You’ve heard about it on the radio, read about it on the internet, and may have even laughed at it as people walk around with their phones glued to their hands. It’s the newest and biggest trend that has children and adults alike out of their homes and flocking to parks, shopping plazas, and universities. It’s Pokémon Go, and it is everywhere.
In addition to introducing the gaming style of augmented reality to the masses, Pokémon Go has provided a unique opportunity for local businesses to market themselves and “lure” consumers to their locations. Taking advantage of the popularity of the game allows you to increase business and expand your market. At Green Group Studio, we can help you harness the incredible power of this trend, resulting in very real traffic and the opportunity to span diverse generations of consumers.
The History of Pokémon
If you’re one of the tens of people that haven’t heard of Nintendo’s Pokémon, here’s a brief history to get you up to speed before we go any further. Pokémon, which literally translates to “Pocket Monsters,” are virtual creatures that take on the resemblance of everything from rats to palm trees. Bursting onto the scene in the late 1990’s, the franchise has released everything from trading cards and handheld games, to movies and a (still running) TV show. Earlier this month, The Pokémon Company and their partner software developers Niantic released Pokémon Go, a mobile app that earned the company an estimated $4.9 million on its first day.
The Pokémon Go Experience
Pokémon Go is by no means an exact replica of the previous games. In fact, the app is really nothing like what most Pokémon enthusiasts expected. Currently, the app is available for free on Android and iOS in only a limited number of markets due to the unexpected demand and the server troubles that came with it.
The Basics
Users play as Trainers with the mission of catching and training the 151 original Pokémon available in the game thus far by walking around their neighborhoods and flicking a Poke Ball across their screen. Trainers are able to become Gym Leaders by battling and defeating one of the other two competing teams defending a gym. However, that is about the extent of your ability to battle at this point in the games development.
Augmented Reality
The gameplay for Pokémon Go is also a unique factor that has contributed to the app’s success. Augmented reality is a technique that utilizes your phone’s GPS, clock, camera, and graphics processor to merge the real with the virtual. This allows Pokémon to actually appear in our world, something that has satisfied the long-term dreams of Pokémon lovers everywhere.
PAYback
At this point, Pokémon Go’s developers are earning money through the sale of coins which can then be traded for items like Poké Balls, Incense, Lure Modules, Lucky Eggs, and even bag upgrades for extra storage space (obviously players marginally lose out on this conversion). However, users can obtain a majority of these items free of cost by visiting PokéStops, or real world landmarks like statues, designated by poles topped with blue cubes that start to spin when you step within range.
Future Gameplay
The Pokémon Go trailer hints towards more complex gaming features to be released sometime in the future, mainly centered on introducing multi-player gameplay and traditional battles. So it’s safe to say that the popularity of Pokémon Go will only continue to rise, especially as Legendary Pokémon are released and the game becomes available in other markets.
Why Pokémon Go Works
With a pinch of peer pressure, a filling of physical activity, a dash of social interaction, a cup of competition, and a not so small helping of nostalgia (all combined onto one of the most popular devices today), Pokémon Go is undeniably a recipe for success. All of this is pretty spectacular when you consider the fact that the game has more than a few downsides—including numerous glitches and server issues. Still, Pokémon Go has taken over the lives of players in more than 30 countries thus far, including past fans, who grew up on Pokémon, and new, young ones just being introduced. After 20 years, we think it’s safe to say that Pokémon isn’t going anywhere.
Millennials – Gotta Catch ‘Em All!
Just as in Pokémon Go, the goal for businesses is to “catch” as many consumers as they can. With the initial release of the app, many businesses have found themselves lucky enough to be listed as a PokéStop. For those who haven’t yet earned the designation, we suspect Niantic is beginning to recognize the monetary potential of allowing businesses to purchase PokéStops. While they were accepting requests to become a gym or PokéStop for a short while, the process has since been halted.
Businesses that could benefit most from purchasing PokéStop power:
- B2C companies
- Any business that requires consumers to purchase entry (the Morikami Museum is a perfect example)
- Commodity-based companies with high levels of competition
- Companies with slow levels of traffic
- Companies with low marketing and advertising budgets
- Companies providing food and/or entertainment
With over 800 episodes, 73 games, 700 Pokémon characters, and a Super Bowl commercial, businesses that take advantage of any opportunity to ride on the coattails of the Pokémon franchise are almost guaranteed to be successful. It’s safe to say at this point that the craze is just getting started—with the anticipation of the first wearable (Pokémon Go Plus) to be released at the end of the month already building. For more information on how we can help you turn your business into a PokéStop or gym location, stay tuned. For those interested in learning more about how augmented reality and virtual reality can help grow your business and reach the millennial market, call 561-594-7336.
