Niantic | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Sun, 30 Jul 2023 09:51:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Niantic | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Capcom and Niantic’s Pokémon Go inspired Monster Hunter game lands in September https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/capcom-and-niantics-pokemon-go-inspired-monster-hunter-game-lands-in-september/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/capcom-and-niantics-pokemon-go-inspired-monster-hunter-game-lands-in-september/#respond Thu, 27 Jul 2023 15:42:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=624526 In recent years, Capcom has teamed up with a couple of mobile development companies to produce new Monster Hunter games. One of those projects is Monster Hunter Now, a Pokemon Go-style AR game set in the Monster Hunter universe, built by none other than Niantic.  Announced earlier this year, Monster Hunter Now has been in …

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In recent years, Capcom has teamed up with a couple of mobile development companies to produce new Monster Hunter games. One of those projects is Monster Hunter Now, a Pokemon Go-style AR game set in the Monster Hunter universe, built by none other than Niantic. 

Announced earlier this year, Monster Hunter Now has been in beta testing for iOS and Android devices for several months. Now, Capcom has announced an official launch date – September 14th.

In Monster Hunter Now, players will have to wander around their real-world surroundings to find monsters to battle. You'll also have the ability to team up with other people playing the game nearby to take on more challenging fights.

If you don't feel like standing around outside, you can use an in-game item known as a paintball, which will allow you to tag a monster you encounter out in the wild and then fight it when you get back home, this opens up the door for players to check in on the game during their morning commute, tag a monster and then get to battling once they've returned home, or over a lunch break.

The Monster Hunter franchise has sold more than 90 million units worldwide, so it is popular. Whether or not it will reach Pokemon Go's popularity remains to be seen, but many other studios have tried similar games and have shut them down within years. A few years ago, Microsoft shut down its Minecraft AR mobile game and recently, CD Projekt Red pulled the plug on its Witcher-themed AR game. More recently, Niantic's own NBA All World app was also announced to be shutting down less than a year on from its launch.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: We've seen plenty of games like this but few of them survive in the long run. Do you think Monster Hunter Now will be successful? 

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Capcom teams up with Niantic for Pokémon Go-style Monster Hunter game https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/capcom-teams-up-with-niantic-for-pokemon-go-style-monster-hunter-game/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/capcom-teams-up-with-niantic-for-pokemon-go-style-monster-hunter-game/#respond Tue, 18 Apr 2023 08:00:21 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=611939 In late 2022, Capcom announced that it had teamed up with TiMi to produce a new Monster Hunter mobile game. As it turns out, there was another project in the works with the AR specialists at Niantic. This week, Capcom and Niantic revealed Monster Hunter Now, a game similar in style to Pokemon Go, but …

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In late 2022, Capcom announced that it had teamed up with TiMi to produce a new Monster Hunter mobile game. As it turns out, there was another project in the works with the AR specialists at Niantic. This week, Capcom and Niantic revealed Monster Hunter Now, a game similar in style to Pokemon Go, but for Monster Hunter fans. 

Monster Hunter Now will be heading to iOS and Android devices later this year. Players will have to wander around their real life surroundings to find monsters out in the world to battle. You'll also have the ability to team up with other people playing the game nearby to take on more challenging fights.

If you don't feel like standing around outside, you can use an in-game item known as a paintball, which will allow you to tag a monster you encounter out in the wild and then fight it when you get back home, this opens up the door for players to check in on the game during their morning commute, tag a monster and then get to battling once they've returned home.

The Monster Hunter franchise has sold more than 90 million units worldwide, so it is popular. Whether or not it will reach Pokemon Go's popularity remains to be seen, but many other studios have tried similar games and have shut them down within years. A few years ago, Microsoft shut down its Minecraft AR mobile game and recently, CD Projekt Red pulled the plug on its Witcher-themed AR game. You can sign up for the closed beta test, HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: We've seen plenty of games like this but few of them survive in the long run. Do you think Monster Hunter Now will be successful? 

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Four Niantic projects cancelled as company cuts staff https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/mustafa-mahmoud/four-niantic-projects-cancelled-as-company-cuts-staff/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/mustafa-mahmoud/four-niantic-projects-cancelled-as-company-cuts-staff/#respond Thu, 30 Jun 2022 11:00:24 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=566163 Niantic hit it big in 2016 with Pokemon GO, creating a Summer trend which saw the game reach millions of fans and in turn made billions in revenue. Unfortunately, the studio’s other projects have been much less successful, with 4 upcoming titles now being cancelled. In a report by Bloomberg and Jason Schreier, it was …

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Niantic hit it big in 2016 with Pokemon GO, creating a Summer trend which saw the game reach millions of fans and in turn made billions in revenue. Unfortunately, the studio’s other projects have been much less successful, with 4 upcoming titles now being cancelled.

In a report by Bloomberg and Jason Schreier, it was revealed that Niantic is set to cut between 85 and 90 staff members from its team of roughly 800. Alongside the announcement of the job losses, Niantic has also cancelled 4 games which were previously in development:

  • Heavy Metal
  • Hamlet
  • Blue Sky
  • Snowball

Little is known about the latter two titles, however Heavy Metal was previously announced to be based on the Transformers license, while Hamlet was pitched as a collaboration between Niantic and Punchdrunk to “develop the next generation of live experience.”

Considering the fact that Niantic’s second biggest IP effort with Harry Potter: Wizards Unite shut down recently and its Settlers of Catan game never came out of beta, it is understandable to see why the studio would choose to downscale the number of projects in the works. Hopefully whatever the team works on next actually ends up seeing a release.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of these cancellations? Are you surprised? What Should Niantic focus on next? Let us know your thoughts down below.

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Pokémon GO generates $5 Billion in 5 years https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/mustafa-mahmoud/pokemon-go-generates-5-billion-in-5-years/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/mustafa-mahmoud/pokemon-go-generates-5-billion-in-5-years/#respond Wed, 07 Jul 2021 15:15:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=522599 While Pokémon GO may have seemed like a temporary craze which took over the zeitgeist a couple years ago, the mobile game from The Pokémon Company and Niantic has continued to bring in hundreds of millions of Dollars, with the latest figures confirming that not only has the game surpassed $5 Billion in revenue, but …

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While Pokémon GO may have seemed like a temporary craze which took over the zeitgeist a couple years ago, the mobile game from The Pokémon Company and Niantic has continued to bring in hundreds of millions of Dollars, with the latest figures confirming that not only has the game surpassed $5 Billion in revenue, but has made over half a Billion in 2021 alone so far.

