How COVID-19 reworked Pokémon Go into “Pokémon stay-at-home”

Enlarge /. I have to catch them all without catching the Corona Virus (TM).

Niantic / Aurich Lawson

Since its launch in 2016, the premise of the mobile Titan Pokémon Go has focused on roaming nature in search of mystical little creatures. As a result, it is a game that is particularly well suited for movement restrictions derived from pandemics.

To remedy this, Pokémon Go developer Niantic has released regular updates in recent months to quarantine the game. This has led to a new era of gaming among many in the Pokémon Go scene. Let's call it "stay at home, play at home".

Such a systematic change in the way Pokémon Go is played was probably necessary so that the game could survive at a time when many (if not most) players were unable or fearful of their usual raids to travel and gather. By giving players the opportunity to play from home, Niantic effectively removes the golden geese they mock from the park across the street.

Poké jail

Some players have seen some purported benefits for the changes Niantic introduced. "The sheer amount of Pokémon that come out of incense is incredible," said popular Australian Go YouTuber ZoëTwoDots. "(There are) far more items from Friend Gifts, new daily research without turning a Pokéstop – at this point, I think that almost every aspect of the game that required you to go outside is now done from home can. "

However, some are concerned about the impact of the spread of the corona virus on the social core of the game. Brandon Tan, who has been playing Go since the second day it was available in Singapore and is widely regarded as the number one player worldwide, is one of these concerns.

"With COVID, I had to either play from home or alone in my car (Pokémon Go)," Tan told Ars. "After playing the game alone for months, I miss the company of my friends."

In Tan's eyes, playing Go alone for too long could lead to a degree of dryness and boredom that can shake both newbies and long-term players and raise legitimate concerns about the future of the game. While acknowledging that Niantic "is certainly trying to do justice to players by introducing events that are playable from home," he fears that such changes may not be enough to make the game interesting for regular players hold.

<img alt = "The kind of casual Pokémon Go Socialization that is no longer easy to participate in a pandemic. "src =" https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/pokego-640×427.jpg "width =" 640 "height =" 427 "srcset =" https: //cdn.arstechnica .net / wp-content / uploads / 2020/07 / pokego.jpg 2x”/>Enlarge /. The kind of occasional Pokémon Go socialization you can’t easily participate in in the middle of a pandemic.

"The only way for a new player to play now is to invest in the game currency and buy an item called incense that will allow the player to encounter a Pokémon at home every minute," said Tan. "You can also fight raid bosses from the gym with a salable item called a remote raid pass."

HQna, a presenter of the popular Pokémon Go subreddit The Silph Road, argues that Niantic's implementation of a remote raiding option was less than outstanding. To access a remote raid, you must purchase a specific Battle Pass that is financially separate from the daily free pass that Niantic offers to players, and for which Premium Battle Pass players may already have coughed up real money.

Tips for playing at home

To get the most out of the new reality of home gaming, Pokémon Go players may need to adjust their usual habits. "Be sure to check out the weekly free or one-coin boxes in the shop," advised ZoëTwoDots. "These boxes have stacks of items so you can continue to catch or encounter Pokémon." She also mentioned the importance of keeping a healthy in-game friend list to send and receive gifts that often contain items that make Go much easier to walk from home.

"You can also fight online (player against player) battles with these friends, and these battles don't have to be highly competitive," added ZoëTwoDots. “One of my favorite (self-imposed) PvP themes is using tiny baby Pokémon in combat. Check (also) whether your local community has a Facebook page or a Discord group. Use these platforms to find other local players for remote raiding or add additional in-game bonuses as friends. "

HQna believes that fighting friends is a lot of fun. "Trainer battles are probably one of the most important features throughout the game, but right now that Niantic has made them more available," he explains. "I know that not everyone likes PvP, but I see a lot of players in the lower ranks of the Go Battle League and in Silph Arena tournaments, organized by a local community, that use Trainer Battles to use their favorite Pokémon and just have fun. "

Check out this photo

Quarantine players also find new potential in the game thanks to the augmented reality functions of Pokémon Go, which means that Pokémon is displayed on your smartphone camera against the background of the real world.

"One of my favorite features of the game is GO Snapshot, the AR photo mode," said ZoëTwoDots. "I tried to take at least two photos a week at home." She explained that each mon has its own animations that can be combined with normal household chores, making the simple way that Pokémon interact with home environments intriguing.

