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Pokémon GO

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Bulbapedia logo.png This article is a short summary of Pokémon GO.
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Pokémon GO
Pokémon GO
Pokemon GO icon.png
Game icon
Developer(s): Niantic, Inc., The Pokémon Company
Publisher(s): Niantic, Inc., The Pokémon Company, Nintendo[1]
Platform: iOS, Android
Category: Real World Adventure
Players: 1+
Predecessor: N/A
Successor: N/A
Release dates
N. America: July 6, 2016[2]
Japan: July 22, 2016[3]
Europe: July 13, 2016
Australia: July 6, 2016[4]
S. Korea: January 24, 2017[5]
Ratings
ESRB: E10+
PEGI: 3
ACB: PG
App Store: 9+
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Pokémon GO is a mobile augmented reality-based game in the Pokémon series, released in 2016. The game was developed by Niantic, Inc. in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The project initially started as "Google Maps: Pokémon Challenge", an April Fools' Day prank made in collaboration with Google. Several "field tests" were also conducted in several regions leading up to the final release.

Accompanying the release of the game is Pokémon GO Plus, a peripheral developed by Nintendo that alerts players to in-game events. Apple Watch support was later announced at the Apple keynote event in September 2016[6], and was later released in December.[7]

Blurb

Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Pikachu, and many other Pokémon have been discovered on planet Earth!
Now's your chance to discover and capture the Pokémon all around you—so get your shoes on, step outside, and explore the world. You’ll join one of three teams and battle for the prestige and ownership of Gyms with your Pokémon at your side.

Pokémon are out there, and you need to find them. As you walk around a neighborhood, your smartphone will vibrate when there's a Pokémon nearby. Take aim and throw a Poké Ball… You’ll have to stay alert, or it might get away!

Search far and wide for Pokémon and items
Certain Pokémon appear near their native environment—look for Water-type Pokémon by lakes and oceans. Visit PokéStops, found at interesting places like museums, art installations, historical markers, and monuments, to stock up on Poké Balls and helpful items.

Catching, hatching, evolving, and more
As you level up, you’ll be able to catch more-powerful Pokémon to complete your Pokédex. You can add to your collection by hatching Pokémon Eggs based on the distances you walk. Help your Pokémon evolve by catching many of the same kind.

Take on Gym battles and defend your Gym
As your Charmander evolves to Charmeleon and then Charizard, you can battle together to defeat a Gym and assign your Pokémon to defend it against all comers.

It's time to get moving—your real-life adventures await!

Gameplay

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Upon starting the game, the player must sign into the game, using either a Google account or a Pokémon Trainer Club account. The player is then able to create their own avatar, customizing their outfit, skin color, eye color, and hairstyle.

During normal gameplay, the player appears on a map of the world, the game tracking the player's actual location using the device's built-in GPS capabilities. Pokémon will appear on the map, which the player can tap on to engage in battle, which can either be in AR (making the Pokémon appear as though it is in the real world using the device's camera) or on an in-game background. During these battles, the player must toss a Poké Ball at the Pokémon to catch it. A ring cirkles around the Pokémon with varying catch rates depending on the color, ranging from green being easy to red being hard. The ring shrinkes and goes right back to full and if the Poké Ball hits the Pokémon within this ring the player recieves a bonus depending on the size of the ring ranging from the biggest ring resulting in a nice catch and 10 extra experience points to the smallest ring resulting in an excellent throw and 100 extra experience points.

Rather than using the stats system of the core games, Pokémon in Pokémon GO instead have a "CP" (Combat Power) value, which can be raised by feeding the Pokémon candy (obtained by either catching or sending to Professor Willow a Pokémon of the same species or evolutionary line) and stardust (obtained by catching Pokémon).

Technical details

Technical Details
Media

Digital download (mobile)

Download size

iOS: 110 MB
Android: 58 MB

System requirements

iOS: iOS 8 or later (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch)
Android: version 4.4 or later

Supported features

Internet connectivity (in-game purchases)

Input / compatible controllers

Touchscreen

Updates

Like Miitomo before it, the iOS and Android releases of Pokémon GO have received separate updates. In addition to this, the game has also received various server updates, such as increasing the power of certain Pokémon, changing the spawn locations of certain Pokémon, and adding additional Pokémon into the game.

