People seem to be going crazy about this app and I actually think it's a step in the right direction of blending technology and reality. My mobile joints weren't designed to do what I'm doing now (sitting and typing) and there has to be a way of optimizing the design of our technology around are limited carbon-based life predicament. The new Pokemon game is a fairly primitive, early implementation of that idea, but it's a refreshing change of pace. I remember a bunch of different childhood games that were healthy for me (required me to move around) and they would be even more kickass with a virtual reality element added on top of them (imagine a game of tag with HUD showing you the heart rate and fatigue level of your friends awarding you points after each round). Sure there are some fears associated with that maybe expecting rewards for everything is toxic to both discipline and willpower, maybe virtual reality will stifle kid's imagination, maybe a guy will kill someone because he tried to catch a Pokemon while driving (though I have a pretty strong suspicion the same guy would probably just kill someone while texting) etc. etc. but I think it's a step in the right direction.

That being said, I'm not super interested in the game. I might try it somewhere along the way, but I'm not gonna be an early adopter.

wish I had shares in Nintendo....

Game looks amazing and it is a real game changer no doubt. I am not into Pokemon or games but just as a new thing goes there is no doubt this is one of the greatest innovations if not the greatest in gaming history.

This video sums it up perfectly:

Speaking of shares, I wonder how many people figured out Pokemon GO will be as big as it is? Also, I wonder if it's just a temporary thing or is it here to stay. Truth be told, Pokemon GO isn't exactly the highest quality game (though to be fair it's, also first of its kind) and that might be working aginst its longevity.

I was reading he comments on a Facebook post about Pokemon Go, and the top comment was saying this isn't the first game like this. There is a game called Ingress, which is pretty much the exact same, but without Pokemon. Its just a shame small companies go un-noticed and the big ones get all the credit.

I'm sure the novelty of the game will ware off at some point. But I can see more games like this popping up.

So far I've managed to catch 17 different Pokemon from the comfort of my home. I've left the house twice to catch 2 that I didn't have.

A very funny coincidence is my local pub is a Pokemon gym on the map, so that's as good an excuse as I can get these days

Here are some of my finds.



I wonder if they'll ever make a game called Pokermon, where you have to go about finding cards and then have games with people. It doesn't make much sense but I like the name

So psyched for this to be fair! Going to be good and wait for it to come out in the UK though, I have patience!

Being similar age to Barra, we grew up as kids in the Pokemon era (with my name being Ash it wasn't great though!), obsessed over the games, the trading cards, tv shows etc. It was only a matter of time before something like this came out, there is an online MMORP-type game but that was low budget and didn't work quite as well as it could, not played on that for months. Game changer for sure, and now everytime you see people with their phones out you are automatically thinking they are on this!

Just realised it is out in the UK! See you all in a month

Yeah I forgot to mention it's out in the UK lol


I used to know every Pokemon in order. I'm struggling with most now but they are coming flying back when I see them.

At least I won't be spending a fortune on cards this time. My mates were taking the piss when I downloaded it but they all have it now i just went a walk to try get w couple I didn't have but it wanted me to go in to people's gardens...I'll maybe wait next time. Don't want to get arrested playing this.

If only my wee boy was older I could pretend it's him wanting to play and we could go out together, so it doesn't look so bad.

Haha I think I'll have spend some more time with my 8 year old nephew lol

Tried getting him to watch all the classic episodes on Netflix a couple of months ago but he wasn't having it. He probably will now

The plot thickens. I honestly wasn't expecting that, I wonder if some people knew about this and made killer short-term investments.

Personally I think the game is kind of meh. But it's a video game that gets people out and about, getting exercise and fresh air, interacting with total strangers in a world where typically smartphone technology has reduced face to face socialization. So that's pretty incredible. And my kids love it. We spent ages wandering around the park playing it. We even did a driving pokemon hunt. They were in the back with the phone giving me directions while I drove us about.

Does make me wonder though why smartphone geocaching isn't already a big thing. I mean that's all this is right, but with funky little imaginary creatures instead of a piece of paper in a box.

And the answer - like so often in recent past - is: big franchise

After looking a bit closely into the app I think it might end up being a flash in the pan so to speak. There's not enough content in it to merit the huge userbase and unless the game is going to receive some major updates we might not hear much about it in the next few months (or more likely it will fade into obscurity among other similar apps that do the exact same thing but better).

I agree. Just like Pokemon cards, once you "catch them all". There really isn't much else to do. You can of course continue to battle at the gym where you might be high up, to keep your spot. But I can see most people just giving up with it. New games like this will come out also, I see it as a step in the right direction tho!

People are quickly losing interest in Pokémon Go

Story check out. They still have a ton of users and I think they actually came up with the winning formula, but the execution of it is very poor and so a better app will overtake PokemonGO at some point in the future.

The userbase was always going to drop hugely, the numbers that downloaded it originally were ridiculous and there's no way any game would be able to maintain it.

It also starts to become more of a grind the higher the levels you go, and I know that has put a number of people off. But it's been what, 2 months since it came out? No matter what time or where I'm playing it - 2/3 am sometimes, I always see other people playing it, and in busy places (like the Trafford Centre) it's ridiculous, everywhere you look, 80% of the people are playing it. It's not the greatest for younger people, my nephew is 8 and can only play it when his mum or dad go out with him on their phone or sometimes I take him out and he plays on my profile but he'll never be able to level up big or catch them all just due to not having his own phone/data plan/outside a lot.

I disagree with the limited content, its only generation 1 at the min, and the rarer ones aren't in the game yet. They add things regularly which builds the game and also generation 2 pokemon are rumoured to be coming next year.

There is also going to be trading and battling peer-to-peer coming which will obviously make it much more interesting and lasting.

Don't know whether it's just, for example, my generation being more committed due to being from that era but the age range I see more than any other is mid-late 20's. This is also the age range which probably have more time to be able to give to it.

ATEOTD. I love it!

I know a little someone who has a big something to say about this app: @jamie

I've stopped playing it already. Mainly due to me not being able to play it while away, and even when I'm at home we don't get 3g, so everything is too slow. I still stick it on every now and then, but its few and far between.

Assuming you live on Barra? I can imagine the game's not great there!

I spent 2 hours last night working out the IV's for each of my Pokemon, writing it all down, seeing who my best ones are to keep etc I call it "Admin work" #sadlife. Doesn't help NFL 17 is now out, which I also put a lot of admin work into !

I've not downloaded it but then again I'm not 5 years old. All my mates are playing it and raving about it. I'm trying to stop using my phone as I feel it controls me rather than the other way round so I've not put any games on my phone.