As reported by SensorTower, Pokémon GO has officially made over $5 Billion in revenue since it launched back in 2016. Previous figures put the game at $4 Billion in November 2020. More specifically, since the start of the year, the AR mobile game has generated $642 million, making H1 of 2021 the biggest H1 for the game since it launched.

Since launch, the game has been downloaded over 632 million times, with the US being the game’s top country for downloads (with 115.5 million downloads), followed by Brazil at number 2, and India in 3rd place.

With regards to actual revenue, the US maintains its number 1 position, with $1.9 Billion (36.6%) being spent in the country. This is followed by Japan with 32% and Germany in a far third place, with 5.4%.

However you slice it, Pokémon GO continues to be a massive success, and with each year being bigger than the last when it comes to revenue, it will be interesting to see how long it will take for the game to reach its peak.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you surprised to see such consistently high figures? Do you play Pokémon GO? What’s the most you’ve spent on a mobile game? Let us know down below.

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Niantic is working on its own Augmented Reality glasses https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/niantic-is-working-on-its-own-augmented-reality-glasses/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/niantic-is-working-on-its-own-augmented-reality-glasses/#respond Tue, 30 Mar 2021 15:09:40 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=509912 A few weeks ago, Niantic head, John Hanke, appeared at Microsoft Ignite to discuss the HoloLens, Augmented Reality and showcase a small Pokémon AR demo. As it turns out, Niantic has bigger plans beyond partnering with Microsoft, as Hanke is now teasing Niantic Augmented Reality glasses.  This week, Hanke took to Twitter to post a …

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A few weeks ago, Niantic head, John Hanke, appeared at Microsoft Ignite to discuss the HoloLens, Augmented Reality and showcase a small Pokémon AR demo. As it turns out, Niantic has bigger plans beyond partnering with Microsoft, as Hanke is now teasing Niantic Augmented Reality glasses. 

This week, Hanke took to Twitter to post a teaser image of Niantic's first piece of hardware, built to interact with games on Niantic's augmented reality platform:

Nothing has been shared on specifications, pricing, a launch window or anything else. However, we can ascertain a few details from the image itself. We can clearly see a lens for AR viewing, a speaker on the side and an adjustable strap, indicating that rather than resting on top of your ears like traditional glasses, these will wrap around your head to take the weight off.

Niantic has been working with augmented reality on smartphones for years now, starting with Ingress in 2012 and resulting in licensed projects like Pokémon GO and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite over the last five years.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Apple's AR glasses are still a couple of years away and the Microsoft HoloLens isn't widdling down to the consumer market anytime soon. With that in mind, it would be very interesting to see what Niantic can bring to the gaming space with its own AR device. Hopefully additional details aren't too far away. 

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Niantic is teaming up with Nintendo once again for AR Pikmin game https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/mustafa-mahmoud/niantic-is-teaming-up-with-nintendo-once-again-for-ar-pikmin-game/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/mustafa-mahmoud/niantic-is-teaming-up-with-nintendo-once-again-for-ar-pikmin-game/#respond Wed, 24 Mar 2021 15:18:38 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=508987 Pokémon GO took the world by storm when it first launched back in 2016. Since then, the game has continued to consistently bring in a great deal of revenue every year. Developed by Niantic, Nintendo is once again partnering with the studio to bring another of Nintendo’s properties to life: Pikmin. In a press release, …

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Pokémon GO took the world by storm when it first launched back in 2016. Since then, the game has continued to consistently bring in a great deal of revenue every year. Developed by Niantic, Nintendo is once again partnering with the studio to bring another of Nintendo’s properties to life: Pikmin.

In a press release, Nintendo and Niantic announced that the two companies “are partnering together to jointly develop apps that combine Niantic's real-world AR technology with Nintendo’s beloved characters.”

The first title announced as part of this renewed partnership will be “based on the Pikmin franchise, with gameplay activities designed to encourage walking and make the activity more enjoyable.”

Commenting on this new title, Nintendo veteran Shigeru Miyamoto said “Niantic’s AR technology has made it possible for us to experience the world as if Pikmin are secretly living all around us. Based on the theme of making walking fun, our mission is to provide people a new experience that’s different from traditional games. We hope that the Pikmin and this app will become a partner in your life.”

Little else is known about this game, though with a confirmed release year of 2021, expect more news from this sooner rather than later. Pokémon is a massive franchise and so the success of Pokémon GO was not surprising. It will be interesting to see whether Pikmin will be able to emulate its predecessor’s success.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this announcement? Do you still play Pokémon GO? Do you think this Pikmin game will succeed? Let us know down below.

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Pokémon GO surpasses $3.6 billion in revenue https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/mustafa-mahmoud/pokemon-go-surpasses-3-6-billion-in-revenue/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/mustafa-mahmoud/pokemon-go-surpasses-3-6-billion-in-revenue/#respond Thu, 09 Jul 2020 13:32:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=476243 A few days ago, Pokémon GO officially celebrated it 4th anniversary. Releasing on the 6th of July 2016, Pokémon GO took the world by storm, incentivising millions to go outside, take a walk, and catch Pokémon. Though the game may no longer be part of the cultural zeitgeist, the AR mobile game continues to be …

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A few days ago, Pokémon GO officially celebrated it 4th anniversary. Releasing on the 6th of July 2016, Pokémon GO took the world by storm, incentivising millions to go outside, take a walk, and catch Pokémon. Though the game may no longer be part of the cultural zeitgeist, the AR mobile game continues to be popular, with figures claiming that Pokémon GO has now surpassed $3.6 billion in lifetime revenue.

According to Sensor Tower, Pokémon GO has grossed over $3.6 billion (approx. £2.85 billion) since its launch in June 2016. What’s surprising however is the fact that the Augmented Reality Pokémon game has continued to grow more and more over time.

In the first half of 2020, the game grossed $445 million. Which represents a 12% increase over the first half of 2019. Each year since 2017, the game has made more money than the previous, showcasing that not only is Pokémon GO still alive, but it is in fact thriving; doing better than ever.

Across both the Google Play Store and the Apple App store, Pokémon GO has amassed over half a billion users, with “576.7 million unique downloads worldwide.”

