

Why the hell did it explode in popularity?

That can be tied into the very concept of Pokémon itself. The game has always been about exploration – travelling through fields, towns, mountains and other areas in search of rare Pokémon to catch – and Pokémon Go gets people out and about.

The opportunity to do some real-world exploring makes it appealing to many fans.

It’s also worth considering just how beloved the series is as a whole. Pokémon may have started out on the Game Boy but it became one of Nintendo’s strongest franchises.

People walking around glued to their screens searching for Pokémon. That’s a recipe for disaster, isn’t it?

Compared to people being glued to their phones for texts/social media/YouTube etc, eh?

As with anything popular, there have been positive and negative stories surrounding the game since its launch.

One incident in the US saw robbers use the app to lure players to them but were arrested, another saw a player discover a dead body while searching for a Pokéstop, one man saw his home marked as a Gym which led to numerous players visiting the area. (Although some of the other ‘viral’ stories have proven to be hoaxes).

Yet at the same time, there have been numerous heartwarming stories. Some players who are suffering from depression and anxiety have claimed the app has encouraged them to leave the house, some players have said the app has encouraged them to be more active, and others have made friends through it.

It’s early days but the more popular something is, the more likely stories like the ones above will appear. Granted, you do need to be careful about where you’re going and standing but the game only requires you to be within a certain radius of a monster or landmark.

But it’s going to be a fad, right?

It might be. Bloomberg referred back to Nintendo’s last massive success, the Wii, was very popular initially but the novelty wore off.

The popularity has put pressure on the Pokémon Go servers and while the game is solid, it might not keep people for the long-term.

Niantic says it will be introducing more features over time, like trading, but for now, it still has to roll out the game to the rest of the world.

The worst part is just how much it drains your battery. The game is very demanding on your phone – it’s using your GPS, your camera and your CPU to show the Pokémon in front of you – and it doesn’t work in the background.

wartortle 2

But Pokémon Go has potential as a game and also as a way of creating new communities.

It needs some fine-tuning but if it develops a strong social element, where people get together with teams and team up to fight/defend gyms, that will give it an edge.

Familiarity may encourage people to download it, but new friends could be the reason why they’ll keep playing it.

Read: It’s now 20 years since this title made the Game Boy a must-have item again >

Read: Finding it hard to fall asleep? These apps can help you out >

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53 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dymps
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:37 PM

    Woke up early Sunday morning to realize our eighteen year old son was not in bed, this guy loves sleeping at the weekend…messaged my hubby playing golf assuming he must have decided to join him. No, but hitched a lift into town with him at 8am! He’s hardly catching mass? He professed his secular atheist tendencies as far back as second year, surely not. His reply to my text was very casual ‘fine mam, just taking a stroll around town for some exercise’. The chap clocked up 15km by the time he walked home, he was wrecked and heading straight for the shower, he confessed he was trying to catch Pokemon on a new app. …Mmm is their an app out there to get my teenage daughters to tidy and clean surfaces so well that a Pokemon appears for the reward, please get on to it Nintendo, I know one mammy who would be forever grateful

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    Mute Ariana
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:02 PM

    All I want to know is when is it coming to the Irish App Store.

    213
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    Mute Shaun Wright
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:07 PM

    You can google it pokemongo.apk

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    Mute Gary Guilfoyle
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:09 PM

    You can get it. Google “pokemon go Ireland” and there is an irishtimes/independent article that links to it. I have it…for the kids…

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    Mute Ashley Fry
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:12 PM

    Its actually been delayed further due to how popular it has actually been where it is already available! The servers cannot handle it and while they expected it to be very popular it has exceeded expectations and UK and IRE release will suffer!! Unless you have android then you can get the .apk!

    41
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    Mute Leo
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:37 PM

    You can download it from the New Zealand Apple store. Just need to create a new(fake) apple ID with an address in New Zealand…

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    Mute Goku
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:15 PM
    23
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    Mute Nazrie
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:51 PM

    +1. Downloaded here and now playing it fine. Love this game

    8
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    Mute Ian McNally
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:54 PM

    Just create a dummy US or AU itunes account and download it using that, you won’t have access to the micro transactions until its officially released here but you can play the game easily without them anyway

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    Mute David Thomas
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    Jul 11th 2016, 4:49 PM

    The last bit on your link look like it says poke mongo

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    Mute CeeBee Barker
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    Jul 11th 2016, 6:05 PM

    Thanks for the link but my son is afraid to download it cos he says its like pirating the game and he’s afraid of getting banned. He wouldn’t normally be that conscientious so this must be a really big deal. Anyone know if this is true?

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    Mute Chris Cantwell
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    Jul 11th 2016, 6:50 PM

    I’ve only heard/seen rumours, but I’ve heard/seen nobody getting banned anyway.

    2
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    Mute Caoimhe Clery
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    Jul 12th 2016, 10:42 AM

    Deadly. My son thanks you Goku :)

    1
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    Mute Will Phillips
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:01 PM

    Doctor: Are you sexually active right now?

    Patient: Well I play Pokemon Go.

    Doctor: A simple ‘no’ would have sufficed.

    152
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    Mute Old Gabby Johnson
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:16 PM

    Generation snowflake, generation outrage have found their own game. I long for the days of Double Dragon in an arcade.. now that’s some good gamin’.

    19
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    Mute Harry
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:33 PM

    Fu€kin hell gabby any chance to take a pot shot at the young uns

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    Mute Myk_Oval_Balls_nRyt
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    Jul 11th 2016, 3:32 PM

    youre fierce angry gabby

    11
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    Mute Chris Cantwell
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:24 PM

    Can’t wait to get it !!! 15 years I’ve been dreaming for something like this !!!!

    92
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    Mute Will Phillips
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:33 PM

    Why?

