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Sponsored: Pokemon Go Has Invaded The Real World And Is Here To Stay

 

Pokemon Go has helped to set a new bar for augmented reality, and more games will definitely be looking to try and capitalise on the immense success of the game. While many were initially skeptical of the app prior to its release, Go has done AR better than anything before it, setting a new standard for immersion in video games. Despite numerous server issues and a fair share of other bugs, more than 10 million people have downloaded the game that has officially become a worldwide phenomenon.

The reception to the game has been so positive that they even had to upgrade its venue at San Diego Comic-Con from a 480-person capacity room to a hall that holds 6,500. That’s a lot of fans. Pokemon Go has already made more than $14 million across all platforms and with the game only recently rolled out in Japan, this is likely just the beginning of a long and successful life for the future of the Pokemon franchise.

Pokemon Go has managed to reach that perfect middle-ground between modern gamers, nostalgia, and casual gaming that has helped to make it such a hit with kids and adults alike. The game taps into the much needed 30-something market who played the original games 20 years ago while also continuing the younger generations’ current love of the property. The end result is a cross-generational experience unlike any other that brings to life the childhood dreams of millions through augmented reality.

Niantic, the developer of Pokemon Go, dabbled in the waters of AR before with its previous game, Ingress. Pokemon Go builds on the foundation laid down by Ingress and turns everything up to 11 while adding a beloved property that just about everyone is at least passingly familiar with. The end result is one of the biggest gaming events in years that has just about everyone trying to catch them all.

Arguably, the goal of any developer is to create the most immersive experience possible. With the incorporation of real world locations and digital characters, Pokemon has created a level of interaction with the outside world that we’ve never seen before. Through its deft use of a phone’s GPS and camera, the game brings the beloved pocket monsters to life in the real world while encouraging players to explore the world around them.

There are plenty of other games trying to create a greater level of realism for their players by incorporating elements of the real world into the games themselves. And like Go, they tend to be on the more casual side. Casino titles in particular are accomplishing this by encouraging greater interaction through the incorporation of live dealers in games such as roulette and sic bo. In these instances, both the dealer and players interact with each other in real time, lending a much more realistic experience that can closer resemble the casino floor. Really, it’s not all that unlike augmented reality interaction. As these games continue to advance in the virtual space, we wouldn’t be surprised to see an even greater level of immersion right around the corner.

Pokemon Go has already shown the possibilities of AR to great effect and it’ll only continue on into the future. The game’s developers have already hinted that they might be adding even more Pokemon while also working around the clock to resolve the current bugs and server issues. With more updates that are sure to increase the game’s playability on the way, you should know by now that this is more than just a passing fad.