During the Summer of its release, Pokémon GO quickly became a massive cultural event which saw fans of the series and casual observers alike all take to the streets to catch as many Pokémon as possible. 4 years later and Pokémon GO is doing better than ever – even if discussion surrounding the game has died down.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Pokémon GO? Do you still play it? Are you surprised by its continued popularity? Let us know down below.

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Pokémon GO Battle League coming in early 2020 https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/mustafa-mahmoud/pokemon-go-battle-league-coming-in-early-2020/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/mustafa-mahmoud/pokemon-go-battle-league-coming-in-early-2020/#respond Tue, 22 Oct 2019 16:16:16 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=431388 The Pokémon Go team announced yesterday on their blog that the PvP element of Pokémon Go would be evolving in 2020. Dubbed ‘GO Battle League’, the new feature will build upon the already pre-existing Trainer Battles, creating a league which will require certain conditions to enter and compete. One of the entry requirements will be based …

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The Pokémon Go team announced yesterday on their blog that the PvP element of Pokémon Go would be evolving in 2020.

Dubbed ‘GO Battle League’, the new feature will build upon the already pre-existing Trainer Battles, creating a league which will require certain conditions to enter and compete. One of the entry requirements will be based on the amount of distance walked, furthering Niantic’s commitment to the goal of helping people to exercise and remain fit.

Unlike the current form of trainer battles, which are limited to battling opponents within your vicinity (with some exceptions), the GO Battle League will have an online matchmaking system, allowing trainers to battle people from all over the world. It will feature league tables, allowing players to ascend and descend the ranks, depending on their performance.

GO Battle League brings with it a new element of competitiveness to the game, which might have been missing prior. This will also allow players who are from smaller towns to be able to encounter more Pokémon Go players, reducing the reliance on a large local community to keep the game popular in certain towns and cities.

That being said, despite releasing over 3 years ago, Pokémon Go is still incredibly popular, making almost $200,000 (£150,000) a day (as of April 2019). An exact release date hasn’t been given, but the Pokémon GO Battle League is slated to release in early 2020. More details, and a developer insights video, will be revealed soon.

KitGuru says: Do you still play Pokémon Go? If not, would a feature such as the GO Battle League bring you back? Let us know down below.

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Niantic launches player v player battles in Pokémon Go, sadly accompanied with issues https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/niantic-launches-player-v-player-battles-in-pokemon-go-sadly-accompanied-with-issues/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/niantic-launches-player-v-player-battles-in-pokemon-go-sadly-accompanied-with-issues/#respond Thu, 13 Dec 2018 15:47:52 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=398234 Pokémon Go launched on mobile devices back in 2016, with developer Niantic shaking up the traditional formula in a relatively controversial way. Gone was the need to whittle a Pokémon’s health down before capture, the ability to trade your companions over and the battle-based levelling system. Niantic has since managed to fulfil its promise by …

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Pokémon Go launched on mobile devices back in 2016, with developer Niantic shaking up the traditional formula in a relatively controversial way. Gone was the need to whittle a Pokémon’s health down before capture, the ability to trade your companions over and the battle-based levelling system. Niantic has since managed to fulfil its promise by introducing player versus player battles before the end of the year, however the feature seems to have arrived with some issues.

Introducing players to the revisited concept, Team Leaders Candela of Valor, Blanche of Mystic and Spark of Instinct are available to challenge in order to run through the basics. Initially, trainer battles were introduced to those that had reached the maximum level the game has to offer, Level 40, however Niantic has since expanded the feature to include anyone above Level 10.

Despite being a long-awaited feature, trainer battles do carry some caveats. First off, the only way to battle players remotely is to utilise the friend list, with the option only available to those that meet Ultra or Best Friend requirements. Locally, you can scan a QR code with pretty much anyone to enter a battle.

Players have flocked to various social media to explain their lag-filled experience of the new feature, preventing Pokémon from attacking indefinitely or entering Pokémon into battle that have already accumulated damage. End-of-battle rewards have also been noted to differ between players despite Niantic promising that reward distribution would remain equal. Battle requests aren’t being sent via push notifications for some users, however this is less of as bug and more a part of the feature Niantic is already aware of, according to Eurogamer.

So far, users have suggested that changing the smartphone’s clock to “automatic” fixes many of the issues presented, however this is just an unofficial workaround that might not solve everything for all users. Niantic has yet to issue a comment on the state of the launch.

KitGuru Says: While the update might be a little bugged, it’s wonderful to see Niantic hard at work on core features that perhaps should have made it into the base game at launch. Are you happy to see that player versus player battles are now a thing?  

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Samsung reportedly set to team up with Niantic for exclusive mobile game https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/matthew-wilson/samsung-reportedly-set-to-team-up-with-niantic-for-exclusive-mobile-game/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/matthew-wilson/samsung-reportedly-set-to-team-up-with-niantic-for-exclusive-mobile-game/#respond Tue, 27 Nov 2018 10:00:12 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=396244 Niantic has become a big name on the mobile gaming world thanks to the continued success of Pokémon Go. Now, it looks like Samsung wants a piece of that pie, as the smartphone maker is reportedly planning to invest $40 million in Niantic in order to get ‘exclusive' games. Exclusive games are nothing new to …

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Niantic has become a big name on the mobile gaming world thanks to the continued success of Pokémon Go. Now, it looks like Samsung wants a piece of that pie, as the smartphone maker is reportedly planning to invest $40 million in Niantic in order to get ‘exclusive' games.

Exclusive games are nothing new to the PC/console world, but for mobile, traditionally developers try to cast the widest net possible. The tables are starting to turn on that front, we already saw Samsung shell out to gain timed exclusivity for Fortnite on Android. Now, according to a source speaking with The Inquirer, Samsung will be shelling out again, this time with an investment in Niantic to get the company's games pre-loaded onto Galaxy smartphones, in addition to some Samsung exclusive games.

Apparently, once Niantic ships Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, Samsung would like its own exclusive Harry Potter game that makes use of the S-Pen stylus as a magic wand. The deal will work out for both parties as Samsung is looking for new ways to stand out in the smartphone market, meanwhile, Niantic needs more funding in order to support an IPO.

With all of that in mind, it sounds like gaming will end up being a core focus for Samsung when the Galaxy S10 rolls around.

