The smartphone game has now been launched in more than 40 countries, including the U.S. and much of Europe, but Japan – where Nintendo Co started the mythical creature franchise 20 years ago – was kept waiting.
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Users began tweeting it was available Friday morning, and the Pokemon Co. and the developer of the augmented reality game, USA -based Niantic Inc., confirmed its launch shortly after.
However, that finally ended yesterday, as the game was made available online in Japan.
User reaction in Japan was ecstatic.
High-school student Mamiko Amaha, 16, was immersed in Pokemon Go with a group of girlfriends in Tokyo’s historic Asakusa district in search of Pokemon characters, as crowds of tourists strolled around.
Pokemon GO has finally launched in Japan – the place where the gaming and cartoon phenomenon was born.
“Since I really wanted to play, I’m very, very glad”.
“When we’re playing, we see Pokemon on our friend’s shoulder”, she added.
“Pokemon Go” users who play outside need to be mindful of the weather.
China – the world’s biggest smartphone gaming market – is still waiting for Pokemon GO to launch there.
It expanded into other media, most notably a wildly popular TV animation show and its popularity has never waned.
The videogame giant’s stock has more than doubled in the last couple of weeks with its market value soaring earlier this week to 4.5 trillion yen (US$42.5 billion), making it just more valuable than Japan Inc standard bearer Sony.
Players began tweeting about it as soon as it was available Friday morning, and the Pokemon Co. and the developer of the augmented reality game, USA -based Niantic Inc., confirmed its launch.
The NISC released a poster detailing nine “safety tips” for the game, which include the typical “don’t download fake apps” and “protect your personal information”, alongside the more unusual “don’t get shot” and “don’t play Pokemon Go in the middle of a tsunami”.
The Japanese government has urged people to be cautious following reports of overseas accidents involving Pokemon Go players.
Another potential pitfall could be Pokemon Go’s effect on workplace discipline.
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Hopefully the Japanese government’s instructions will cause people to be more vigilant when exploring the country on the hunt for Pokemon, but considering the major impact the game has already had on the region, they’re more than likely too busy playing Pokemon Go to actually spare the time to read the poster.
