Aside from its existence and basic premise, there has been relatively little info shared about the upcoming mobile game Pokemon GO. That ended this morning with Nintendo and The Pokemon Company dropping a ton of new info about the game, sharing details about how it will all work, and a new device for fans to use.
Pokemon GO allows players to use their smartphone to fight and capture wild Pokemon around the world. Using your actual physical location, the game will task you with exploring new places, in order to find different and rare Pokemon. This much we already knew, but it looks like the game will go even deeper, featuring teams and other elements from the main series.
“In Pokémon GO, you will gain levels as a Trainer, and at higher levels you will be able to catch more powerful Pokémon to complete your Pokédex. You’ll also have access to more powerful items, such as Great Balls, to give you a better shot at catching Pokémon. Keep exploring and encountering Pokémon to raise your level!
“Some wild Pokémon will appear only in certain places near where you live or around the world. For example, some Water-type Pokémon may appear only near lakes and oceans. If you’re away from home, be sure to stay alert for Pokémon you wouldn’t normally encounter!”
But what do you do with those Pokemon, once you have captured them and leveled up? The goal of Pokemon GO seems to be for your team to own Gyms, similar to how you take on Gym Leaders in the handheld titles.
“At a certain point in the game, you’ll be asked to join one of three teams. Once you join a team, you’ll gain the ability to assign Pokémon you’ve caught to empty Gym locations or to a location where a team member has placed one of his or her Pokémon. Like PokéStops, Gyms can be found at real locations in the world. Each player can place only one Pokémon at a particular Gym, so you’re encouraged to work with others on the team to build up a strong defense.”
Along with this came the unveiling of the Pokemon GO Plus, a bluetooth device that players can wear. It will allow wearers to interact with the game, without having to pull out their smartphone. “The device connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth and notifies the player about events in the game—such as the appearance of a Pokémon nearby—using an LED and vibration. In addition, players can catch Pokémon or perform other simple actions by pressing the button on the device. Pokémon GO Plus will be available soon.”
No release date was given for Pokemon GO, but an initial test phase will happen in Japan soon.
Published: Mar 24, 2016 09:29 am