Pokémon Go

So, I reached level 12 after playing for three days then uninstalled, in part because I lost a Venomoth due to a server error.

Pros:

Did I forget what a pleasure it was to go for a walk to nowhere, to walk slowly and without an aim, to walk casually with other people? Maybe I did. Whoops.

Cons:

I don't want to sound preachy but I've played some JRPGs, some Free-2-Play mobile games, some nonsense like Cookie Clicker, and after a while they all repel me. They are all hamster wheels that dangle a virtual carrot in front of your nose. At first, of course, I'm completely engrossed, but am I having a good time? Maybe in the way a smoker enjoys cigarettes, and I don't think Pokémon Go and the like can be very good for you either, unless you refuse to enjoy the outdoors without the promise of make-believe animals appearing on your mobile as a reward. For me, when I had Pokémon Go running I was walking in a JRPG state of distraction, which means I'm not relaxing, taking in the outdoors, I'm neither clearing my head nor encouraging thinking, and I'm not really even enjoying myself, I'm just compulsively performing repetitive, mindless actions. That's why Pokémon Go ruined walking for me.

It was lovely this weekend to have my family so easily be convinced to go on a walk together, which seems to happen far less regularly than even a few years ago. But to enjoy myself I had to put my phone away, at least whilst there were no interesting Pokemon around, and the other people on the walk that insisted on staring at their phones the whole time started getting on my nerves. Maybe this is my inner grumpy old man speaking, but seeing so many more people with their heads mindlessly in their phones, as if they've left the house entirely to play this game that is barely a game, is... sad.

So I don't know if other people enjoy these games on a different level to me, or can play them in a more healthy manner, or are just still kidding themselves — perhaps still entranced by the characterful 'mons, and I can hardly blame them: I've been a Pokémon fan most of my life. But I'm glad the server error encouraged me to uninstall Pokémon Go before I felt bad about the amount of time I'd put into it. Thankfully, the best part of the game is still outside my front door.


How does everyone else feel about the game? I'd be happy to be told I'm wrong, or crazy.

I installed it to see what the fuss was all about, saw that it was by niantic, half expected it to be their previous game Ingress that I used to play. Got a stripped down Ingress with a Pokemon skin. Not impressed.

The novelty of running around and catching Pokemon 'for realz' was fun at first, but quickly wore thin as its a massive grind for no real gain, the game is empty, if they added a fully fledged battle system then I might be interested, but as it stands I feel no reason to play it, so I wont. I already enjoy walking around outside, dont need a game to do so.

I use it to trick myself into getting exercise. It's working great

Its pretty dull when you live outside Pokemon hot zones... like Deepcar...

We went to the theatre and a meal on Friday. There were dozens of people wandering round the city staring intently at their phones, in many places vastly outnumbering the "normal" folk. It was like an episode of Doctor Who! Very bizarre!

Incidentally, Pokemon Go has provided me with a fun way to wind up my wife and stop her playing with her phone so much - when she takes out her phone, I ask her loudly if there are any Pokemon close by. She quickly puts her phone away. The bruises will fade over time, but it's worth it in the long run.

Nice knowing you, human race.

Installed it, caught one or two of the critters around the house, the uninstalled. Ingress looks a bit more interesting, still, not sure if walking around in order to play a game appeals to me. Nothing wrong with walking around, or with playing a game; in their own right, perfectly fine. Together, as a game though? Hmm.

PaulC wrote:Incidentally, Pokemon Go has provided me with a fun way to wind up my wife and stop her playing with her phone so much - when she takes out her phone, I ask her loudly if there are any Pokemon close by. She quickly puts her phone away. The bruises will fade over time, but it's worth it in the long run.

Cunning, wonder if that will work with Sannah...

Got around to writing up my full thoughts on the game:

http://sam-outlands.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/pokemon-2016-niantic-game-freak-also-my.html

Sam wrote:Got around to writing up my full thoughts on the game:

http://sam-outlands.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/pokemon-2016-niantic-game-freak-also-my.html

I've done a couple of geocaching walks. Injuries aside* was great fun and a good way to "gameify" some exercise

*Mushed my knee about two miles from home jumping over a wall. Was absolute agony by the time we got back!