iOS

List of updates
align="center"|Version Number Date Released Description
align="center"|1.0.1 July 12, 2016 Players no longer need to sign in again after a forced log out, added stability when signing in with a Pokémon Trainer Club account, fixes the Google account scope, fixes crashing issues.
align="center"|1.0.2 July 13, 2016 Fixes issues when signing in with a Pokémon Trainer Club account.
align="center"|1.0.3 July 20, 2016 Text fixes
align="center"|1.1.0 July 30, 2016 Adds the option to change one's avatar appearance in-game, removes the "footprint" tracking system, adds a new menu to the Pokémon status screen, adds new images for achievement medals, fixes issues with displaying certain map features, improvements to memory issues, move damage adjustments, animation adjustments, text fixes.
align="center"|1.1.1 August 1, 2016 Performance improvements.
align="center"|1.3.0 August 8, 2016 Adds a warning in case a player is driving, improves curveball throw, fixes a bug preventing EXP from being given for catching awards, fixes medal icons, allows players to switch their nicknames one time, fixes ad re-enables battery saver mode, implements a testing version of the "Nearby Pokémon" feature, adds visuals for the team leaders, text fixes.
align="center"|1.3.1 August 11, 2016 Stability improvements.
align="center"|1.5.0 August 23, 2016 Adds "Pokémon Appraisal", bug fixes.[8]
align="center"|1.7.0[9] September 13, 2016 Adds "Buddy Pokémon, adds Pokémon GO Plus compatibility, improves performance when the device switches networks, makes it easier to tap smaller Pokémon on the screen, fixes a bug where Eggs would hatch without the animation.
align="center"|1.7.1 September 16, 2016 Improves Pokémon GO Plus stability, adds a quick help screen when first connecting Pokémon GO Plus, text fixes.
align="center"|1.9.0[10] September 23, 2016 Shows where Pokémon were captured on their status screen, allows players to obtain Pokémon using Incense with Pokémon GO Plus, bug fixes.
align="center"|1.11.2[11] October 12, 2016 Adds a "Catch Bonus" for catching more Pokémon of a specific Type, allows players to train by battling at friendly Gyms, the Egg and Incubator screens will periodically update with the current distance traveled rather than needing to close and reopen the screen, decreases evolution time, audio fixes, other fixes.
align="center"|1.11.4[12] October 14, 2016 Minor fixes.
align="center"|1.13.3[13] October 24, 2016 Adds alternate patterns for Eggs depending on distance required to hatch, adds type icons to the Pokémon stats screen, adds a low battery indicator for Pokémon GO Plus, text fixes.
align="center"|1.13.4 October 27, 2016 Minor bug fixes
align="center"|1.15.0 November 7, 2016 Adds daily bonuses, allows the player to be the only one to place a Pokémon in an open gym for a brief period after defeating the previous Gym Leader, increases the amount of Prestige lost when defeating a rival Gym trainer and decreases the amount gained by training at a friendly Gym, text fixes.
align="center"|1.17.0[14] November 19, 2016 Fixes a bug that causes the egg-hatching animation to start playing on the map screen, text fixes.
align="center"|1.19.1[15] December 8, 2016 Allows players to transfer multiple Pokémon at once, adds Pokémon type icons to Gyms, adds the total Candy count for Buddy Pokémon, adds the total amount in kilometers the Buddy Pokémon has walked, text fixes.
align="center"|1.21.0 December 20, 2016 Fixes a bug that causes incorrect vibration notifications, changes the day and night modes to more accurately reflect the current time, text fixes.
align="center"|1.21.2 December 22, 2016 Adds Apple Watch compatibility, text fixes.
align="center"|1.23.1[16] January 18, 2017 Updates Pokémon GO for Apple Watch to display Eggs obtained from PokéStops, adjusts distance tracking to account for GPS drifting, minor text fixes.
align="center"|1.23.2 January 24, 2017 Adds Korean language support.
align="center"|1.25.0 January 31, 2017 Adds iOS wheelchair support for Apple Watch, text fixes.
align="center"|1.27.2 February 16, 2017 Adds the ability to select Poké Ball and Berries on the encounter screen, adds a new night map and battle music, improvements to Apple Watch connectivity, bug fixes, text fixes.

