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By Paulo Pacheco on July 14, 2016
[[http://pkmngotrading.com/wiki/Pokemon_Go_Wiki Pokémon GO]] has undoubtedly been a success since its launch, on July 6, 2016. A wide phenomenon that still has to have a worldwide release, but that nevertheless already captured the interest of millions of people. From the beginnings of the franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri – inspired by his childhood hobby of insect collecting – in the early 90’s, to its recent incarnation on the smartphones, there seems to be no stopping to this longtime series, even if there have been a few bumps on the road for the latest game app.
Described in the official Pokémon Go website as a Real World Adventure, the [[augmented reality]] [[Augmented Reality Games|game]] was originally launched in three countries: USA, Australia and New Zealand. It quickly increased in popularity, becoming viral. It’s the fastest mobile game ever to reach No. 1 <ref name="venturebeat"> http://venturebeat.com/2016/07/11/pokemon-go-outpaces-clash-royale-as-the-fastest-game-ever-to-no-1-on-the-mobile-revenue-charts/</ref>, and it has become the biggest mobile game in US history, attracting just under 21 million daily active users. If this trend continues, it could even surpass the number of daily active users of [[Snapchat]] and [[Google Maps]], on [[Android]]<ref name="surveymonkey>https://www.surveymonkey.com/business/intelligence/pokemon-go-biggest-mobile-game-ever/</ref>.
Even though a lot of the focus has been on Nintendo, with the boost in the share value of the company, we must not forget that this is a joint venture between The Pokémon Company, Nintendo and Niantic (with Google also in the mix, since Niantic was founded as an internal Google startup <ref>http://fortune.com/2016/07/12/google-pokemon-go/</ref>). But even if Nintendo has only a minority stake in Pokémon GO, the success of the game app means exposure for the Japanese video game company. Something much needed since many have viewed Nintendo to be on the decline after the success of the Wii <ref>http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2016/07/11/will-pokemon-go-be-the-nintendo-cash-cow-investors-are-hoping-for/#2e2b3d765926</ref>.
The game takes its foundations from another creation of Niantic: [[Ingress]]. It blends real-world exploration with a digital overlay, through the use of geo-localization and camera functions on the smartphone to superimpose images of [[http://pkmngotrading.com/wiki/Pokemon Pokémon]] to be captured. Its success can be attributed to this blend of the virtual and the real, the geo-location and, of course, the massive appeal of the Pokémon brand. The allure of hunting down and collecting Pokémon is still high <ref>http://theconversation.com/whats-made-poke-mon-go-such-a-viral-success-62420</ref>http://www.themarysue.com/pokemon-go-mental-health/.
People are also moving, gathering, and exploring the outside due to the game app. There have been anecdotal reports that the game is helping people with [[Mental health|depression, anxiety and agoraphobia]] to leave the house, helping them by providing the necessary motivation to overcome their conditions <ref>http://www.themarysue.com/pokemon-go-mental-health/</ref>. It’s not a cure and, as previously stated, these health benefits are only anecdotal, but it’s an example of how powerful game design can be by providing a system of motivation and rewards. The fact is that walking and spending more time outdoors are good for you <ref>http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/PhysicalActivity/Walking/Walk-Dont-Run-Your-Way-to-a-Healthy-Heart_UCM_452926_Article.jsp</ref> <ref> http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/spending-time-outdoors-is-good-for-you</ref>, and it seems that it’s something that Pokémon GO is making a lot of people do.
