If you regularly use the Internet, you must, at this point, have at least heard about Pokemon Go. But most of you are unsure of its specific nature and the reason for all the excitement. Before this continues, I must state that “Pokémon GO” is the most popular game in US history. Although I don’t say it, statistics do.
Within 24 hours after its debut, Pokémon GO defeated Slither.io and Supercell’s heavily marketed game Clash Royale to claim the title of a giant game of 2016, according to daily active users. Pokémon GO shot to the top of both the Android & iOS app store. Some studies show it has about 20 million peak, daily active users. It surpassed all revenue records and drew more users than Twitter in the first three days after its launch. Google Maps and Snap Chat are currently under fierce competition with it.
Pokémon GO: What Is It?
A Nintendo franchise called Pokémon Go first appeared in the 1990s. In its universe, “trainers” roam the globe searching for monsters. The trainer wants to find them all because they fight each other. What is this Pokémon GO, though? It may be downloaded for free on iOS and Android devices, unlike previous Pokémon games. Despite having a distinct playing format, the monster-catching objective remains the same. Pokémon GO is an augmented reality game that combines gameplay with real-world experiences.
This game stands out because it chooses which Pokémon appear in the game using the GPS and configured on your phone. More water will be visible if you are close to a river. There will be more nocturnal spirits present if you play at night.
Why Is there so Much Hype For This Game?
Why is the game sweeping the gaming industry? Why all the hype? The initial response is, “It’s free,” and the fresh and exciting features. Those who used to play earlier iterations will feel a lot of excitement and nostalgia. Additionally, Pokémon GO fulfils players’ dreams from the start of the series. Because it is the first significant augmented reality game, there is hype. A few other games have attempted this before, but they were unsuccessful.
Here are a few factors why you should not be surprised by this Pokemon Go buzz:
- Pokémon Go is one of the most played and well-liked video games ever.
- The large fan base because 18 full-length films, a cartoon series, and card games were formerly available.
- Nintendo, of which it is a part, has received comparable feedback for several of its previous games, as in Miitomi.
- Given the high cost of user acquisition in the iOS ($4.01 in May 2016, up 2.3% YoY) and Android ($3.40, up 3% YoY) mobile gaming markets, many industry participants want to use well-known franchises and brands to reduce marketing costs. So this was the right moment for the introduction of Pokémon GO trading.
- Since the previous several years, the market for mobile gaming has slowed down. Thus, it needed a push from a gaming titan with a strong track record of success.
Nintendo Goes Upmarket
With Pokémon GO’s early popularity, Nintendo’s market share in Tokyo Trading, Japan, skyrocketed. However, this game is not entirely Nintendo’s property. They are a partnership between them and the Pokémon Company. Currently, Nintendo has a 32% stake in the Pokémon Company. The company behind the game’s creation is Niantic Inc. Ingress, a previous augmented reality game created by Niantic, has only made a little more than $1.1 million since its introduction. Since its premiere, Pokémon GO has amassed over $14 million across mobile devices. This year, the mobile gaming sector had moderate growth, which Nintendo benefited from. Pokémon GO is one of the top 35 games on social media live streaming channels, with about 200000 hours of material streaming.
A Chance for Marketers
Within the first few days after its release, Pokémon GO shot to the top of the iOS and Android app stores. It is ready to serve as an essential marketing tool for businesses primarily relying on the Internet or mobile branding. More than 65 million people play this game only in the US. It now transcends Twitter and challenges Snap Chat. Consider the intended audience. It’s enormous. Local eateries and cafés in the US are already utilising this chance for a fast buck.
L’inizio Pizza Bar in New York claims that turning on a ‘lure module’ feature that draws virtual Pokémon characters to their establishment boosted weekend sales by 75%. They’re investing only $10 to have a dozen characters placed in & around the location. A few more companies utilised the same strategy to make money. McDonald’s is preparing a significant partnership with Pokémon GO for its in-store campaign.