Pokemon Go rolls out to iOS App Store, available in select US locations
Nintendo and Niantic Labs on Tuesday surprised with a limited rollout of anticipated augmented reality game Pok?mon Go, making the title available for download in Australia, New Zealand and certain U.S. markets.
Pok?mon Go uses smartphone camera and GPS hardware to create an augmented reality world in which players can capture, collect, trade and battle Pok?mon. The app launch has been confirmed in Australia and New Zealand for both iOS and Android, while some U.S. App Store customers are also reporting immediate availability.
Developed by Niantic, the app puts players in the shoes of a Pok?mon trainer who, armed with an iPhone-cum-Pok? Ball, roams their city in search of the elusive creatures. As a user travels around the real world their iPhone vibrates to alert them of nearby Pok?mon that can viewed and captured onscreen.
Trainers can also find characters congregating at Pok?Stops that correlate with real life landmarks and events. The Pok?mon Company says these hotspots range from art installations to historical markers and monuments.
Location aware technology is central to the game's mechanics. For example, certain Pok?mon, like water-type characters, can only be captured near bodies of water, meaning players have to travel outside to find new species. In fact, the entire app incentivizes motion. Pok?mon Eggs, discoverable at Pok?Stops, only hatch after players walk a preset distance.
Like other games in the series, Pok?mon Go features a multiplayer element that pits teams of characters against each other in virtual battle. The goal is to take control of "gyms" scattered throughout the world. Players can assign Pok?mon to hold and defend an empty gym, or elect to attack an occupied gym using their cadre of collected characters.
Nintendo is also marketing an optional wearable device that keeps users in the game without requiring constant access to their phone. Called Go Plus, the add-on connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth and uses vibration and LED alerts to notify players of in game events, such as nearby Pok?mon sightings.
Depending on local availability, Pok?mon Go can be downloaded for free from the iOS App Store. The $35 Pok?mon Go Plus device is expected for release later this month.
Pok?mon Go uses smartphone camera and GPS hardware to create an augmented reality world in which players can capture, collect, trade and battle Pok?mon. The app launch has been confirmed in Australia and New Zealand for both iOS and Android, while some U.S. App Store customers are also reporting immediate availability.
Developed by Niantic, the app puts players in the shoes of a Pok?mon trainer who, armed with an iPhone-cum-Pok? Ball, roams their city in search of the elusive creatures. As a user travels around the real world their iPhone vibrates to alert them of nearby Pok?mon that can viewed and captured onscreen.
Trainers can also find characters congregating at Pok?Stops that correlate with real life landmarks and events. The Pok?mon Company says these hotspots range from art installations to historical markers and monuments.
Location aware technology is central to the game's mechanics. For example, certain Pok?mon, like water-type characters, can only be captured near bodies of water, meaning players have to travel outside to find new species. In fact, the entire app incentivizes motion. Pok?mon Eggs, discoverable at Pok?Stops, only hatch after players walk a preset distance.
Like other games in the series, Pok?mon Go features a multiplayer element that pits teams of characters against each other in virtual battle. The goal is to take control of "gyms" scattered throughout the world. Players can assign Pok?mon to hold and defend an empty gym, or elect to attack an occupied gym using their cadre of collected characters.
Nintendo is also marketing an optional wearable device that keeps users in the game without requiring constant access to their phone. Called Go Plus, the add-on connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth and uses vibration and LED alerts to notify players of in game events, such as nearby Pok?mon sightings.
Depending on local availability, Pok?mon Go can be downloaded for free from the iOS App Store. The $35 Pok?mon Go Plus device is expected for release later this month.
Comments
That links looks like it's for the NZ app store. Might not work if your in a different country.
Seems like the act itself would be an interesting application of state sovereignty, though, but that’s irrelevant until the traitors are hung and the Constitution is restored.
This "game" will drive people to specific locations so presumably, they need to give their sales people a chance to make sure they have sold the rights to be a game location to as many businesses as possible within each city/market they bring online. I wonder how much revenue that will actually generate. Brilliant strategy. Sure hope Apple has found a way to get 30% of it! (j/k)
before the app store they said their virtual console/eShop was gonna be the "iTunes of games". They released about 3 games a week and fell behind.
The game is build on Ingress data that has already been in place for 3 years (user submitted places of interest). Their revenue will come from the wrist thing and in app purchases of EXP boosts and Pokemon lures.
problem is, the people running Nintendo are a bunch of arrogant Japanese suits that have been runnning it into the ground since 2013.
had this concept been 3DS exclusive and Nintendo announce a DS with 3G data and GPS, it would have legitimately competed
with android and iOS, except it would
have been different and not an iKnockoff.
Ingress.... That's what I thought. Makes
sense now.
also good god what is wrong with you