Description

Pokémon Go is a free-to-play, location-based augmented reality game developed by Niantic for Android and iOS devices. This game utilizes the Global Positioning System (GPS) of the mobile device for the player to navigate through the world. In this game, players are able to find, capture and battle with virtual creatures, called Pokémon. These Pokémon can be seen on the mobile screen as if they were located at the same location as the player in the real world. Items, such as pokéball (for capturing pokémons), can be obtained through in-app purchases or spinning something called the pokéstop.

Game Webpage

http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/

The Lens of the Elemental Tetrad

Aesthetics:

The main attraction of Pokémon Go is probably the Pokémon creatures themselves, as Pokémon models are replicated from the largely popular original Pokémon series. This effectively brings back the feelings of nostalgia as the original Pokémon series made up a large part of many youths’ childhoods. Moreover, the game has amazing graphics and most Pokémons look cute and appealing to the masses. This is further enhanced by the music and sound in the game when the player performs certain actions.

Technology:

Pokémon Go is among the first few games to use Augmented Reality to create a blend between the virtual and the real world, by superimposing an image generated by the computer onto the real world through the camera of a mobile device. The game also utilizes GPS, location services, and mapping technologies to further deliver a novel game mechanic to the players.

Mechanics:

This game brings out a whole new game mechanic to the players. To navigate the world in this game, players have to physically move around in the real world instead of pressing some buttons on the keyboard. In other words, players have to explore the real world around them to hunt for Pokémon, spin Pokéstops and battle gyms.

Story:

Pokémon Go does not really have a storyline. The game begins with Professor. Willow telling you to go and catch Pokémon all over the world, in order to aid his research, and that is the entire story this game has. The player then proceeds on an unending journey in pursuit of Pokémons. The reason to not really need the storyline lies within the novel game mechanic and the nostalgic feeling of Pokémons, which are the main alluring factors for players to play this game.

Combination:

All of these 4 elements combine and works towards a common goal – to bring a novel experience to players and encourage exploration of our real world. The success of Pokémon Go comes from the novel and interesting game mechanic it brings, and the feelings of nostalgia for some of the youths. Although I am in favour of this game design, I would still want the introduction of more game mechanics into this game as the novelty is starting to die off and more is required to keep this game alive.

The Lens of Cooperation

This game brings about plenty of opportunities for cooperation in one way or another. As players are required to go out to the real world to play the game, there is a great chance that players will meet one another in real life. Strangers can talk to each other because of this game as they can inform or guide one another to a rare Pokémon which they may have encountered. Moreover, players can work together in gym battles to take down a gym of an opposing team, and fighting together is a faster way of the attempt to take over a gym. All of these encourage collaboration and cooperation of the players. I am in favour of this game design as it can break the ice between strangers and even deepen the bonds of friends or families when they play the game together.

The Lens of Skill vs. Chance

The main part of Skill vs. Chance in Pokémon Go comes from the capturing of Pokémon. To capture a Pokémon, the player has to throw a ball at the Pokémon. This requires certain amounts of skills as different way of throwing and hitting the Pokémon generates different catch rates and bonuses, while the ability to capture the Pokémon or not comes down to chance. For example, players need to have some amount of skill in order to get a “Great Throw”, but getting this only equates to higher chance of Pokémon capture and not definite capture. Personally, I am in favour of this game design as beginners can benefit from the chance aspect when they get lucky, while not putting seasoned players at a disadvantage as they possess a higher chance of capturing the Pokémon, this is a nice balance to me.

The Lens of Surprise

There are plenty of surprises in store for players in Pokémon Go. Players will be pleasantly surprised when they just randomly walk into an encounter with a rare Pokémon, or when their Pokémon eggs hatched into a desired, rare or strong Pokémon, or even when one of the most dull and mundane Pokémon captures turns out to be a Ditto in disguise. (Note: Ditto is a Pokémon which will transform and disguise as another Pokémon). All of these pleasant surprises is a huge factor in enticing players to continue playing the game, and personally I enjoy them as well, thus I am in favour of this.

The Lens of Fun

The fun aspect of Pokémon Go comes from the capture or hatch of a new Pokémon, which you have never encountered before, or from the capture of a rare or strong Pokémon. However, once the player has finished capturing all available Pokémons, the fun factor will decrease significantly as what is left to do now is only capturing rare or strong Pokémons. Thus, I feel that more Pokémons (of later generations) should be introduced quicker in this game to bring the fun factor back. Moreover, I feel that the gym battles portion of the game needs to be more fun, as the current system only allows players to tap the screen repeatedly to unleash the Pokémon’s attacking moves and swipe the screen to dodge an incoming attack. I also feel that more game mechanics should be introduced in this game to bring the game back to where it used to be, and to make it more fun.