• A selection of AR images "stay at home" with some creative Pokémon placements.

  Cian Maher

• A selection of AR images "stay at home" with some creative Pokémon placements.

  Cian Maher

• A selection of AR images "stay at home" with some creative Pokémon placements.

  Cian Maher

• A selection of AR images "stay at home" with some creative Pokémon placements.

  Cian Maher

• A selection of AR images "stay at home" with some creative Pokémon placements.

  Cian Maher

• A selection of AR images "stay at home" with some creative Pokémon placements.

  Cian Maher

"For example, Machop is a fairly muscular fighting Pokémon," she said to Ars. "His flex animation brings his hands to his chest, but when he is placed in front of a sink with dirty dishes or soapy water, it looks like Machop do the dishes or wash his hands. "

"What's in your egg box? Are they normal eggs or are there some exeggcuts? Has the hungry little Munchlax stolen all the lockdown snacks again? There are many creative ways to link Pokémon Go to your reality via AR. (And) me strongly recommend you give it a try, "she said.

HQna is the same. "AR photography with Pokémon has so much potential and is a great starting point for all the pent-up creative energy because so many players are confined to their homes," he said. "And I personally just love to see all the AR footage that people come up with." Since the beginning of the ban, the number of AR shots shared by players has increased exponentially, with kangaskhans occurring in kitchens around the world.

"Chansey, who bakes pancakes with the kids, the tiny Beedrill, who flies around the tulips in a garden, or just wipes out, slackens off somewhere, is really cool to see and also helps to bring the game to life – something, that we all wished for as children correct? "HQna added.

Tan said this type of game wasn't really his forte. "Personally, I would not do that because I would rather play the game efficiently and playing with the AR function does not contribute to progress," he said.

But Tan said he also recognizes AR as a fun feature that has a lot to offer people who are more interested in progressive gaming. "Those who enjoy taking photos, especially with Pokémon in their homes, may find it fun to help them pass the time," he said.

The less we get together

Despite the forced separation from other players, ZoëTwoDots believes Go is still a massively positive force in the mid-COVID society. "I think a very special thing about Pokémon is the ability to bring people together, both physically and digitally," she said. "Even if we can't all be physically together, Pokémon offers a digital connection to others and distracts us from the stress of how crazy things can be."

<img alt = "Two boys Pokémon Go Players who probably don't play in the park these days. "src =" https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/pokego2-300×400.jpg "width =" 300 "height =" 400 "srcset =" https: //cdn.arstechnica .net / wp-content / uploads / 2020/07 / pokego2-640×853.jpg 2x”/>Enlarge /. Two young Pokémon Go players who are unlikely to play in the park these days. Tan agrees, although she is more skeptical on certain points. "Something new comes out every month, with new events that Niantic is organizing to satisfy players' hunger and thirst for new content," he told me. “Pokémon Go is not only aimed at people of all ages, from young to older, but also at people who want to play the game differently, e.g. B. as a collector to search for shiny Pokémon, or as a fighter in the Go Battle League. Although it is a difficult time for many to play Pokémon Go, it is still possible to play from home. "

HQna, who comes from a community moderation position, can personally vouch for it. "In such a global health crisis, both gamers and developers of a game with a focus on socializing and outdoor games should show a particular sense of responsibility towards themselves and other people," he said. "Although we all want things to normalize as quickly as possible, I hope that catching this one legendary Pokémon or improving the quarterly financial report is less important than saving lives."

"Many of us grew up with the main series games – on our handhelds," continued HQna. "And for me the current situation makes it even more nostalgic. And I appreciate that. However, I look forward to finally seeing my local community in person again and meeting great new people from all over the world at next year's live events! "

In the meantime, ZoëTwoDots sees Go as a powerful medium through which people can still maintain a sense of community and society during the closure. "I think especially for younger players who may not have the full context of why their world is changing so drastically, the game is a big distraction from that fear," she said. “Adults and children can interact with their home through augmented reality – they have Pokémon in their own home!

"You can watch YouTube videos and see how others play at home," she continued. “You can join Twitch streams and speak directly to us and other community members to reduce the feeling of isolation. And if it can get monotonous every day to be in the same house, I hope that Pokémon Go and the Pokémon Go community can offer them a positive, fun, creative, and safe way. "

"Stay home, stay safe and I can't wait to see you all on the go in the future," she said. "Don't forget to be a good egg for yourself and others."