Android

List of updates
align="center"|Version Number Date Released Description
align="center"|0.29.2 July 13, 2016 Added support for devices running Android N Development Preview and Intel x86.
align="center"|0.29.3 July 20, 2016 Text fixes
align="center"|0.31.0[17] July 30, 2016 Adds the option to change one's avatar appearance in-game, removes the "footprint" tracking system, adds a new menu to the Pokémon status screen, adds new images for achievement medals, fixes issues with displaying certain map features, improvements to memory issues, move damage adjustments, animation adjustments, text fixes.
align="center"|0.33.0 August 8, 2016 Adds a warning in case a player is driving, improves curveball throw, fixes a bug preventing EXP from being given for catching awards, fixes medal icons, allows players to switch their nicknames one time, fixes ad re-enables battery saver mode, implements a testing version of the "Nearby Pokémon" feature, adds visuals for the team leaders, text fixes.
align="center"|0.35.0 August 23, 2016 Adds "Pokémon Appraisal", bug fixes.[8]
align="center"|0.37.0[9] September 13, 2016 Adds "Buddy Pokémon, adds Pokémon GO Plus compatibility, improves performance when the device switches networks, makes it easier to tap smaller Pokémon on the screen, fixes a bug where Eggs would hatch without the animation.
align="center"|0.37.1 September 16, 2016 Improves Pokémon GO Plus stability, adds a quick help screen when first connecting Pokémon GO Plus, text fixes.
align="center"|0.39.0[10] September 23, 2016 Shows where Pokémon were captured on their status screen, allows players to obtain Pokémon using Incense with Pokémon GO Plus, bug fixes.
align="center"|0.41.2[11] October 12, 2016 Adds a "Catch Bonus" for catching more Pokémon of a specific Type, allows players to train by battling at friendly Gyms, the Egg and Incubator screens will periodically update with the current distance traveled rather than needing to close and reopen the screen, decreases evolution time, audio fixes, other fixes.
align="center"|0.41.4[12] October 14, 2016 Minor fixes.
align="center"|0.43.3[13] October 24, 2016 Adds alternate patterns for Eggs depending on distance required to hatch, adds type icons to the Pokémon stats screen, adds a low battery indicator for Pokémon GO Plus, text fixes.
align="center"|0.43.4 October 27, 2016 Minor bug fixes
align="center"|0.45.0 November 7, 2016 Adds daily bonuses, allows the player to be the only one to place a Pokémon in an open gym for a brief period after defeating the previous Gym Leader, increases the amount of Prestige lost when defeating a rival Gym trainer and decreases the amount gained by training at a friendly Gym, text fixes.
align="center"|0.47.0[14] November 19, 2016 Fixes a bug that causes the egg-hatching animation to start playing on the map screen, text fixes.
align="center"|0.49.1[15] December 8, 2016 Allows players to transfer multiple Pokémon at once, adds Pokémon type icons to Gyms, adds the total Candy count for Buddy Pokémon, adds the total amount in kilometers the Buddy Pokémon has walked, text fixes.
align="center"|0.51.1 December 20, 2016 Fixes a bug that causes incorrect vibration notifications, changes the day and night modes to more accurately reflect the current time, text fixes.
align="center"|0.53.1[16] January 18, 2017 Updates Pokémon GO for Apple Watch to display Eggs obtained from PokéStops, adjusts distance tracking to account for GPS drifting, minor text fixes.
align="center"|0.53.2 January 24, 2017 Adds Korean language support.
align="center"|0.55.0 January 31, 2017 Shortens load times, resolves Pokémon GO Plus connectivity issue, text fixes.
align="center"|0.57.2 February 16, 2017 Adds the ability to select Poké Ball and Berries on the encounter screen, adds a new night map and battle music, bug fixes, text fixes.

External links

References

  1. Pokémon GO Live official website
  2. Pokémon Go is now available in the US for iOS and Android. The Verge (July 6, 2016). Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  3. Pokemon GO Is Out Now In Japan. My Nintendo News (July 22, 2016). Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  4. 'Pokemon GO' Begins Rolling Out in the App Store. Mac Rumors (July 5, 2016). Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  5. Pokémon Go is finally available in South Korea. TechCrunch (January 24, 2017). Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  6. Heads Up! Pokémon GO (September 7, 2016). Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  7. ‘Pokemon Go’ Apple Watch App Officially Released. Heavy.com (December 22, 2016). Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Updates on the Pokémon GO website (August 22, 2016). Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Buddy Pokémon and other updates in Pokémon GO version 0.37.0 for Android and 1.7.0 for iOS. Pokémon Go (September 10, 2016). Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Pokémon GO updated to version 0.39.0 for Android and 1.9.0 for iOS. Pokémon GO (September 22, 2016). Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Pokémon GO updated to version 0.41.2 for Android and 1.11.2 for iOS. Pokémon GO (October 10, 2016). Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Pokémon GO on Twitter (October 14, 2016). Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Pokémon GO updated to version 0.43.3 for Android and 1.13.3 for iOS. GoNintendo (October 23, 2016). Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Pokémon GO updated to version 0.47.1 for Android and 1.17.0 for iOS. GoNintendo (November 18, 2016). Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Pokemon GO upgrading to versions 0.49.1 for Android and 1.19.1 for iOS. Nintendo Everything (December 7, 2016). Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  16. 16.0 16.1 Pokémon GO updated to version 0.53.1 for Android and 1.23.1 for iOS. Pokémon GO (January 17, 2017). Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  17. Pokémon GO update 0.31.0 fixes the 'footprints' tracker by removing it, adds avatar adjustment and other tweaks. Android Police (July 30, 2016). Retrieved July 30, 2016


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