KitGuru Says: These are all rumours for now and some of the details aren't entirely clear. Still, it sounds like Samsung wants to double-down on gaming going forward. Do you guys think exclusive games will end up playing a major role in the smartphone market? 

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Pokémon Go class action lawsuit leads Niantic to pay $1.5 million https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pokemon-go-class-action-lawsuit-leads-niantic-to-pay-1-5-million/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pokemon-go-class-action-lawsuit-leads-niantic-to-pay-1-5-million/#respond Mon, 02 Apr 2018 12:16:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=369098 Last year, developer Niantic celebrated its one-year anniversary of the hugely successful Pokémon Go by introducing a large scale festival dubbed Pokémon Go Fest. Unfortunately, the event was a complete disaster that ended up seeing a class action lawsuit to claim damages for attendees that had paid to partake. Now, the lawsuit has come to …

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Last year, developer Niantic celebrated its one-year anniversary of the hugely successful Pokémon Go by introducing a large scale festival dubbed Pokémon Go Fest. Unfortunately, the event was a complete disaster that ended up seeing a class action lawsuit to claim damages for attendees that had paid to partake. Now, the lawsuit has come to an end, resulting in Niantic paying out a hefty $1,575,000 settlement.

Pokémon Go Fest was plagued with technical difficulties from the beginning, with Niantic’s servers giving many players connection issues that rendered the game unplayable. As a result of this, Niantic refunded ticket costs and compensated players with $100 of in-game currency and a legendary Pokémon.

Jonathan Norton was unhappy with the outcome, particularly with no planned reparations for his travel and accommodation expenses, having come all the way from California. Suspecting that he wasn’t the worst victim of the botched event, Norton opened up a class action lawsuit that demanded Niantic take responsibility.

Featured Image: bobvids YouTube

According to TechCrunch, this lawsuit has come to an end, with Niantic paying $1,575,000 in damages across the estimated 20,000 attendees, covering anything from “airfare, hotel costs, up to two days of parking fees, car rental, mileage and tolls.”

Those affected will be able to claim their portion of the $1.5 million through a website that is set to go live by May 25th, 2018 and will be notified via email. There are a few requirements that need to be met before claiming however:

Only attendees that checked into Go Fest via the application itself will be considered eligible, preventing ticket scalpers from claiming on something they didn’t attend. Those that did will be entitled to $107 returned to them in damages, but any requiring more than this will have to provide receipts to prove the expenses.

Lastly, the report states that any money left over after all claims have been completed including that of lawyer fees, will result in a donation evenly split between the Illinois Bar foundation and the non-profit organization Chicago Run.

KitGuru Says: While it’s not unheard of for other events to cancel and not compensate for travel, this is usually done through natural circumstances out of an event holders control. Unfortunately, the technical difficulties were the responsibility of Niantic and therefore requires some form of compensation for the trust invested by its attendees. Do you agree with the outcome of the lawsuit?

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Pokémon Go is still set to receive trading and battling https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pokemon-go-is-still-set-to-receive-trading-and-battling/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pokemon-go-is-still-set-to-receive-trading-and-battling/#respond Wed, 06 Sep 2017 17:07:32 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=346102 Fundamental features when people think of Pokémon are battles and trading, both of which have been missing from Pokémon Go since it launched July last year. After radio silence on the features for what seems like forever, Pokémon boss Tsunekazu Ishihara assures fans that the features are in the pipeline. Developer Niantic has spent the …

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Fundamental features when people think of Pokémon are battles and trading, both of which have been missing from Pokémon Go since it launched July last year. After radio silence on the features for what seems like forever, Pokémon boss Tsunekazu Ishihara assures fans that the features are in the pipeline.

Developer Niantic has spent the past year balancing the game and readjusting features with longevity in mind. As for extra content, Pokémon Go has since made way for Gen 2 and the long awaited legendaries, pushing the existing feature of catching them all to new limits.

The lack of battling and trading has been a noticeable omission, with many voicing their want for the features since the launch of the game. The last time that there was any official mention of either was before the game received a plethora of stability updates back in 2016, opting for a wider range of Pokémon this year instead of alternative features.

The addition of Gen 3 won’t save Pokémon Go on its own, and The Pokémon Company realises this with head boss Tsunekazu Ishihara talking to Bloomberg about what it and Niantic has in store.

“We've only accomplished 10 per cent of what Pokémon and Niantic are trying to do. Going forward we will have to include fundamental Pokémon experiences such as Pokémon trading and peer-to-peer battles, and other possibilities.”

There are two sizeable updates remaining this year for Pokémon Go, with many speculating it to be Gen 3 and one of the two long-awaited features. I personally would prefer to see player-versus-player battling first as it gives more of a reason to evolve your Pokémon and focus on its overall stats rather than just Gyms.

KitGuru Says: While this was an experience I enjoyed for a short while, the lack of variety quickly got to me, especially when you have the core iterations to compare it to. It’s good to see the game catching up to the standards we’ve come to expect from the series and hopefully I can pick it back up soon to experience all the new features. Would you prefer battling or trading?

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There is a class action lawsuit brewing over Pokemon Go Fest https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/there-is-a-class-action-lawsuit-brewing-over-pokemon-go-fest/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/there-is-a-class-action-lawsuit-brewing-over-pokemon-go-fest/#respond Fri, 28 Jul 2017 16:38:59 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=342063 Earlier this week, we discovered just how badly Pokemon Go’s first fan event went, with many attendees to the Pokemon Go Fest left unable to play the game they showed up for. At the time, Niantic tried to make things right by offering full refunds, in-game credit and a legendary Pokemon. Unfortunately for the developer, …

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Earlier this week, we discovered just how badly Pokemon Go’s first fan event went, with many attendees to the Pokemon Go Fest left unable to play the game they showed up for. At the time, Niantic tried to make things right by offering full refunds, in-game credit and a legendary Pokemon. Unfortunately for the developer, that doesn’t appear to have been good enough for some, as around “20 or 30” attendees have joined a class action lawsuit.

Class action lawsuits are fairly common in the US, though they rarely end in a decent payout for each individual person taking part. According to the lawsuit, the people involved in this class action are seeking additional money to refund travel expenses for getting to and from the Pokemon Go Fest.

