The latest trend in the mobile gaming world is a new title called Pokemon Go. It has taken the media by storm, and it is virtually impossible to ignore. News outlets around the world are busy covering the game’s impact while social media sites have been abuzz with player stories. Pokemon Go has become a media marvel, as the entire world is talking about this new game.
In recent years, there has been a mobile gaming revolution. You can play all sorts of different games while on the go, using your tablet computer or smartphone. From playing craps online to Tetris and everything in between, mobile games are a huge market with a worldwide value of $20 billion.
What is Pokemon Go?
If you’re not familiar with Pokemon Go, the concept is simple. Based on the Nintendo game and anime series, Pokemon Go charges users with the task of collecting as many Pokemon as possible. It is an augmented reality game, in which the creatures show up in front of you on your screen. You throw Pokeballs at them in order to catch them and build your collection. There are various ways of training your Pokemon in order to build their strength, and you can even do battle with other trainers to take control of gyms across your city.
On Social Media
Pokemon Go has become a huge hit in the online gaming market, with over 9.5 million active daily users. So, it is no wonder it’s all you read about on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. Users are eager to share their progress with their friends online, and it is not uncommon for your Facebook news feed to be full of screenshots from the game and status updates about which Pokemon your friends have caught recently.
Many businesses are even getting involved. Small businesses are using social media to offer promotions that are related to the game, such as giving out discounts to players. In fact, a popular strategy has been for various clothing shops and cafes to let their followers know which Pokemon can be found in and around their locations, hoping to draw in more customers.
In the Mass Media
The mass media has also become saturated with Pokemon Go news. In addition to reports on the game release itself, various other aspects of Pokemon Go are making headlines around the world. Over the past week, new outlets have covered traffic accidents that have been caused by the game, and the disturbing story of a young woman finding a dead body while on the search for Pokemon has gone viral.
Pokemon Go has become a social phenomenon, and it has not even been released worldwide yet. So, it will be quite some time before the media loses its interest in the latest mobile gaming trend. In the meantime, why not see what all the buzz is about? If you live in the UK, Australia, New Zealand or America, you can download the game from the iTunes App Store or Google Play.