Pokémon GO — The Game, the Sport, the Therapy?

Pokémon GO (aka PoGo) is the first major hit that requires mobile gamers to explore their physical world. This happens through augmented reality. Superimposed on a flattened version of Google Maps are the Pokéstops and Pokégyms. To interact with them, a player must be within 10 meters. PoGo uses the GPS location on a smartphone to unlock these game elements. As such, PoGo has health, safety and fitness implications for parents, lawmakers, even therapists.

The uncompetitive sport

PoGo also puts players in teams that work together and fight for control over Pokégyms. Like PoGo, mass multi-player online games have existed for over a decade. But PoGo is the first mass multi-player offline game. Players physically meet and play together. They will share the cost of lures, rejoice when a fellow wannabe Master encounters a rare Pokémon, and fight together to defend a gym for their team. The physical aspects of hunting Pokémon and the Capture-the-flag-esque nature of gym defending is more characteristic of a sport than a game. However, the team aspects of groups finding Pokémon together,, and the fact that Pokémon never die in battle, make PoGo much less competitive, and much more cooperative than other sports.

Health hazard, health benefit or therapy?

Pokémon teaches coopetition — achieving personal success in a competitive environment through cooperation. It is a virtual reflection of the social construct that empowers the evolutionary success of our species. A mobile game seems unworthy of such a lofty anthropological comparison, but PoGo is already making waves in some scientific communities. Twitter is ablaze with confessions that Pokémon GO has ameliorated depression and anxiety. Dr. John Grohol, an expert on the interaction of technology and human behaviour has “never seen anything like it.” Dr Manissha Sharma, a general practitioner was skeptical at first, until her own son, “left the FIFA on the xbox to run out after two rare Pokémon, and came back panting 15 minutes later.” Twitter confessions abound also, showing how PoGo is making a big difference in people’s lives:

In an increasingly e-commerce, e-experience, e-social world, PoGo is an Ant-e-dote

Pokémon GO is turning out to be a phenomenon in human behavior. Our internal analysis suggests the game will touch a whopping 100 million downloads in the first month; not surprising, there are incidences where hordes of people show up in areas rich with Pokéstops. This has led to a law and order scare. Police warnings, shooting attempts, thefts are all elements of the developing Pokemon GO story. PoGo players get out of the house, so they can be lured out. They also have to look at their phone and will inadvertently have a lower awareness of their (often unfamiliar) surroundings. This can cause car crashes, walking into poles and even muggings. Hence, a very real public concern.

Lawmakers will have to tackle very real social, health and law and order implications arising from PoGo. Adding additional complexity, PoGo is apparently a boon for main street; it gets people out and about. And that’s good news for city centers and retail shopping. L’inizio Pizza Bar in New York claimed a sales increase of 75% over the first weekend because of activating a “lure module”. In an increasingly e-commerce, e-experience, e-social world, PoGo is an Ant-E-dote.

But perhaps the most poignant aspect of the Pokémon phenomenon stems from its explosive all-consuming nature. No sphere of social discourse, from health, to social sciences to politics or religion has been spared from the onslaught of Pikachu’s kind. PoGo has reached the White House briefing room, been used as a weapon in the struggle for LGBTQ equality, and even caught a cheating boyfriend. It is no wonder that CNN said, “Pokémon GO consumes everything … even politics.”

A Guide to Pokémon GO For Non-Millennials

Having to de-mystify the biggest mobile game in history sounds absurd, and yet there has never been a phenomenon since Snapchat that so clearly demarcates generations. At nearly 100 million downloads, Pokémon GO (aka PoGo) needs no introduction; but for millions of non-millennials, Read More..