Pokémon Go

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Fandom
Name(s): Pokémon GO
Abbreviation(s): PokéGo, PkmnGo, PoGO
Scope/Focus: mobile game
Date(s): July 2016
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Pokémon Go (sometimes stylized as "Pokémon GO'") is a location-based freemium mobile game. It was released in July 2016, when it exploded into popularity, among old school Pokémon fans and non-fans alike. It is a collaboration between the Niantic software development company, and Nintendo.

Gameplay

Upon starting the game, the player meets Professor Willow and designs their avatar. Professor Willow tells the user how to play, and provides them with pokéballs. When they reach level 5, players get a chance to join one of three teams: Team Valor, Team Mystic, or Team Instinct. Once a player chooses their team, they cannot change it.

The game is centered around the premise of the player catching and training Pokémon in real life. The player walks around, encounters Pokéstops for items, and battles at gyms. So far, only Pokémon from the Kanto and Johto region are catchable.

Other features include being able to receive and hatch eggs, leveling up as a trainer, and training/evolving Pokémon by using candies. Like other freemium games, players can also use real money to purchase additional items in-game.

Pokémon Go players and activity tends to be in more touristy and urban areas.

Players can also purchase and wear a watch called the Pokémon Go Plus to enhance gameplay.

Fandom

The Pokémon Go fandom is centered around the NPCs in the game, the Professor and the three Team gym leaders: Candela, Blanche, and Spark. Most fandom activity is on Tumblr, and generally centers around fanart.

Some fans also like to create headcanons and fanwork about characters from other canons playing Pokémon Go.

Pairings

Popular ships include:

Fannish Resources

References