'Pokémon Go' is finally out, but not for everyone
UPDATE: July 6, 2016, 6:23 p.m. AEST
It looks like Pokémon Go's Australian launch could be having a few teething troubles.
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Wednesday evening local time, hours after the mobile game launched, players began reporting a server outage on social media. The Pokémon Company and Nintendo have been contacted for details and when fans can expect the game back online.
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It's finally here.
The much-anticipated augmented reality mobile game Pokémon Go has been slyly released, but it appears to only be available for Australians and New Zealanders.
Developed by Niantic Labs in partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, the game was slated for a July release but download links have surfaced Wednesday morning local time.
A Nintendo Australia spokesperson confirmed to Mashable Australia via email that Pokémon Go is available in Australia and New Zealand, but could not comment on its availability in other countries.
You can find it on Apple's App Store or on Google Play, but these links only seem to be working Down Under for the moment. According to a tweet by The Wall Street Journal's Takashi Mochizuki, Nintendo has instructed eager U.S. and Japanese customers to "please wait for a while." Sorry folks.
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A first look at Pokémon Go
Luckily Mashable Australia happens to have access, so here's a tour of the game while the rest of the world patiently waits.
First, you'll be instructed to sign up with a Google account, if you don't have one already. Professor Willow will then prompt you to set up your character, with the ability to change their appearance.
Pokémon Go relies on you exploring the real world in order to find Pokémon and accessories, using your phone's GPS system to keep track. It's certainly an excellent excuse to get out of the house or the office.
When you encounter a wild Pokémon, just tap on it if you're close enough and that will activate your camera so you can try and capture it. Flick your Pokéball so it hits the Pokémon, or you can also run if you're not interested in collecting the character.
Another excuse to start walking and exploring are PokéStops, real world locations that are scattered around your city.
They're usually local landmarks, so when you get close enough, you can interact with the PokéStop and score yourself some items. We scored ourselves four Pokéballs at a local mesjid.
There are also gyms at real locations and you can battle for control. Assign a Pokémon to claim the gym, strengthen it with more Pokémon if it's a "friendly gym" or battle it if it's rival gym.
We haven't come across a gym yet, unfortunately, so we can't test this out. They do sound like a mighty lot of fun, but just hope you don't run into a rival one on your street.
The "nearby" screen will also tell you about the Pokémon you can find in your neighbourhood.
Pokémon Go is a freemium game, meaning it's free to download, but has in-app purchases. You can buy PokéCoins, the in-game currency, to use in the game.
PokéCoins will allow you to purchase items in the store, but it's not clear whether you can win these coins from battles or by picking them up on your travels. There are certainly no old-school Game Corners to gamble away your coins, either.
One hundred Pokécoins cost A$1.49 (US$1.11), or you can load up with 14,500 of them for a hefty A$159 (US$117.96). Items range from Pokéballs to wild Pokémon-attracting incense or lures. There are also so-called "lucky eggs," which have a mystery item inside.
One thing we do worry about Pokémon Go is its power consumption thanks to heavy use of GPS and your phone's camera. There is a "low power mode" in the game's settings for those low on battery.
Overall, it looks like a fun distraction that doesn't require intense hours of attention like previous Pokémon games. It's perfect for kids who've grown up with the franchise and who might now prefer a bit of exercise and exploration.
Get ready to be hooked.
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Topics Pokemon
