Pokémon GO has been officially released by Nintendo and developer Niantic, Inc. after the idea for the game was sparked by an April Fools joke in 2013. The app is available to Android and iPhone owners and requires you to have a Google account to register. Currently the app is only available in some countries, however you can still download the APK file and install it manually.
Players are greeted by Professor Willow, who explains there are Pokémon all over the world, and needs you to help him with his research. You are then asked to customise your player and given instructions on how to start collecting Pokémon. The app uses Augmented-reality (AR) and brings the real world and the world of Pokémon together. The app notifies you when a Pokémon is in range, and you can then take aim with your Pokéball to try and catch it.
Pokémon GO is free to play and aims to test how willing you are to try and catch them all. Pokémon are located in different environments and terrains, with particular Pokémon only appearing in certain countries. The game’s interface shows your location in the real world and is populated with Pokémon, PokéStops, Gyms and more.
The game is a great excuse to go out and explore, whilst adding Pokémon to your Pokédex and levelling up. Don’t forget to look where you’re going.
