Pokemon Go | Cheerful Ghost

Is anyone still playing Pokemon Go?

So, I recently got my first Android smartphone. There are very few apps I’m aware of, Pokemon Go is among them. Since my son and I love Pokemon and it’s free, I figured I’d check it out. I didn’t know very much about it before getting in because I mostly ignored it before I had a smartphone. I just read that it seemed popular and there were some, even controversial, events related to it.

I initially thought I would join Team Mystic, because it’s the blue team, and so I have. When I first started, I couldn’t find any Pokemon even though there were some around me. “Research” provided the solution of turning off the AR camera mode. It’s a nice feature, I think, but isn’t... Read All So, I recently got my first Android smartphone. There are very few apps I’m aware of, Pokemon Go is among them. Since my son and I love Pokemon and it’s free, I figured I’d check it out. I didn’t know very much about it before getting in because I mostly ignored it before I had a smartphone. I just read that it seemed popular and there were some, even controversial, events related to it.

I initially thought I would join Team Mystic, because it’s the blue team, and so I have. When I first started, I couldn’t find any Pokemon even though there were some around me. “Research” provided the solution of turning off the AR camera mode. It’s a nice feature, I think, but isn’t compatible with all phones, some people just don’t like it anyway. I managed to catch some Pokemon around me, I’m not sure which ones. I made a lot of wrong assumptions, but over time, my knowledge has grown.

I didn’t know how to tell how great a Pokemon was until I found out about “appraisal.” The appraiser will say different things based upon which team you joined, but you can find that online. Each individual Pokemon has stats that are hidden and the appraiser can help you figure out which is strongest and how the Pokemon would fair in battle. If you’re looking for a “perfect” Pokemon, you’ll want to read more about IV or use an IV calculator. I have often overlooked these values in all the Pokemon games I’ve played. However, having “perfect” Pokemon does have it’s advantages.

Pokestops are cool and important for collecting free daily supplies. There are many of them in my little area and I usually stop for at least two of them once a week on my way out for groceries. I don’t play while driving, of course, I hand the phone to my son and let him take over while we’re out. On my own, I’ve found some hotspots, including a place where a lot of Pokemon spawn, because a lot of people in the area play.

I don’t do a lot of walking with the app, so I’m not making incredible progress with raising Pokemon and hatching eggs. At least two eggs have hatched and one of them was a really good Eevee. I may evolve it into Vaporeon, Espeon, or Umbreon. A friend has a book with some early information and I found out how to evolve Eevee. It involves renaming it and that information is best found online.

Right now I’m just trying to see what’s out there and fill in my Pokedex. At level 12, I don’t have what’s needed to take on or help defend a Gym, so I’m not in a hurry. Many of my local friends are in Team Insight, who is control of my nearest Gym. Still, there are a lot of cool things you can do, it’s not all too basic and simplistic. I think it’s fun and interesting. I also like how it has evolved our local communities.

So, is anyone else still playing? What level are you, what’s your best and favorite Pokemon? Do you have anything you want to share here?

Sources:
http://www.polygon.com/2016/8/23/12614406/pokemon-go-iv-calculator-appraisal
http://www.ign.com/wikis/pokemon-go/How_to_Evolve_Pokemon

jaelte wrote on 04/07/2017 at 07:37am

I've been playing on-and-off since a few weeks after release. I'm up to level 28 now it's really starting to feel like a grind, but I still mostly enjoy the time I put into it. I find it very helpful to catch at least one Pokemon and tag at least one stop every day, as the seven-day streak bonuses are a nice plus.
My main concern lately is inventory space -- I don't attack/train at gyms regularly enough to spend my potions and there are some potions which are way overkill for any Pokemon I have so they end up stacking up, leaving not enough space for balls and candy. I also wish the game would provide extra incubators more frequently or lower their cost, as it takes me awhile to earn the 150 coins necessary to buy one -- and that's if I haven't spent the coins on lucky eggs or I'm not saving for another space increase. I admittedly have spent a little bit of money on deals during special events, but overall I say it's been worth it.
All that said, I'm enjoying the game despite knowing pretty much nothing about Pokemon before starting (never got into it as a teenager). It helps that I have a few friends that play and we're all, like you, on team Mystic, so we occasionally go take down gyms together.
Anyway, I hope you continue to enjoy your playing experience!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 04/07/2017 at 11:46am

Awesome, thanks for the comment. I haven't paid much attention to my inventory, but I should look at it. I don't plan on doing any Gym battles, especially any time soon, so I should probably make sure I sell whatever extra items I have.

