Pokémon Go has become the hottest app release of the year. You can't go online without seeing news about the game (both funny and scary). You can't go on Facebook without reading friends' status updates on it. Though not released in the UK just yet, there are ways to get round this.
The game's addictiveness is unlike anything we've seen in years from a mobile app, and the numbers prove it. Data from SimilarWeb, an information technology company, shows that we've now downloaded Pokémon Go more times than we've downloaded Tinder. On top of that, its daily usage time is greater than the usage time for (the also very popular apps) Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook Messenger. This means that, not only are people getting the app, they're using it. All. Day. Long.
Gameplay is relatively straightforward, but there are some things you should know to help your experience. Whether you've been playing the game since day one, or are just considering downloading it now, here are 10 must-know tips to keep in mind.
Your Phone's Battery Life Will Suffer
One of the major complaints among game players has been the app's effect on your phone's battery. Put simply, playing for long (or even short) periods can drain your charge.
Niantic, Inc., the company behind the game, has recognized that this is an issue, and is working to solve it. In the meantime, there are a couple of helpful solutions. First, it's smart to carry a portable battery with you while playing, or to use a charging case. If we've learned anything, it's that the game is addictive, and you'll want to keep catching creatures long after a single phone charge would last.
You can also put the game into Battery Saver mode within your settings. The game will still track your distance and alert you when Pokémon are nearby, but the display will turn off when you're not using it.
Some Reddit users claim that downloading the portion of the map you need via Google Maps and using it offline will also help save your battery and make the game run more smoothly. Others have found that this doesn't always work — but it's worth a try if your battery is really low.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
You Should Play Nice With Fellow Users…
This one's big, since you're likely to run into other users who are looking for the same Pokémon, or who control a gym that you are battling to take over. The only way that the game stays fun is if everyone plays fair. If anything gets out of hand, go to your settings to report the issue.
And since Pokémon Go uses your personal information and location, you need to act with the same caution that you would on a social network. Don't post info about another user (even screenshots can put someone in danger), and avoid using your real name or nickname on the app.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
Patience Pays Off
It was only a matter of time before game hacks started to litter the internet. Here's one winning tip, tested by BuzzFeed: After you first create your account, don't catch the first Pokémon that appears.
Players have found that waiting a little bit will cause more creatures to appear that you can catch. Walking around a bit first can even help you snag Pikachu.
Hold your Poké Balls until the moment is right.
Photo: Courtesy Niantic, Inc.
Respect Non-Users, Too
As some not-so-lucky people have learned, their homes or businesses feature prominently in the game. Artist Boon Sheridan, who lives in an old church, woke up to find many people lingering outside of his home, since it was a gym. (Gyms are places on the game where you battle rival teams, and they are often real-life churches.)
While Sheridan seems good-natured about the whole scenario, this isn't always the case. Would you want a bunch of people hanging out on your front lawn? No way — so be respectful and courteous. Gym battles aren't worth imposing on other people's privacy.
One Reddit user, an emergency services dispatcher, raised another important point: Many game players have been searching for Pokémon late at night and during odd hours, which can alarm businesses. If you're hanging out front, do the nice thing (and avoid having them call the cops) by walking in and explaining what you're doing there.
Photo: Courtesy Twitter/@boonerang
You Can Spend A Lot Of Money — If You're Not Careful
Yes, Pokémon Go is free to download. But there's a reason it's currently the highest revenue-grossing game in the App Store. The cheapest game-boosting items you can buy in the "Store" within the app cost 80 Pokécoins, which cost you about $1. But if you really want to find success and win one of the game's battles, you'll likely need far more than that. Before you know it, you could spend hundreds in your attempts to level-up.
Keep in mind that Pokécoins are actual £££ even though they don't seem like it in the heat of the game.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
You Will Far Surpass Your Daily Steps
Not only do you have to walk to find new Pokémon, you also have to walk if you want to hatch your collection of eggs on the game and create new Pokémon. As many people have noted, the game helps you explore your surroundings and get exercise without even realising it.
Some people have gone on hikes to find Pokémon, but walking through cities and busy downtown areas are likely your best bets for locating lots of the little guys.
Your Fitbit won't know what hit it.
Photo: Courtesy Twitter/@afrizzlee
You NEED To Use Common Sense
This might seem like a given, but headlines have been buzzing with people who have landed themselves in sticky situations. On a basic level, keep your eyes up and don't walk into traffic just to catch Electabuzz.
Also exercise caution about where and when you go hunting Pokémon. So, for example, don't go to a totally remote location in the middle of the night. Armed robbers used the game to trap teenagers, and one girl even found a dead body in her search for a seaside creature.
Safety first, everyone.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
You'll Make New Friends
One of the most positive benefits of Pokémon Go is that the game boosts camaraderie and helps you meet strangers — in real life. Sure, you're battling other people's Pokémon, but players are bonding with one another about the game's many frustrations and joys.
In big cities, where most people walk past each other without a second glance, people are chatting up strangers for the first time since their smartphones glued themselves to their hands. It's nice to know that Pikachu can serve as a common denominator. We wonder how long until the first Pokémon Go-fuelled relationships and nuptials start happening.
Photo: Courtesy Twitter/@nilaffle.
You'll Face Some Connectivity Issues
Around 7.5 million people have downloaded Pokémon Go and are trying to play it in the U.S. alone. This is great for Nintendo, but not so great for you, since it means there will likely be some server issues when you go to log on.
If this happens, try quitting the app and logging back on again. The game's developers say they know about the issue and are working to fix it.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
You're Giving Away More Info Than You Might Realise
There's the matter of considering general safety while playing the app, but it's also worth considering how much personal data you're giving away just by logging in. The game's privacy policy states that the developer, Niantic, Inc., is allowed to collect your email address or Facebook address, the messages you send to other users, your IP address, the web page you used before logging in, and GPS-based information, such as where you go and how long you stay there. BuzzFeed also noted that the company may share this information with third parties. There's also a clause allowing the company to keep your data even after you've deactivated your account.
If you want to limit how much of your information is accessed by Niantic, you can email pokemongo-privacy@nianticlabs.com, but the policy warns that doing so may prevent you from playing the game in its entirety.
While it's doubtful that these concerns will prevent already-addicted users from playing, it's worth keeping in mind.
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