As such, Pokemon Go has the potential to out-market the likes of Snapchat, where brands like Gatorade and Taco Bell have persuaded users to take photos of themselves through “lenses” of animated coolers and tacos hundreds of millions of times.
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This week the folks at Niantic have updated Pokemon GO with several new features that’ll affect gameplay.
They’ll be similar to something you may have seen in another AR game, Ingress. Only the enthusiastic bunch will go on to capture every species Pokemon available. Pokemon Go has taken over Tinder in terms of the number of downloads. In the USA, where it is extremely popular, some people have injured themselves in pursuit of the monsters, falling or getting distracted while driving. Pokestops are already proving to be a huge draw in some areas, though it’s not always a welcome one (…police stations, Holocaust museum, etc.). And now, Pokemon Go has surpassed porn as the most searched term on Google.
“Sometimes waiting is the best thing to make sure you’re getting the legitimate app”.
It’s the latest game in Nintendo’s long-running series where players catch colourful creatures called Pokemon and train them to spar with other players.
Players search for Pokemon creatures and must move around to find more, using Global Positioning System location their phones.
For those of us who aren’t in the know, Pokestops are where gamers can go to stock up on Pokeballs and other useful Pokegadgets.
Android users can still download the installation files unofficially from third-party websites and install the game on their phones, although cybersecurity experts warn that doing so from unauthorised websites runs the risk of exposing them to malware. Master strokes such as the Amiibo line of figures and connected games have helped them stay relevant, but it’s not enough, and in the face of the PS4 and the Xbox One, the Wii U has been laughed at and ridiculed.
These are the craziest places, stories and images from the first few weeks of Pokemon GO. “I imagine after the success of Pokemon Go that is all going to change”, said Mac.
It’s fun and shows how augmented reality can be compelling, even on a small smartphone screen.
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Still, some investors see reasons for Nintendo’s run-up to continue.