I do have some issues with the app. Often, if my screen goes off and I unlock it again and get back into the app, I usually have to restart the app as it has trouble logging back in. I wish the pedometer would work while you normally carry your phone around, instead of having the app open and staring at it while walking. I often walk such short distances that I'm usually where I'm going by the time the app is open and ready for me to play.

I've been surprised by how many Pokestops I've seen in my little area and I've heard about more of them I haven't visited yet.

Anyway, thanks again and go Team Mystic!!!!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 04/18/2017 at 01:05am

I've been learning about this game and I feel like I'm getting better at it. I was level 12 when I wrote this and now I'm level 17. I've found some really good Pokemon and I'm enjoying it.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 05/01/2017 at 05:35am

I am almost level 21! I really enjoy this game. It's another one that makes me wonder why it's free. One of my friends is surprised by my ability to find rare Pokemon. I've caught 4 Pickachu already and I found a Larvitar, which he says is the most rare and best Pokemon in Pokemon Go. After I spotted it, other friends were able to get one, too. I also found a Dragonite, but I got a Dratini from an egg.

jaelte wrote on 05/02/2017 at 07:27am

I'm up to level 29 now. I recently evolved an Alakazam and a Rhydon and I hatched my first Snorlax and Chansey (still need to hatch a few more for a Blissey, but it's a start). I went ages without ever getting a 10k egg -- I think I got my first one at level 26? -- but I find them regularly enough now, so I'm hoping I won't have to wait *too* much longer.
I'm jealous about the Larvitar and Dragonite. I have an excellent Dragonair and I cannot wait until I have enough candy (just 21 more!) to evolve it into a Dragonite, so I'm sure you feel the same about the long-term goal of turning that Larvitar into a Pupitar into a Tyranitar. :-) A long way to go, sure, but at least you're closer than I am.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 05/02/2017 at 06:09pm

Awesome! Have you participated in any Gym battles? I stay away from them, because I haven't had anything that could do much against a Gym.

jaelte wrote on 05/03/2017 at 05:22am

Yeah, I take down a gym from time to time. I have a plethora of decent attackers I keep leveled up as best I can. You'd be surprised at how with the right type bonuses, stats, and timing a seemingly too-small Pokemon can take down one twice or more its CP. It may be worth doing some research into which attackers/attack combinations are good counters which defenders. Of course you can also take down gyms with sheer attrition and time, but that'll use up a lot of potions and revives.
Good luck in your future gym battles, if you ever do decide to get into them. :)

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Pokémon Go May Be A Significantly Important Game

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2sj2iQyBTQs/maxresdefault.jpg

I'm sure you've all heard about Pokémon Go by now. It's the mobile game that has you going out into the world to find Pokémon.

It's pretty fun. At it's heart, it's mostly all about catching them all, less about the RPG elements of the main games of the series. If you like geocaching, this is right up your alley, it's just Pokémon you're finding instead of muddy containers. If you played Ingress you'll feel right at home. It's made by the same developers, Niantic, and all the points of interest in Pokémon Go are the same. They already had all this map data, so why recreate it right?

I managed to get up to level 6 without even leaving my apartment. This area is But alas,... Read All I'm sure you've all heard about Pokémon Go by now. It's the mobile game that has you going out into the world to find Pokémon.

It's pretty fun. At it's heart, it's mostly all about catching them all, less about the RPG elements of the main games of the series. If you like geocaching, this is right up your alley, it's just Pokémon you're finding instead of muddy containers. If you played Ingress you'll feel right at home. It's made by the same developers, Niantic, and all the points of interest in Pokémon Go are the same. They already had all this map data, so why recreate it right?

I managed to get up to level 6 without even leaving my apartment. This area is But alas, I ran out of Pokéballs. To get more, you either have to pay for coins to buy more, or go out to Pokéstops. As it turns out, I needed to run some errands today so I decided to add some stops to my trip.

Now, the title of my post was not about how fun the game is, it's about how important it is. And this is where the importance comes in.

I noticed the mall next to the store I was in had three Pokéstops and someone had used a lure to get rare Pokémon to come around. There was a little lounge area in the mall where you could reach two stops and the lure, and there were thirty people or so all gathered around chatting and getting items. Pokéstops reset every few minutes, so between resets people would walk around the mall, getting in steps to help hatch their Pokémon eggs (incubators require you to walk a certain distance to hatch eggs).

Even discounting this experience, I saw dozens of people walking around with their phones out, talking with people. A friend of mine has even made some new friends by running into groups of people playing.

So, this is important for two reasons:

First, ARGs like this have never caught on to this extent. There were a lot of Ingress players, but this is orders of magnitude higher. This seems to be the game where ARGs become an established genre.

