"Hi. my name is Dejan and I am a 'Pokemon Go' addict"
Pokemon Go: A massive mobile gaming app that swept over the globe, but now only a small percentage of die-hard's play. I am one of them die-hards, although not quite as progressed as some of the players I have encountered in-game. I am only level 27 but yet I still log in every day, get my daily bonuses and catch any Pokemon around me that I fancy.
Why has this once so popular game fallen so hard?
Well, it depends on how you look at success, 'Pokemon Go' is still one of the biggest mobile games in term of earnings, even if only a fraction of players are still logging in from launch. The problem with it is that it is very repetitive, the casual gamer will only stick around for a week or two anyway on any hyped game. Once it has its latest buzz and once the hype dies, it instantly becomes less appealing. The other issue was although it encourages players to go into the world, explore and walk/bike, it required probably too much effort for some mobile gamers. Other factors such as the tracking feature that didn’t work properly at the beginning, then got taken off and by the time it had changed to its current format; the damage had been done and millions had already left.
Initially (as with probably most players) when I first went on my journey I thought that once you caught your Rattata, that was it, you powered it up and it was yours, when you realise you have to catch thousands of Pokemon to get a team you desire it becomes a terrifying thought and a gargantuan task. Once you realise this, it can be daunting to carry on and you can easily see why most logged off never to return to Kanto. The huge amount of Pidgey and Rattata you will end up transferring is obscene. Pokemon Go is a monstrous slog of a game and if I’m being honest not enough fulfilment to keep the casual gamer interested.
Finally; the battery draining issue; 'Pokemon Go' does gobble up battery, as it's never an easy launch, a quick check isn’t viable so you might as well spend a few minutes, those few minutes quickly drain what precious battery you have.
Why do I play it?
Honestly, it is probably out of habit and addiction. However, it is still enjoyable as ever, catching new Pokemon or seeing something rare still gives you that excitement and catching that uncommon Pikachu is still worth nipping out of your house for. For me, this hits the nostalgia element hard. I grew up playing the Gameboy Red & Blue versions and this is the closest we will get to being a Pokémon trainer, so it appeals to my not so inner child very well. Although probably perceived as childish, it’s a game that is levels deeper than Candy Crush or other puzzle games, so its each to their own, (although I am not the guy who goes around with a denim jacket and red hat or a Pokemon t-shirt)
There is an element of showing off, destroying a gym and throwing on your Dragonite or Gyarados that you walked or biked so far for; crying “Look at me, I’ve got rare Pokémon” There is also a competitive nature to it, trying to be the very best like no one ever was. It is a weird concept to think people actively go out to catch cyber creatures on your screen that aren’t really there, but then again that could be argued about any game. It provides enjoyment, escapism and some water-cooler talk amongst your fellow players.
There are a few nuggets of enjoyment from this game that will probably have you hooked; seeing your Pokemon destroy a gym and have it turn white then your teams colour (red in my case) or seeing your Pokemon king of the gym, even seeing the symbol next to your gym defender still there the next day, makes you think it the laborious hours are almost worth it.
Hatching eggs is another way (if it is a good Pokemon) of getting your 'Pokefix' the cracking egg animation and the anticipation of seeing what you've walked 10km for is definitely worth it (unless it's was a Smoochum before the update or Pineco after it), although the high is quickly gone and you must wait for your next one. Due to the low-level IV majority on wild Pokemon, it is never as exciting catching them, as well as the higher level candy, the majority of the time you hit an 80% IV + on an egg hatch, which is rewarding and useful.
The recent incorporated daily bonuses is a great addition to the game, giving a reason to keep coming back even for a fleeting visit. Seeing your rewards on each seven-day bonus respectfully is another Pokefix and another reason to feed your addiction. The recently added evolutionary items that are guaranteed to drop on the seventh day is most welcome and worth the daily log in.
Finally evolving new Pokemon is another great joy, you know what it is going to be, and look like but the unknown quantity is the moveset, the want and need for the best moves drives you to keep evolving that fourth Cloyster and that third Exeggutor, and finally the joy you can finally spend your precious dust on that near perfect Vaporeon with Water Gun & Hydro Pump and finally crossing it off your list.