The lawsuit was originally filed by Jonathan Norton, who travelled from California to attend the Pokemon Go Fest in Chicago. Given the distance, Norton had to buy a plane ticket, which turned out to be a waste of money, given that nobody at the event could play the new game update due to mobile network congestion. There was also word that Niantic’s back-end infrastructure couldn’t keep up with demand either.

The lawyer taking on this case is Thomas Zimmerman, based out of Chicago. According to him, most of the people at Pokemon Go Fest came from out of state, he also claims to know some that came from outside of the country:

“Niantic is not offering to refund people's travel expenses for coming to Chicago. Most of the people came from out of state, many people from other countries – I talked to someone who flew in from Japan.”

Niantic did offer an apology and try to make things right with those who attended the festival. Now we just have to wait and see whether a judge agrees that they did enough or not.

KitGuru Says: While I understand that many paid extra to travel to the event, I do wonder how much of that falls under Niantic’s responsibility given the circumstances. What do you guys think? Should the studio pay out extra to those who travelled?

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Pokémon Go to finally get legendaries this week https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pokemon-go-to-finally-get-legendaries-this-week/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pokemon-go-to-finally-get-legendaries-this-week/#respond Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:42:20 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=341184 Although Pokémon Go is undoubtedly a success, it’s difficult not to notice the absence of key features that players have come to expect from the Pokemon series. One of the most noticeable missing features was the lack of legendary Pokémon, however a year down the line, legendaries are finally coming to Pokémon Go this Saturday …

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Although Pokémon Go is undoubtedly a success, it’s difficult not to notice the absence of key features that players have come to expect from the Pokemon series. One of the most noticeable missing features was the lack of legendary Pokémon, however a year down the line, legendaries are finally coming to Pokémon Go this Saturday but there are things you need to know in order to get your hands on one.

Pokémon Go Fest is an event in celebration of the game’s one-year anniversary in which we already knew that players would be rewarded rare prizes for capturing monsters and doing raids. These prizes, however are legendary Pokémon. Niantic details how it is going to work in a blog post.

“As Trainers around the world go out and explore their neighborhoods in searchof Pokémon and Raid Battles, they can keep an eye out for unique Legendary Eggs appearing at Gyms. If Trainers and their team are able to successfully defeat a Legendary Raid Boss, they’ll have the opportunity to catch a Legendary Pokémon of their own! While Legendary Pokémon will help them take on the toughest Raid Bosses and Gym Battles, they’re not willing to leave their Trainer’s side, so they can’t be left to defend Gyms.

“On July 22, thousands of Trainers in Grant Park for Pokémon GO Fest and the millions of others around the world will be working together to unlock in-game bonuses for the entire Pokémon GO community. If they manage to catch enough Pokémon during the Pokémon GO Fest Challenge Windows, the first Legendary Pokémon will be revealed in Grant Park. If the Trainers in Chicago succeed in defeating the Legendary Pokémon, that Pokémon will start appearing in Raid Battles around the world, after Pokémon GO Fest.”

While those attending the festival in Chicago will get their hands on legendaries before anyone else, players around the world will get the same chance to encounter monsters if they meet specific requirements. It is currently what legendaries will appear and when, but we can expect to see Pokémon from Gen 1 and 2 such as Ho-oh, Lugia, Mewtwo and the mascots of the teams themselves. If all goes well, everyone will get a chance to capture their own on the 23rd of July, exclusive to legendary raids. There is a level cap to these raids, however as you have to be a minimum of level 15 to participate.

KitGuru Says: We can expect a massive influx of players this weekend, but it will depend on how well the raids go as to whether it can maintain such a player base. Which legendary Pokémon are you looking forward to the most?

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Pokémon Go introduces second gen. Pokémon, genders and more https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-introduces-second-gen-pokemon-genders-and-more/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-introduces-second-gen-pokemon-genders-and-more/#respond Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:51:47 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=322054 Over 80 new Pokémon from the second generation of the games have been added to hit augmented reality Pokémon mobile game, Pokémon Go. Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile are joined by many of their pals, along with Pokémon genders, new encounter mechanics, new berries, a night mode and a whole lot more. Pokémon Go recently passed …

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Over 80 new Pokémon from the second generation of the games have been added to hit augmented reality Pokémon mobile game, Pokémon Go. Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile are joined by many of their pals, along with Pokémon genders, new encounter mechanics, new berries, a night mode and a whole lot more.

Pokémon Go recently passed the one billion dollar milestone, which shows that despite not being the hot new release it was back in the summer of 2016, it's still incredibly popular. Introducing a tonne of new content alongside second generation Pokémon is likely to bring a lot of players back too.

Alongside the additional Pokémon and genders, players can expect new encounter mechanics and the ability to quickly cycle through balls and berries – the latter of which has two new types. There are new avatar outfits and accessory options and a new nigh-mode map as well.

There is also finally a reason to catch evolved Pokémon, as Niantic has introduced a higher rate of candies for them than their unevolved counterparts. These features come alongside a tonne of bug fixes and text corrections, as well as improved stability on the Apple Watch.

All of this is available right now, with the Android version updated to 0.57.2 and iOS to 1.27.2.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I let my walking slip over the Christmas period while it was particularly cold. Perhaps it's time to get back out there though. For those of you who have been playing all this time, what level have you reached?

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Pokémon Go update set to reward regular play https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-update-set-to-reward-regular-play/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-update-set-to-reward-regular-play/#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2016 08:46:00 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=310660 As much as Pokémon Go is still a game enjoyed by many millions of people around the world, it's far from the peak of its popularity. To try and encourage some of the absent players back, Niantic is easing up on the grind a little, with the introduction of daily quests and player rewards for …

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As much as Pokémon Go is still a game enjoyed by many millions of people around the world, it's far from the peak of its popularity. To try and encourage some of the absent players back, Niantic is easing up on the grind a little, with the introduction of daily quests and player rewards for playing on consecutive days.

Although no real alternative to the original tracking feature has been added to the game since its original release, Niantic has updated the game a few times with useful additions. The buddy system speeds up earning candy for specific Pokémon and a few bugs have been cleared up. The recent Halloween Event made it easier to find certain Pokémon too, as well as doubling up on general candy earning.