Second, this finally fulfills the Pokémon Company's goal. For years, each new game has gotten more and more social, and more and more active. There was a step counter for one game set that let you level up your Pokémon by walking around (or attaching the step counter to your dog's collar). Finally, a Pokémon game is bringing together massive groups of people and getting people active.

I'd encourage anyone with a smartphone or tablet to check this out. Smartphones would be worlds better, because you really need a data connection for it, and unless your tablet has mobile data, the areas you can play are very limited.

And even if you haven't played Pokémon games in the past, don't let that stop you. This really requires no experience with previous games, and doesn't even play like previous games.

And join the Blue Team! :D

scrypt Supporter wrote on 07/11/2016 at 08:51pm

Go, Blue Team!

The social stimulation of Pokemon Go is one of the most interesting things about it. The gyms that I've come across, so far, have all been at restaurants, malls, and even the local YMCA, all places obviously designed for mingling with friends. As you say, Travis, they're now, all of a sudden, places for spontaneous nerd hangouts. It seems that competition, even though it's there, is largely downplayed, which seems like a good thing.

I haven't done any official mingling, yet. Most of my hunting is on my daily routes. One of the cooler features, is the window in the bottom right of the map screen, which shows what Pokemon are near you at the time. If you haven't discovered one of those, it will show up as a greyed out silhouette. I recognized one of those silhouettes as a Bulbasaur. Of course, this was at 11pm, and all I was intending to do in the game at that point was go through my backpack and transfer unwanted multiples to the Professor. I really wanted that Bulbasaur. I got up, got in my car, and drove around the neighborhood until I found him. It took a few attempts to finally catch him, but I'm really glad I did, otherwise I probably wouldn't have slept that night.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 07/11/2016 at 09:51pm

I completely agree. I can't believe how many people I'm seeing walking around, hunting Pokemon. I've never played a Pokemon game before, but last week when I heard the term "augmented reality," I had to check it out (I downloaded it on Wednesday, when it was only available in Australia and New Zealand, so I take pride in everyone following my lead)

It took a couple days to figure out exactly what to do, but I'm learning as I go. It's been a lot of fun to hang out with friends and all collect together.

And it looks like the Westboro Baptist Church is getting trolled through PG, so that's awesome :)

jdodson Admin wrote on 07/12/2016 at 04:35am

I see kids in my area out collecting Pokemon and some adults too. One kid was really into it and that was really nice to see. It hasn't caught me yet, but from your description I really want to head out and try it when I get some time.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 07/12/2016 at 05:11pm

Here's the thing-- I estimate I've seen about 130-150 people playing it, and that's not an exaggeration. But I've only seen one or two kids. That kinda surprised me.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 07/12/2016 at 05:30pm

I know (assume) a lot of kids these days have smartphones, but I don't know how many parents would allow traipsing about the countryside, bumping into strangers who could possibly suggest going "on an adventure together." Of course, when I think kids, I'm thinking pre-teen.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 07/15/2016 at 07:52am

My son and I are big fans of Pokemon, but since we don't have smartphones, we haven't jumped into the latest Pokemon Go craze. However, I did find an interesting article about what our Presidential candidates think about it. The Hillary Clinton camp is actually going to host an event.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hillary-clinton-wants-you-to-play-pokemon-go-trump/1100-6441828/

AutoCat1000 wrote on 07/15/2016 at 09:39pm

Yeah, I personally find it fascinating how the internet is reacting to Pokemon Go. If you haven't already heard, the three teams are Team Instinct (yellow), Team Valor (red), and Team Mystic (blue). Since the game is divided into teams, people online are taking it to some serious measures.

Someone wrote "Team Mystic" to deface a sign. You can see it (and the awesome people who cleaned it up) here: http://imgur.com/gallery/pXrYz

It's also interesting to see that Nintendo's stocks went up, what, $7.5 billion?

Overall I'm very glad that Pokemon go has inspired so many to get out of the house and meet people and have fun.

And yes, you should TOTALLY join Team Mystic!

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 07/15/2016 at 09:47pm

Team Mystic FTW

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 07/15/2016 at 10:16pm

I wish I could play. I'd definitely be Team Mystic! I often choose the Water type starters, just because I love that they're usually blue. Haha

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 07/16/2016 at 03:59am

I swear if Trump dressed up in an all blue suit you'd love him :D

Or alternatively you'd switch to a different favorite color!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 07/16/2016 at 05:59am

Hahaha I'd love the suit, not him. I have no love for him. He's not on the blue team. :)

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