Pokémon Go

Since July 2016 there has been an app on my phone more frequently than any of the stock iOS games. If i look at phone statistics the phone that occupies the majority of my battery life is from an App. I’ve hounded Gamestops for overpriced accessories that I’ve shamefully worn upside, out of plain sight, on my wrist and turned into keychain once the wristrap had gone past it’s shelf life.

I spent 3+ years not spending a dime on the app probably more so partly out of fear of where this could lead in becoming a whale and part jealousy over how much money this company is making. I spent a dollar that i earned from a google survey on the app just to tip the developer because i felt they made an amazing game and i wanted to brag to the world that my level status was completely pure and purchase free (i threw the pokeballs i did buy for that dollar into the virtual trash).

I planned a trip to Universal Studios for their opening day after their March 2020 shutdown for equal parts this game and equal part the park. I bought iPhones overpriced but oh so nice battery charging case because of the seamless integration and the ability to charge the case using a lightning connector (and no all of those 3rd party charges require microusb and are essentially bolted on to your phone so you you cant Cinderella slip the case on like you can with the Apple 1st party case). I went from Android to iPhone because the Apple Watch had a dedicated app. And I'm still pissed that an announced Android Smartphone App has yet to materialize after probably a 2016 announcement.

Here’s me hoping for a proper Animal Crossing iOS game with no Microtransactions. Let me have my forever game.Pokemon Go is the most important game to release on cellphones. If you were to map my routes (and I'm sure they if it helps to fight COVID then i'm all for it, folding at home much) you would see a man that's routine abruptly changed when the game was released on July 6th 2016. I've visited parks that I had only heard about. I've walked aimlessly in parts of town that I've ignored for the decades that I've lived in this town. I was engaged with people in my area that i would normally ignore. The head nod would verify why they were in your area. I was in the last few years of college at the time and apparently in summer school. It was very apparent who was playing the game. Prior to this game I got away with a prepaid plan phone and mooching WiFi at strategic places throughout my day. I could not justify as cellphone plan. I was able to still play the game because of the campus’ extensive WiFi network. toilet scrolling through pokedex or just doing some housekeeping.

I could see places i couldn't quite venture to. It was time to visit a cellphone provider and get signed up for an unlimited plan. Now I could play at home. I had multiple pokestops and gyms in my vicinity since i lived in a historic downtown region. I set off exploring. My routes took me to many overlooked places and art installations that i never actually looked at, yet alone knew the names of. In assassins creed or far cry games the goal is to open up the map. I had yet to do that in my real life.

There are some cool features that allow you to send some of your favorite locations to friends.

This really needs a match 3 type game when you're idling. I constantly quit the game because there isn't anything to do when you're not out on an adventure besides some housekeeping. If i could play match 3 game (like candy crush) and earn some in game currency this game might monopolize my phone completely.

This weekend is a big Pokemon go fest and because of COVID they've made some changes that don't require me to go to Chicago or some other funnel site. It's $15 but I've never engaged with a mobile game on this level other than Threes.

It would be nice if they made the distinction of who only had 1 evolution versus multiple evolutions. I find myself squandering my candy on a duplicate evolution instead of saving for a 2nd or potential 3 evolution.

I've never spent money on mobile games and i took unreasonable pride in that. I've logged onto this game so much and if you look at my stats it's clear that this game has me engaged. I spent way too long bragging about not spending money on the game so i could claim purity in stats. I even did a google survey and bought some pokeballs and tossed them in the virtual trash just not to taint my purity. At some point i needed a farfetched ensemble and the in-game currency i was getting was not getting me there fast enough and that sh*t might be gone one day so i broke out my credit card. It felt weird, in principle, but doing it was very freeing. Especially since corona happened i could go rollerblading away from people and really explore. On a daily basis i went to my spot and just skate for hours. It might be the reason i am still mostly sane. You can have my $10 and society will thank you later.

One of the coolest features is being able to send and receive gifts from around the world. So far I've got friends in India, Norway, and Brazil. This game also makes me want to travel more.