Web/Mobile App Critique

I have decided to go a nerdy route for this discussion so the mobile application I chose is Pokémon Go. Pokémon Go is an adventure augmented reality mobile game that brings out the inner child in everyone. The main concepts of this app is to capture, train, and battle creatures called Pokémon utilizing GPS for location. Some would say when this app was released in 2016, that it achieved world peace, as it brought everyone together and to step outside the house and explore. Let us dive right in!

   

From the moment you download the application and register, this game helps you customize your own avatar and as you continue to move around, real world surroundings appear on your screen, sort of like google maps. Within the map, areas called Pokéstops and Gyms are typically placed in real places of interest. These areas can help users obtain items such as poke balls when they are visited. So for instance, if you decide to walk over to Starbucks, your avatar in game will also move to Starbucks with the possibility of a wild Pokémon appearing. To capture this majestically creature, utilize the Pokéstop at Starbucks to obtain poke balls to then throw at the creature in hopes of capturing him. Lets try it out!

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Oh, look! We seem to have encountered a wild spidery creature called Surskit. I am going to teach you how to capture this four legged friend.

Bottom left, you will see items that look like berries and berries can help you capture Pokémon easier. To your bottom right, you will see your Poké balls that you have obtained from visiting Starbucks. It is time to get serious and breathe, using your finger, swing the Poké ball on the bottom of the screen towards the Pokémon. It may take a few times to get the hang of it but with patience…

Yes! You did it! Congratulations on your first Pokémon. As exciting it is, Pokémon can appear anywhere in the world.

Recommendations

1. Within the mobile app, you can become friends with just about anyone around the world but one issue I found is there is no way to communicate with them. You can send gifts to each other but that’s all about it. I would recommend adding a personal message section when sending gifts as a form of communication. Or even a messaging obtain in the main friends list screen.
2. To continue on with issues regarding friends within the game. You can trade Pokémon with friends but only if they are physically close to you. I can see issues arise when friends especially military ones, move overseas. I would recommend extending the trade range to world-wide so you can trade with your friends no matter where they are at.
3. An issue I found when doing raids at gyms is when a raid is about to start, users wait in a lobby for 90 seconds until the raid begins. Typically you would need 4 to even 7 people to beat that raid. Unless you have an organized group or create a discord team, there is no other way for someone within the area to know there are users in that raid lobby. I would recommend in the raid tab the number of users in the lobby for a raid before you actually waste a raid pass to enter inside to check within the local area.

Whether you are visiting your family at their house across the world for Christmas, at your friend’s house for game night, or even when you go to the beach, as Pokémon were in your childhood memories, they are also in your hand, you just need to install the app and re-live those memories. Thank you and be safe.