Daily quests will offer similarly boosted rewards, but only if you play regularly. Catching your first Pokémon of the day will reward you with 500 XP and an additional 600 Stardust. That will happen ever day you hit that milestone after that. If you manage to do that for seven days on the trot, Niantic will reward you with an additional 2,000 XP and 2,400 Stardust.

pgoupdate1

You can earn similar rewards by visiting Pokéstops. Each first visit to one of those will grant you 500 XP and some additional in-game items. If you do it for seven days, that bonus jumps to 2,000 XP and a greater number of items.

The bonuses are linked to days, so theoretically you could catch a Pokémon at 11:59 PM on a Tuesday and then another at 12:01 AM a few minutes later and receive the bonus twice – though why you're out wandering, collecting Pokémon so late is anyone's guess.

No word yet on when we can expect this update, but presumably it's not too far away.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: How many of you guys are still playing Pokémon Go? I'll have it running on my phone when I go for  walk just to make things more interesting, but it's getting a lot less usage than it did a few months back. 

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Pokémon Go Halloween event doubles candy rewards to entice you back https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-halloween-event-doubles-candy-rewards-to-entice-you-back/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-halloween-event-doubles-candy-rewards-to-entice-you-back/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2016 08:20:56 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=309736 Niantic, the developers of augmented reality summer-hit app, Pokémon Go, is hoping to entice the millions who have stopped playing to once again whip out their phones and wander the neighbourhood in search of digital monsters. To encourage you to head out into the cold, there are now higher chances of finding certain Pokémon and …

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Niantic, the developers of augmented reality summer-hit app, Pokémon Go, is hoping to entice the millions who have stopped playing to once again whip out their phones and wander the neighbourhood in search of digital monsters. To encourage you to head out into the cold, there are now higher chances of finding certain Pokémon and candy multipliers in play.

Running from 26th October to 1st November, the Halloween update for Pokémon Go makes the spawns for Drowsee, Hypno, Zubat, Golbat, Ghastly, Haunter and Gengar more common. While that's neat for anyone who hasn't caught all of those – not that uncommon – Pokémon yet, the change to candy earning will be much more useful.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An2Dq6FcMjU']

All Pokémon, regardless of type, will earn double candies when caught, transferred or hatched over the next few days, but even more importantly, Buddy Pokémon candies earned will be quadrupled, making it much easier for you to earn those extras that you need for that Dragonite or similarly hard to find pocket monster.

Presumably the idea is that kids will play the game while they Trick or Treat, but Niantic seemed to suggest it would be holding bigger events than this post launch. Really we've yet to see much materialise.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I'm not sure more Drowzees and Zubats are something anyone needs, but the theme makes sense. I don't know if this is really the kind of big content update the game needs to encourage people to keep playing though. There needs to be something more to do than just catch Pokémon.

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Pokémon Go is the highest earning iOS app in the U.S., UK, Canada https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-is-the-highest-earning-ios-app-in-the-u-s-uk-canada/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-is-the-highest-earning-ios-app-in-the-u-s-uk-canada/#respond Mon, 10 Oct 2016 10:06:27 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=308224 Pokémon Go is easily one of the biggest breakout hits of 2016, but by most counts its user base and particularly its paying customers, really dropped off after a few weeks. It seems like they might be making a comeback however, as two new reports have pinned Pokémon Go as the highest earning mobile application …

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Pokémon Go is easily one of the biggest breakout hits of 2016, but by most counts its user base and particularly its paying customers, really dropped off after a few weeks. It seems like they might be making a comeback however, as two new reports have pinned Pokémon Go as the highest earning mobile application in the U.S..

Developed by Niantic, Pokémon Go is a free to play augmented reality title that generates money for the developer through micro-transactions for extra in-game items that expedite time consuming aspects of the gameplay. It's a strategy employed by lots of different games and it proved effective shortly after the release of Pokémon Go. It earned as much as $200 million for Niantic in its first month.

pgophone

Source: Eduardo Woo

There was a big drop off after that and it seems unlikely to ever make those kinds of numbers again, but according to both  Sensor Tower and App Annie (via UploadVR) it's now earning more than any other app in the U.S. on iOS. What's surprising is that this data doesn't come off of the back of any big content updates by Niantic pulling players back, so suggests that its regular active players are buying enough to give it the top spot.

Pokémon Go isn't just dominating in America though. It's also the top earning iOS App in the UK and Canada, though has slipped to fifth in Japan, one of the game's biggest markets.

Android markets are also more competitive for Niantic, with Pokémon Go only earning the number three spot in the U.S. on that platform.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you guys still playing Pokémon Go? If so, how much are you spending on it? It's keeping me walking on a regular basis, so I don't mind throwing a few quid at it once a month or so.

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Taiwan introduces fines for Pokémon Go drivers https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/taiwan-introduces-fines-for-pokemon-go-drivers/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/taiwan-introduces-fines-for-pokemon-go-drivers/#comments Thu, 11 Aug 2016 11:54:24 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=302580 Doing anything other than looking at the road while driving is never a good idea, even if you have a Tesla with autopilot. Playing a game while driving is one of the dumbest ideas though, which is why Taiwan has begun fining people who are discovered playing hot new augmented reality title, Pokémon Go, while behind …

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Doing anything other than looking at the road while driving is never a good idea, even if you have a Tesla with autopilot. Playing a game while driving is one of the dumbest ideas though, which is why Taiwan has begun fining people who are discovered playing hot new augmented reality title, Pokémon Go, while behind the wheel.

Since the game was launched in Taiwan on the Saturday just gone, more than 1,200 people have been pulled up on traffic offences for playing it while driving, or even riding. With the popularity of scooters and motorbikes in Taiwan, around 1,100 of those issued with tickets were found to be playing while (loosely) in control of a bike.

To try and prevent this moving forward, Taiwanese officials have introduced fines specifically for playing games while in traffic. Anyone found playing while driving a car will be fined 3,000 New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) or around £75. Anyone found playing while riding a bike will be fined 1,000 NTD (£25) (thanks Reuters).

pokemongodriving

The problem of people playing while driving – which can let them hit more Pokéstops in a shorter period of time – is something that developer Niantic has been contending with since Pokémon Go launched in America at the start of July. To distance itself from any problems that might arise from it, it recently introduced a new message which would tell players to stop playing while driving, should they travel over a certain speed.

Of course it can be circumvented by tapping the button that says “I'm a passenger,” which makes the message about as effective as an honesty-based age gate on porn sites.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Don't play games while driving guys. Catching that 50th Pidgey really won't be worth it if you run someone down. 

