Socially, games like this have the potential to stir us to get out and explore the world more, you could live your whole life not ever discovering unique places just 2 minutes walk from your house.

Once seen as a childish game made only for 8 year olds, Pokemon is a 20 year-old, multi-billion (yeah with a ‘B’) dollar franchise that’s here to stay. Continually evolving (see what I did there?) with every new region, Pokedex, features, starters, and now with the arrival of Pokemon Go!; real world interactions lead by unique, yet familiar gameplay.

“Anytime you hear that catchy theme song (I wanna be… the very best…) Satoshi is cashing a royalty check.” — Aaron Bartholomew

Just like in the handheld versions of the franchise, a new adventure awaits us in the real world as Pokemon has moved from small cliques of faithful trainers – many of  whom started their journeys in 1995′ –  to now an augmented reality, and real-time; battling, capturing, and teamplay experience.

Source- Google

So what’s next? PG has created a new industry trend for real time augmented gameplay, for which I quickly foresee many developers hopping on the bandwagon to develop their own IPs in similar fashion. Imagine if (or when) a AAA developer like Bethesda Games decides to create a mobile companion for their Fallout and Elder Scrolls franchises, or Ubisoft with Watch Dogs…

The possibilities are limitless for AR gameplay. Imagine scenarios where you actually own virtually augmented property, set up trading posts, build out guilds; conversely setting up your own missions, quests, and rewards. All overlaying our physical world.

Seriously…I’m talking this folks —

 

Developers could enhance this by placing rare items (how we love those words) in random locations or neighborhoods both good, (think Starbucks) and bad (Compton…maybe even gang members might switch to virtual gangs instead; Team Reds versus Team Blues?). Fun and imaginative opportunities exist with the arrival of games like Pokemon Go. Being able to travel and see real places we never would’ve thought to check out, meeting others we would never have normally interacted with, and encouraging developers to create mobile extensions to their games; further expanding the neverending world of gaming.

So…”Go catch em’ all!”