When I installed Pokémon Go in July 2016 to check out what the hype was about, I didn't know anything about Pokémon other than the face of Pikachu. I thought Pikachu was Pokémon.
As I started to play the game, I became quite intrigued - by being able to find Pokémon in my (virtually) real world, in places others couldn't see. That I could collect different mon and evolve them to higher forms. It satiated the collector instinct in me - something I've had since early childhood (collecting stamps, coins, bus tickets, toffee wrappers, soft drink crown caps, matchbox labels, bubblegum stickers, tazos, and many more). I found it super convenient that, unlike my other collections, I didn't have to worry about where to store them or fear damage or erosion to physical collectibles.
I've always been a walker, and loved that I was being rewarded (in ways I could immediately see on screen) for walking. This game allows you to 'hatch' eggs upon walking a certain distance (2 km/5 km/10 km for different mon)
I shunned the battling aspect of the game for long because I've never fancied fighting/battling in any game. When I tried it, though, and realised it was earning me virtual currency that I could then use to but in-game stuff, I took an instant liking to it. It helped greatly that I didn't suck at it, but again, the game is so designed that it's pretty hard to suck at.
I have so many fun memories (and a few not so fun ones) now - of catching trams/trains, running like crazy on streets/alleyways - to reach spawns in time (available Pokémon show up on maps along with a timer of how much longer they will be available); of walking for hours in nests (areas where specific Pokémon spawn in large numbers); of playing in the rain holding an umbrella in one hand (because that was the only time I had that day to play the game); of coordinating with a group of other players to defeat raid bosses (these are powerful Pokémon that require multiple players to gather at a point, team up and battle against); of hatching rare or perfect (some Pokémon have better battle statistics than others) Pokémon from eggs; and so on.
I don't know how much longer I will play this game (the game makers predict this will be a "twenty year franchise") or rather how much longer my life circumstances will allow me to play this game at a 'competent' (actually a big word for a game as simple as this) level. Regardless, it will always have a special place in my heart for bringing simple yet sheer joy to me!
This ended up being some sort of summary post - but there is so much more I'd like to talk about the game every day. Finding some players in my neighbourhood to talk to has been nice (and sharing in Facebook forums is alright), but it'd be so awesome if I could compare daily notes with someone as crazy about the game as I am.
As I started to play the game, I became quite intrigued - by being able to find Pokémon in my (virtually) real world, in places others couldn't see. That I could collect different mon and evolve them to higher forms. It satiated the collector instinct in me - something I've had since early childhood (collecting stamps, coins, bus tickets, toffee wrappers, soft drink crown caps, matchbox labels, bubblegum stickers, tazos, and many more). I found it super convenient that, unlike my other collections, I didn't have to worry about where to store them or fear damage or erosion to physical collectibles.
I've always been a walker, and loved that I was being rewarded (in ways I could immediately see on screen) for walking. This game allows you to 'hatch' eggs upon walking a certain distance (2 km/5 km/10 km for different mon)
I shunned the battling aspect of the game for long because I've never fancied fighting/battling in any game. When I tried it, though, and realised it was earning me virtual currency that I could then use to but in-game stuff, I took an instant liking to it. It helped greatly that I didn't suck at it, but again, the game is so designed that it's pretty hard to suck at.
I have so many fun memories (and a few not so fun ones) now - of catching trams/trains, running like crazy on streets/alleyways - to reach spawns in time (available Pokémon show up on maps along with a timer of how much longer they will be available); of walking for hours in nests (areas where specific Pokémon spawn in large numbers); of playing in the rain holding an umbrella in one hand (because that was the only time I had that day to play the game); of coordinating with a group of other players to defeat raid bosses (these are powerful Pokémon that require multiple players to gather at a point, team up and battle against); of hatching rare or perfect (some Pokémon have better battle statistics than others) Pokémon from eggs; and so on.
I don't know how much longer I will play this game (the game makers predict this will be a "twenty year franchise") or rather how much longer my life circumstances will allow me to play this game at a 'competent' (actually a big word for a game as simple as this) level. Regardless, it will always have a special place in my heart for bringing simple yet sheer joy to me!
This ended up being some sort of summary post - but there is so much more I'd like to talk about the game every day. Finding some players in my neighbourhood to talk to has been nice (and sharing in Facebook forums is alright), but it'd be so awesome if I could compare daily notes with someone as crazy about the game as I am.
