First going through
the procedural rhetoric. This game allows the user to become a Pokémon trainer
and customization is necessary to feel more connected to the avatar in the game.
Then, as with all Pokémon games, the user will be introduced to the original three
Pokémon that will become the first companion. These consist of Bulbasaur,
Charmander, and Squirtle a plant, fire, and water Pokémon. (I chose Charmander.
Fire Pokémon always grab my attention).
When introduced to the
first three Pokémon and one is chosen to catch, a Poke ball will appear with
the target in the middle of the screen. At this point the user must correctly
throw the Poke ball so that it hits the Pokémon. If it is swipes too far left,
right, or too hard or too softly, the creature will not be caught and the Poke
ball will just sadly roll off to the side.
Reality comes into
play with this app after this point. Your GPS Location must be turned on so the
app can track steps and know where to put Pokémon to catch. This game is
supposed to get people out and about in the real world. One of the Poke stops
that showed up on my screen was the art mural in USU’s HPER building. These
locations allow the player to get points, supplies, and a variety of other
things.
Safety is key with
this game, since it can be dangerous to be staring at a screen while walking
around in reality. Because of this there are a few features to help with safety.
There are reminders to stay aware of surroundings and the phone will vibrate or
buzz when a Pokémon is near so the user doesn’t necessarily have to constantly
look at a screen.
The procedure
continues as to gain points, hatch eggs, etc., the player must walk and be
active. There are numerous items that can be collected, bought, and used in the
game to help with the overall experience. There are choices to be made when
battling Pokémon and every move has a consequence that can be beneficial or
detrimental.
John Tinnell brings up
an interesting point in his article “All the World’s a Link: The Global Theater
of Mobile World Browsers.” He quotes McLuhan who said “the result of living
inside of a proscenium arch of satellites is that the young now accept the
public
spaces of the earth as role-playing areas.” Pokémon Go is a good example of this because this game lets young people, those who grew up playing Pokémon on other devices or with cards, bring the game into reality. Virtual and augmented reality are becoming a social norm in the world as what’s real and what’s fake coincide. With this new technology, the surface of the world becomes a theater.
spaces of the earth as role-playing areas.” Pokémon Go is a good example of this because this game lets young people, those who grew up playing Pokémon on other devices or with cards, bring the game into reality. Virtual and augmented reality are becoming a social norm in the world as what’s real and what’s fake coincide. With this new technology, the surface of the world becomes a theater.
Pokémon Go is an
interesting game that many appreciate. It is full of procedural rhetoric, just
like any other game, and shows how the world is becoming a stage for young
people to paly make-believe. It shows where technology is headed and what is
popular.
Check out Cody's Blog
And Sam's Blog
