There's a new game in town... Pokemon Go! I'm sure you have heard of it. It's been in the news for many reasons. Mostly because people are so crazy about playing it that they become a hazard to themselves or others around them.
I downloaded the game on my iPhone 6 one week ago today. While a tell myself I am not a "gamer," I think I actually AM a "gamer" because I'm quickly becoming addicted to this Pokemon game!
I spent some time trying to figure out what it is that actually appeals to me. It's not nostalgia of the Pokemon characters. The Pokemon card game and television series came out when my son was in grade school and I never understood it's appeal.
I believe it's the augmented reality. Walking around with my phone in my hand looking at the colorful map with green and pink floating things, blue poke-stops, and the beautiful tall gyms are just fascinating! Game world meets real world. Suddenly there is more to do when I walk the quad of the university than simply admire the manicured lawn and trees. Now I watch for Pokemon.
I get excited when all at once a Pokemon character appears. I turned off the AR since I'm not very good at throwing poke balls and I read somewhere that turning it off makes the characters more stable. Fortunately there are numerous help guides online that have helped me learn a little strategy... and what to do with all the Rattatas and Pidgeys I keep getting!
Have I walked out in the middle of the street to catch a Pokemon? No! At this point, I play it when it's convenient. Although I'll admit that since I wasn't in a rush to get home yesterday, I drove an extra block to a park in hopes of finding more Pokemon! I didn't get out and walk around; just parked in the parking lot and scanned the area. Not much activity so I headed home.
So far I have transferred some of the Pokemon to the Professor to gain candy to make the Pokemon evolve. That's pretty much the extent of my playing activity. Now that I have advanced to Level 5, I can train my Pokemon in a gym. Seriously... I have no idea how to do that! But when my 23 year old son visits next month, I'm getting lessons.
Bottom line - Pokemon Go is interactive, engaging, has NO stressful elements (at least at this point of my experience), is graphically appealing, is challenging, but the challenges progress as you advance in the game, gives rewards, and somewhere I believe there is a storyline, although I have not identified it.
I don't know who long this game will hold my attention but for now, I'm having fun. And that's what playing games is all about!
I downloaded the game on my iPhone 6 one week ago today. While a tell myself I am not a "gamer," I think I actually AM a "gamer" because I'm quickly becoming addicted to this Pokemon game!
I spent some time trying to figure out what it is that actually appeals to me. It's not nostalgia of the Pokemon characters. The Pokemon card game and television series came out when my son was in grade school and I never understood it's appeal.
I believe it's the augmented reality. Walking around with my phone in my hand looking at the colorful map with green and pink floating things, blue poke-stops, and the beautiful tall gyms are just fascinating! Game world meets real world. Suddenly there is more to do when I walk the quad of the university than simply admire the manicured lawn and trees. Now I watch for Pokemon.
I get excited when all at once a Pokemon character appears. I turned off the AR since I'm not very good at throwing poke balls and I read somewhere that turning it off makes the characters more stable. Fortunately there are numerous help guides online that have helped me learn a little strategy... and what to do with all the Rattatas and Pidgeys I keep getting!
Have I walked out in the middle of the street to catch a Pokemon? No! At this point, I play it when it's convenient. Although I'll admit that since I wasn't in a rush to get home yesterday, I drove an extra block to a park in hopes of finding more Pokemon! I didn't get out and walk around; just parked in the parking lot and scanned the area. Not much activity so I headed home.
So far I have transferred some of the Pokemon to the Professor to gain candy to make the Pokemon evolve. That's pretty much the extent of my playing activity. Now that I have advanced to Level 5, I can train my Pokemon in a gym. Seriously... I have no idea how to do that! But when my 23 year old son visits next month, I'm getting lessons.
Bottom line - Pokemon Go is interactive, engaging, has NO stressful elements (at least at this point of my experience), is graphically appealing, is challenging, but the challenges progress as you advance in the game, gives rewards, and somewhere I believe there is a storyline, although I have not identified it.
I don't know who long this game will hold my attention but for now, I'm having fun. And that's what playing games is all about!
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