    17
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    Mute Chris Cantwell
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:35 PM

    Why not……?

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    Mute meatyslaps
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:06 PM

    Because he wants to be the best like no-one ever was. To catch them is his real test, and to train them is his cause.

    189
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    Mute Will Phillips
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:17 PM

    Again…..why?

    11
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    Mute Chris Cantwell
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:36 PM

    I will travel across the land, searching far and wide, each Pokemon to understand, I’m gonna catch them ALL.

    128
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    Mute Will Phillips
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:43 PM

    ………………why?

    8
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    Mute Uncle Denise
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:46 PM

    I cannot wait to catch magikarp and work my way to world champion using splash because it’s super effective

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    Mute meatyslaps
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:54 PM

    I know its his destiny!

    33
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    Mute Chris Cantwell
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    Jul 11th 2016, 3:09 PM

    You teach me and I’ll teach you…..

    29
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    Mute Gerard Ryan
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:20 PM

    Christ I reckon my cr@p battery would last around 7 mins with this game

    60
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    Mute Ian Begley
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:52 PM

    My other half downloaded it and it took us about 30 minutes to walk down Grafton Street

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    Mute The Guru
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:39 PM

    Found a Bulbasaur in my jacks earlier! I’m in Sydney and I went for a walk in the mountains the other day and every second person was out looking for Pokemon! Good that it’s getting people active but they’re glued to the screens. Only a matter of time before the first death.

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    Mute Will Phillips
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:48 PM

    What’s a Bulbasaur?

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    Mute james
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:00 PM

    Read the article still none the wiser.

    52
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    Mute Elma Phudd
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:02 PM

    Basically more people walking around glued to screens. End result – further increased insurance premiums. Sorry, it’s Monday.

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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:59 PM

    Might go down… It’s getting a whole subset of the population that seldom leave their bedrooms to actually exercise…

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    Mute Cian Martin
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    Jul 11th 2016, 3:09 PM

    It’s only a bit of craic. No different than playing the playstation or xbox. Anything that turns exercise into a game and gets people off the couch is a great thing.

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    Mute Eoin Fitzpatrick
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    Jul 11th 2016, 3:57 PM

    I’ve been staring at that Pikachu gif for 4 hours now

    19
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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Jul 11th 2016, 3:00 PM

    I keep seeing screenshots of little critters with titles like… I’m so happy I found X, my life is complete.

    I feel for these people, I really do.

    14
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    Mute Pat D'Arcy
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    Jul 11th 2016, 4:26 PM

    Exercise with a dash of nostalgia… why do you feel for us? Went for a run this morning, ended up catching a Charmander, it’s more incentive for me to keep fit than that Nike Run app I never use.

    24
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    Mute Ms. Shannon Napier
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    Jul 11th 2016, 5:45 PM

    I’ve walked 20km out of choice since Saturday. I used to only walk roughly 2.5km down to the shop and back a day. Now I’m walking roughly 7km a day.
    Don’t feel for me. I’m being active. I’m getting more fresh air. I feel the wonder I used to feel as a child. It’s great.

    21
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    Mute Rochelle
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    Jul 11th 2016, 2:14 PM

    Sounds great, can’t wait for it to come over here!

    13
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    Mute Ossi Fritsche
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:53 PM

    If anyone plays ingress, based on that.

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    Mute Richard Cantwell
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    Jul 11th 2016, 4:43 PM

    All of the gyms and pokestops were imported from Ingress, where they’re called ‘Portals’.

    It’s early days yet, but the current gameplay in Pokemon Go seems a bit limited when compared to Ingress. The article mentions real-world gatherings of Ingess players and that Dublin hosted one last month – I was one of the organisers of that, and we had about 700 players from across Europe in town for the day to play Ingress on the streets of the city centre. Great craic.

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    Mute Paul Cunningham
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    Jul 11th 2016, 6:45 PM

    I missed out on the anomaly last month, phone has its GPS broken, but I do enjoy the drinks and wings meet ups in town when I have time out. I can only assume group meeting for Go’s various factions will inevitably happen soon as well.

    I haven’t actually played Go myself, but if it is a simplified version of Ingress, then maybe Ingress will see a new wave of players after a more challenging, yet similar experience.

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    Mute Lily
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:11 PM

    Sounds very like ingress.

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    Mute Gavin
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    Jul 11th 2016, 1:31 PM

    Its actually from the same dev team as ingress.

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    Mute Lily
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    Jul 11th 2016, 5:43 PM

    No wonder. Say they could have used a lot of the same code and made minor alterations.

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    Mute Unmaking you
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    Jul 11th 2016, 9:08 PM

    How do you get Pikachu into a bus?
    Pokemon.

    10
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    Mute Seany McDonagh
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    Jul 11th 2016, 8:39 PM

    Got it for a gander . Haven’t a clue what I’m supposed to do with the things I catch but sure feck it. Made the walk to the pub and back a bit less boring

    9
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    Mute Paul Cunningham
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    Jul 11th 2016, 6:41 PM

    Speaking as an Ingress player, I was surprised and a bit jealous at the sheer popularity of what is essentially the same game, but with the Pokemon licence put on. Everyone unaware of Go’s spiritual predecessor are claiming it is the second coming of gaming while small groups like the one in town had been doing the same thing for a while. I must be a hipster, because I was playing ARG’s before it was cool :P

    Still, I hope it gets more folks to explore augmented reality games on smartphones and shows not all games turn people into couch potatoes. It can only be a good thing so long as they keep an eye on their surroundings while walking about. Happy hunting!

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    Mute Dave Smith
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    Jul 11th 2016, 3:14 PM

    my kids were telling me about this last week and something about some of them being on the ocean and that people are going to the bother of hunting them down

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