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Don’t be fooled by Pokémon Go Legendary footage https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/dont-be-fooled-by-pokemon-go-legendary-footage/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/dont-be-fooled-by-pokemon-go-legendary-footage/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:34:19 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=301669 Pokémon Go has shown that whether it's rushing around in parks, or rabidly speculating online, when rare Pokémon appear in one form or the other, people get very excited. Don't get too wound up though, as there's a good chance any footage you see of Legendary or Mythic pocket monsters is spoofed. The big story …

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Pokémon Go has shown that whether it's rushing around in parks, or rabidly speculating online, when rare Pokémon appear in one form or the other, people get very excited. Don't get too wound up though, as there's a good chance any footage you see of Legendary or Mythic pocket monsters is spoofed.

The big story that did the rounds lately was an Articuno appearing somewhere in Ohio, supposedly. Some of those who had it seemed to have gotten it ‘by accident,' according to Niantic, while others appeared to use a technique which alters a Pokémon to look like and behave like another.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go__iSq_6cg']

To prove this point and that just about any Pokémon can be forced to appear in-game with a bit of tweaking, Redditor pcpcy made a series of videos showing off their collection of Legendary Pokémon. We can see their pokédex filled with the rarest of the rare Pokémon, including Mew, MewTwo, and all of the legendary birds.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voZkuJS5mxA']

We even see them battling, though the moves might look a little off. That's because although the character models are accurate and the animations are as expected, the Pokémon under the hood aren't what they appear to be. That means you might see moves like Moltres performing Earthquake, because its really a Snorlax in disguise.

Pcpcy changed other Pokémon into these ultra rares using a man-in-the-middle proxy system, which let them intercept Pokémon Go traffic and fake the client into believing those Pokémon are present in their roster.

It's not a technique they condone, or explain how to achieve, but it is doable. So next time you see footage of a Legendary Pokémon online, take it with a pinch of salt.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The rarest I've found is a single Dratini. While you'd think the long grass would help, being in the sticks does not make for a strong Pokémon Go collection.

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Updated: Niantic on why it removed the Pokémon Go tracking bug https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-update-kills-third-party-map-trackers/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-update-kills-third-party-map-trackers/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2016 08:10:44 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=301061 Update: Niantic Labs, the developer of app mega-hit, Pokémon Go, has released a statement to the community, ending a long silence to comment on why it removed the three step tracking system from the game. In typical Niantic fashion, it's not very candid, but it does at least give fans something to go on. Removing …

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Update: Niantic Labs, the developer of app mega-hit, Pokémon Go, has released a statement to the community, ending a long silence to comment on why it removed the three step tracking system from the game. In typical Niantic fashion, it's not very candid, but it does at least give fans something to go on.

Removing the three step tracker was to help “improve upon the underlying design,” according to Niantic's Facebook post. It claimed that the original implementation of the tracker did not meet the goals that Niantic had originally set out. It claims it will keep the community in the loop as it pushes to improve the feature.

It also addressed the third party mapping services which people have used since the original three step tracking bug appeared. Although many suspect that those services were the reason that Niantic removed tracking, it claims that it was those services which were causing much of the performance issues with the game.

garypokemon

That, plus the “large number of users has made the roll-out of Pokémon GO around the world an… interesting… challenge,” it continued. “And we aren’t done yet! Yes, Brazil, we want to bring the game to you (and many other countries where it is not yet available).”

It went on to say that it had read many of the emails and posts of frustration that people had written since the problems first started cropping up and that it is working to try and fix them. It also blamed a lack of communication on working hard to ease some of the problems with the game's uptime.

Although some commenters appreciated the post, many others still see it as far too vague and a continuation of Niantic's common strategy of communicating very little with the player base.

Original Story: Niantic Labs has released an update for the augmented reality title, Pokémon Go, but it's not one fans are happy with. Not only has it removed any reference to the three-step tracking system that has been in place since the game debuted, but it's killed Pokémon Go tracking sites too.

One of the persistent bugs that has plagued Pokémon Go since its inception, has been a problem with its three step tracking system. Designed to show between one and three footprints under a Pokémon depending on its distance from the player, for most they have always shown up as three steps, making it difficult to tell which pocket monster is closer, as Niantic scaled back the functionality to ease server load.

pgotracking

Say goodbye to those three little footsteps. Source: Sol3mbum/Reddit

While it may use that excuse this time – if it ever really communicated with fans – Niantic seems to have removed the feature for another purpose entirely: combating the number of mapping tools that have appeared in recent weeks. They showed players every nearby Pokémon to them with a countdown timer for how long it would remain, and Niantic isn't a fan.

Although some would consider the sites to be cheating, they did at least encourage gamers to play the game as it was intended: roaming around, tracking Pokémon and catching them. Without any way to track down Pokémon other than randomly coming across them, players are forced to play quite a different game.

It's the kind of in-game adjustment that would see people only play the game while they were already out and about, rather than one they'd go out to play.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This seems like a silly plan by Niantic. At the very least it needs to talk to the player base, as it has the potential to have one of the biggest apps ever on its hands, and it's risking it all by being coy. 

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Pokémon Go players are asking for (and getting) refunds https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-players-are-asking-for-and-getting-refunds/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-players-are-asking-for-and-getting-refunds/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2016 07:50:37 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=301216 Pokémon Go players haven't been particularly happy with developer Niantic, for some time now. Initially its game had server lag, then a tracking bug and now since the developer pulled the ability to track local Pokémon altogether, many players have stopped playing and requested refunds, citing that the game isn't what it was when they …

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Pokémon Go players haven't been particularly happy with developer Niantic, for some time now. Initially its game had server lag, then a tracking bug and now since the developer pulled the ability to track local Pokémon altogether, many players have stopped playing and requested refunds, citing that the game isn't what it was when they made their purchases.

And in many cases, they're getting them too.

Pokémon Go is a game like many smartphone apps, with micro-transactions built in. You can purchase Pokécoins at a rate of roughly £0.8 per 100 and use them to buy everything from incubators to unlock Pokémon eggs quicker, to more Pokéballs and healing potions. But now players feel like their buys were worthless, because the developers have recently removed much of the game's functionality.

sadpikachu

By killing off tracking – and third party mapping services – Niantic has removed much of the deliberate ability to catch Pokémon. Instead, it's now more worthwhile to simply wander aimlessly, or go on a prescribed route without any guarantee that you'll find a Pokémon, or even a hint that one might be up ahead.

