Those that might be unaware of what Pokemon GO actually is, it’s a new game from the makers of Ingress.
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By now, news of Pokemon Go players falling off cliffs, getting robbed, and crashing into police cars has reached the other side of the world, and Japan knows its own citizens are not immune to these kinds of mishaps.
It’s likely that if Niantic’s sponsored location system is successful – and it probably will be – we’ll see a similar sponsorship deal in other regions Pokemon Go is available in, possibly even with McDonalds.
There are certain applications – they are not games – that are able to drive traffic to restaurants, or to drive traffic to tourist spots that are not as popular as in Tokyo, for example. The release also coincided with the start of school summer holidays in Japan.
The Tokyo Skytree tower, on the other hand, employed a more moderate stance and simply asked gamers to play with caution as its enormous structure is a “gym” where players can fight with Pokemons, attracting more footfall. Aside from being the birthplace of Pokémon Go’s virtual monsters, Japan is also the second country in Asia to launch the game.
The game has been an unexpected, runaway success from Spain to Australia, doubling Nintendo’s value since the game’s launch in the United States earlier this month.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority revealed that it issued a notice to electricity companies and relevant organizations about enforcing security to prevent “Pokemon Go” users from entering their facilities, including nuclear power plants. Sales of its most recent game console, the Wii U, disappointed in the face of fierce competition from Microsoft Xbox One and Sony PlayStation 4.
McDonald’s Japan and Pokemon Company, meanwhile, officially announced a collaboration whereby the fast food chain’s outlets will be key locations – gyms and PokeStops – for Pokemon Go players. Niantic Chief Executive John Hanke has said it would be technically possible to launch there, but noted a host of complex rules and restrictions.
Pokemon GO is now available in select regions for Android and iOS devices.
Shares in McDonald’s have been boosted by rumors of the collaboration.
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Another tip is to keep an eye of the weather, so you don’t get caught in a storm while you play.
