Pokémon Go, a game that has successfully encouraged millions of introverts to leave their home and go on an adventure. It’s a cultural phenomenon that came out of nowhere. There are some estimates claiming that the game may become more popular than Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram combined if it is indeed growing at its current rate. Nintendo is having a heyday because the value of its stocks have risen by 30% in three days after the release of Pokémon Go. The game is now already worth billions. Absolutely insane! So, why do people love Pokémon Go?

1. It uses the spirit of exploration as its foundation.

Pokémon Go’s biggest feature is the augmented reality gameplay. It connects real world cities and landmarks with in-game virtual world. Free items and Pokémon are hidden throughout the city environment. As a result, the gamers have to go outside in order to catch wild Pokémon and collect them one by one. The spirit of Pokémon games and anime has always been travelling to exotic locations in order to catch rare and powerful Pokémon. The game utilizes this feeling very well here.

A map of Boston with the locations of different Pokemons

A Jigglypuff on the road! Where is my Pokeball?

2. It fulfills a childhood dream.

This is not the first time that a Pokémon game became a wild success. In the 90s and 00s, Pokémon was very popular among young children. The phrase, ‘Gotta catch ’em all!’ connected very deeply with the millennials when they were younger. Now due to the advancement of technology, that 8 year old dream is becoming a reality. All of the 20-30 year olds who grew up with Pokémon are now playing the game with their children. Pokémon Go is a clear indication that humans never really grow up in the inside even though the society places a big deal on maturity.

3. It is a social experience.

Pokémon Go is not just a gaming revolution. It is a social revolution. Thousands of people gather right this moment at Pokéstops which are basically parks and landmarks in the city. There, you can find free items like Pokéballs and of course rare Pokémon. Players bump into each other and become fast friends in order to help each other find that elusive Mew 2.

Hundreds of people gather at a local park in Sydney.

4. It activates our territorial instinct.

Some locations have become Pokégyms where the players challenge others in the area with their respective Pokémon. The more levelled and evolved your Pokémon is, the more it can win battles. If you win the tournament at the Pokégym, you can claim that location for yourself with your Pokémon at the top of the ladder. This accomplishment is unbelievably satisfying.

5. It utilizes our innate love for collecting fun things.

Every child likes to collect things. Some like collecting stamps, some like collecting insects, some like collecting toys. Pokémon Go is all about collecting the best and rarest Pokémon. The more the players collect the better. Since the universe of Pokémon is quite established, the total number of Pokémons ranges in the thousands. The game rewards you constantly for exploring the world and collecting these cute monsters. The players cannot stop walking until they find every single Pokémon in the area.

6. Its resources are scarce and we are attracted more to them.

The developers intentionally designed the game to have few resources. One need to put a lot of time and effort in order to unlock the levels, Pokéballs and other perks. The more exploration and collection the player does the more he unlocks resources to do more collection and exploration. The feedback cycle is very strong. Then the developers cleverly put the microtransaction model where the players can speed up their long progress by buying Pokécoins with real money. Many people are happy to buy Pokécoins in order to dominate the Pokégyms. It has only been a week since the game came out but it has already made $14 million through microtransaction alone.

7. It leverages our parental instincts.

Once a Pokémon is captured, you need to nurture and care for it. You need to feed it with candy or stardust for a power-up. Then once the Pokémon is sufficiently satisfied, you can evolve it to the next level. Evolved Pokémon are hard to find in the wild. So, it's easier to put in the effort yourself to grow them. This game mechanic leverages our parental instinct to care for our young so that they can grow up to become strong and powerful. The players feel very proud when their grown Pokémon win the battles against their friends.

All of these factors together combine to make an addictive experience with Pokémon Go.

7 reasons why Pokémon Go is so addictive!

© PEL COnsulting

Info

Action