So people are demanding their money back and it seems to be working. Kotaku reports that a number of users from both iOS and Android platforms have been receiving refunds without a hitch, suggesting perhaps that they aren't the only ones who are disappointed with the changes Niantic has made to the game since launch.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you made any purchases through Pokémon Go? If so, do you think the latest change are enough to warrant a refund? It's hard to understand all of the frustration with the game, since the tracking bug has been present since launch in the UK, so we never got to experience the proper gameplay of tracking down the Pokémon ourselves. 

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Nintendo shares hit after meteoric rise on ‘Go confidence https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/nintendo-shares-hit-after-meteoric-rise-on-go-confidence/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/nintendo-shares-hit-after-meteoric-rise-on-go-confidence/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2016 07:46:42 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=300284 Pokémon Go ignited the world's interest in Pokémon once again, which in turn saw Nintendo share prices explode by more than 100 per cent of their value in just a couple of weeks. Since then though, as the reality of the game sinks in, confidence has cooled somewhat and stock prices have dropped a further …

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Pokémon Go ignited the world's interest in Pokémon once again, which in turn saw Nintendo share prices explode by more than 100 per cent of their value in just a couple of weeks. Since then though, as the reality of the game sinks in, confidence has cooled somewhat and stock prices have dropped a further 17 per cent.

Although Nintendo's share price has settled down a couple of times since the big Pokémon Go surge, this latest dip in value comes after Nintendo revealed that revenue from the game would not have a big impact on its profits. Although Pokémon Go has proved hugely successful in its short time available, it has yet to be proved as a decent earner and as a Niantic title, Nintendo does not take home all of the revenue (thanks BBC).

pgoratata

Source: Robert Baker/Flickr

Although this may have impacted the stock negatively at this time, in reality the reason Nintendo's share price jumped so significantly following the release of the augmented reality Pokémon title wasn't because it was expected to be a big earner for Nintendo, but because of its potential.

The cat is out of the bag: the world now knows that gamers eat up augmented reality concepts with a decent IP attached. If Nintendo were to release a Mario game based in the real world, or a Zelda one, people would jump right on it. The concept of those series being brought over to augmented reality isn't as obvious as Pokémon, but there's certainly a huge potential with Nintendo's various properties.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The big question with Pokémon is its longevity. Are you guys still playing it and if so, have you spent any money on it yet?

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Pokémon Go Japan launch begins retail partnerships https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-japan-launch-begins-retail-partnerships/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-japan-launch-begins-retail-partnerships/#comments Fri, 22 Jul 2016 07:49:38 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=300159 It doesn't take a big stretch of the imagination to consider what's financially possible with a game that can have people congregate in certain areas. That's why now that Pokémon Go is finally available in Japan, more than 3,000 of its Gyms are located at McDonald's restaurants. This is the first partnership developer Niantic has made …

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It doesn't take a big stretch of the imagination to consider what's financially possible with a game that can have people congregate in certain areas. That's why now that Pokémon Go is finally available in Japan, more than 3,000 of its Gyms are located at McDonald's restaurants.

This is the first partnership developer Niantic has made with its augmented reality game and the success, or lack thereof, will give us an indication of what we can expect in the future. With McDonald's as Gyms, players will be drawn there and may then eat and those already eating may play a bit of Pokémon Go while they do so.

Although you could perhaps make some interesting comments about putting a game that encourages gentle exercise in a place that sells fast food, this is likely only a sign of things to come. It would make a lot of sense for Niantic to do deals with other businesses, possibly releasing rare Pokémon at launch events for other products or services, to draw in extra crowds which may then filter over to whatever else is available.

Whatever happens in the future though, right now Pokémon Go is a smash hit in Japan, as expected and the servers seem to be just about holding up – that extra delay may well have been worth it.

Delays and connection problems with the app aside, Pokémon Go could be Nintendo's biggest success story of the year. The company's stock has jumped by a huge margin in recent weeks, even beating out Sony at one point. The potential for more augmented reality apps is there, so we wouldn't be surprised to see something similar for other Nintendo properties in the future.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The real question at this point is what is the game's longevity like? How many of you have stopped playing already?

[Thanks EG]

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Pokémon GO is now playable… in the far-East https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-is-now-playable-in-the-far-east/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/pokemon-go-is-now-playable-in-the-far-east/#respond Wed, 06 Jul 2016 08:02:08 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=298458 Update: Some of our readers from around the world have managed to download it. If you're playing Pokémon Go right now, where are you from, and which platform are you playing on? Nintendo has launched its new augmented reality smartphone game, Pokémon GO, in territories including Japan, New Zealand and Australia, giving residents of those …

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Update: Some of our readers from around the world have managed to download it. If you're playing Pokémon Go right now, where are you from, and which platform are you playing on?

Nintendo has launched its new augmented reality smartphone game, Pokémon GO, in territories including Japan, New Zealand and Australia, giving residents of those far-Eastern countries a chance to discover dangerous and bizarre digital animals – right along with all of the real ones.

Pokémon GO is Nintendo's first big push into the mobile space with a brand new property. Although this game uses the Pokémon IP, it's the first real title of its kind to come out of a major studio and especially with such an established franchise. It will let players wander the real world, finding Pokémon, Gyms to battle, teams to join and more.

Players will of course be able to battle one another too, but it's the physical act of finding Pokémon while out and about which is the big draw for Pokémon GO.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sj2iQyBTQs']

“Certain Pokémon appear near their native environment – look for Water-type Pokémon by lakes and oceans,” the developer, Niantic Games, previously said (via Eurogamer). “Visit PokéStops, found at interesting places like museums, art installations, historical markers, and monuments, to stock up on Poké Balls and helpful items.”

There's no mention of where other types of Pokémon might be. Will ghost monsters live in graveyards? Where will pyschic Pokémon hang out?

Regardless though, different Pokémon will be available in certain countries, meaning trading will be a must for those who want to collect them all – unless you're quite the globe trotter.

Although Pokémon GO is available in select territories right now, it should show up in other countries on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store at some point today.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I'm looking forward to giving Pokémon GO a try, but I just hope it doesn't have that stink of free to play mobile titles on it. Fingers crossed it's not filled to the gills with micro-transactions. 

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