Pokemon Peeves
Believe me, there's many, but before recent updates; walking 2km to hatch that fucking Weedle for the 10th time was not fun. They have done well eradicating Rattata and Pidgey from eggs and it looks as if they have extended it to Weedle and Caterpie, among others. They just need to extend the exclusion to include Natu. The amount you find these in the wild was more than enough to not have as a 'reward' for walking 5km. I realise this is part of the game and chance and luck play a part but isn't this game enough of a slog than to have that disappointment again and again? The common Pokemon are needed for stardust hoarding and it would be too easy if we see Dratini everywhere, but it could just be my area but the only rare Pokemon I get are only from eggs, apart from the single Magmar I obtained on the first day and the sole Lapras.
Why do Dunsparce exist? This non-evolution Pokemon could be slightly higher in CP to warrant obtaining it, the fact that is an ultra-rare hatch on eggs is laughable for a completely limp fish. Murkrow is another annoyance, I do realise they evolve in generation 4 but the sheer amount of these around is beyond comprehension, for stats that aren't that great and nothing to do with the huge amount of candy for a year to two. Overall the generation 2 Pokemon leave much to be desired, after waiting months for new blood, it falls a little flat. This isn't necessarily Niantic's fault, generation 2 has inferior Pokemon design and less character than its generation 1 counterparts.
The recent updates have caused some changes to movesets which is somewhat welcome, and somewhat not; the fact that my 100 IV Magneton now doesn't have the strongest moveset possible (enter unimpressed emoji here).
The eeveelutions only working once has been disputed on online forums, but after the first time, it worked for me a couple of times after then stopped. I have put this down to luck and it randomly turning into Vaporeon after renaming it 'Rainer'. It becomes annoying after finding a high IV Eevee only for it to turn to a Jolteon with Thunderbolt, although not unwelcome, not what you wanted. You could say this is part of the game but even in the original Red & Blue, you could choose what your Eevee would evolve into.
The IV determination was revealed much too late, this should have been revealed much earlier on or even at the start, the fact that I wasted precious dust on a shit Jolteon and Pidgeot isn't what I needed to find out.
Finally, the cream of Pokemon peeves; those precious balls you obtain from 'Pokestops' are wasted on pesky Weedle. This low stat and useless Pokemon seems to have a high flee rate or is it just me just being incredibly unlucky to have to come across one on 'roids. Throwing a Pokeball expecting some easy catch from a low CP Weedle only for it pop out and run away leaving you to just ask yourself why just why. I have given up catching them, Beedrill are not worth the effort or time.
Evolution
The thing that made Pokemon such a huge success was trading, the fact you couldn't get them all in one game, was genius. It forced kids to buy both Red & Blue, also engaged players in trading the Pokemon you couldn't get. This is a major feature that is needed in Pokemon Go. Those who struggle to find that Snorlax could trade with the friend who has four. There are rumours of Niantic soon incorporating this into the game. Hopefully, it will be free and should be limited to one trade per 48 hours so as not to abuse or crash the system, also only being allowed to trade a similar CP Pokemon within 300 or so, so you cannot harvest someone's Dragonite without subsequently relinquishing a powerful Pokemon of your own. Pokemon could also carry items so that the friend without a Kings Rock could get that Slowking. With this, we could have player vs player battles with again a limit per day. The players would have to be next to each other, or paired as friends at least, with features such as friendly battles, playing for keeps or betting 10 coins or an item on the outcome.
The battle mode does need to change, it feels slightly cheap and the spam attack requires very little skill or know how; I much preferred the Gameboy battle system but then that is completely changing the two moveset system. Maybe only slightly changing to a more turn-based system, with quicker Pokemon having chances for double hits and ability to dodge attacks, with gym attackers having the first move. They should incorporate Niantic's own gyms that are challenging for your level and type based (like the anime), that you cannot overtake, that are solely there to collect badges. 8 or 4 badges gets you into the monthly Pokemon League where you are pitted against players of similar level and XP to you. This would involve a much-needed change of in-game friends and on-screen friends that you can interact with and have a simple chat feature. I realise this could put pressure on the servers and should be limited to only a handful of friends (10 like your phone storage in Pokemon Gold & Silver)
As with yourself maybe you are bored with seeing the same Pokemon on gyms and would be more interesting to see a variety of different, even lesser Pokemon. In the anime, Ash's Pikachu is incredibly strong and can take down Pokemon that its 'Go' counterpart could never, but what if it could. It would be interesting if you could 'double star' certain Pokemon (6 is a limit, where these could have higher CP than usual if powered up. These cannot be left on gyms, but remain in your party as your 'eternal party' so you could have a high CP Pikachu with Thunder that could take down a Vaporeon and has 2600 CP, wouldn't that be awesome. This could, of course, be abused, but it could be limited so that higher CP Pokemon don't have that much of a change but still an upgrade. This 'eternal party' would be locked so you would never be able to change them, it would force you to choose wisely and maybe pick your favourites and not necessarily the same strongest Pokemon you see and get bored of taking down.
Another major change is an IV indicator; at the moment you have the appraisal system, which is useful, but long winded. I use an outside IV indicator app that determines my Pokemon IV in a percentage. It would cut a lot of bullshit if Niantic just shows us the IV rating, as most die-hard players probably do the same.
New balls would be an interesting addition, having type-specific Pokeballs which are unlocked when you catch so many of that type, so catching your next Dratini is slightly easier with a Dragonball.
The eeveelution problem I think needs solving. Niantic should introduce water, thunder and fire stones to the game, that drop more regularly than the Gen. 2 special items so you can finally choose your eeveelution, but in turn will cost you a stone and more candy.
Finally, I realise this is against business, but infinite incubators should be available in the shop at a higher price, with three being maximum amount to have, and breakable incubators being dropped in pokestops. The game can already be expensive and time consuming to play without having to keep buying incubators every week or so. It becomes one more thing that could potentially drive players away and eventually stop sales altogether.
Legendaries
I agree with Niantic's withdrawal of legendary Pokemon and when they do release them, it should be done with great consideration. It could be for trainers at level 40 can only obtain these creatures and upon levelling up, you receive a golden egg from Professor Willow that is 25km and will hatch any of the legendaries. These would drop from pokestops for only level 40 players and would be very rare.
My Top 6
My favourite Top 6 (Non-Legendary) in terms of Pokemon design; originality; coolness or random love for that Pokemon.
Oddish
It has a cool clever name, looks simple but for some reason, I love this little guy.
Squirtle
Do I need to explain myself here? Squirtle is just fucking cool.
Arcanine
This almost legendary Pokemon is super strong and his design is awesome, fire dog with tiger stripes.
Haunter
I always preferred this secondary evolution to any of the other ghost Pokemon, its typical ghost shape reminds me of the Mario dungeons.
Mankey
This angry monkey looking creature just had something that drew me in.
Cubone
I always loved Cubone's unique design, with a skull of its mother it wears as a mask.
Honourable mentions; Ursaring and Sandshrew.
My top 6 Most Hated Pokemon (don't worry you won't get images for these)
Zubat - These Pokemon absolutely made any cave a living hell in the original Gameboy games and I have never forgiven them.
Weedle - I didn't mind these before Pokemon Go, now I hate them.
Tentacool - These absolutely blighted the seas in the Gameboy versions, has annoying damaging moves and just generally a ballache to get rid of.
Voltorb - One of the most unimaginative Pokemon.
Murkrow - Just a piece of shit.
Dunsparce - A limp fish with no evolution
Honourable mentions; Magikarp
To catch them is my real test, to train them is my cause.
In conclusion Pokemon Go, although a great game I feel has lost some of the heart we associate Pokemon with. It was always catching a Pokemon and building them up, battling through gyms and trainers and moulding each one into your own. Pokemon Go does not have that connection. It is just hoarding Pokemon and using them as currency almost. It almost cheapens what me and probably older trainers remember from the anime and the older games message. Although it has re-surged this franchise into the now, it feels like they are tugging on nostalgia to get into your wallet and it works. It works so so well. It is, however, a great water cooler game, if you have a friend that plays, it almost spurs you on to continue, you compete and compare and talk about it. You do need a friend to play with/against, otherwise, I probably would have stopped long ago.
Dejan416
Trainer level 27
Podedex: Caught 168, Seen: 192
Team: Valour
Many thanks to 'Scavengina' for your help.
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