As someone who was there for Pac-Man Fever, covered video games for close to 25 years, and played games since before there were “consoles,” I can say with certainty that “Pokémon Go” is the biggest phenomenon I have ever witnessed. Partly, I believe, because it is so visible. While the “Minecraft” revolution happened in the homes around the globe, “Pokémon Go” played out before us in public like a Shakespearian drama.
News stories of people falling off cliffs, being trapped in caves, or running and screaming across a public park in pursuit of these creatures just adds to the spectacle. Businesses giving discounts for members of Team Valor, or free drinks to champions of gyms, has given it a social resonance that games rarely achieve.
I could easily argue that the game itself isn’t all that great (specifically the servers). But the perfect storm of smartphones ready to support augmented reality (AR), and an audience hungry to experience something new with a brand they have loved for years, has struck a chord with pop culture we may never see again.
It will be interesting to see where AR goes from here. While I have always felt it’s an amazing utility that could change how we interact with the world, it will be fascinating to see how the games evolve, because after the success of “Pokémon Go” we can expect a deluge of similar products trying to cash in on the magic.
Enjoy the magic as gaming continues to evolve with AR and VR, but also take a moment to appreciate how gaming becomes more and more mainstream. “Pokémon Go” has ignited the imaginations of people, not just gamers, everywhere.
Cheers,
Andy McNamara
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Andy McNamara is editor-in-chief of Game Informer. For video game news and reviews, check out the latest issue of Game Informer or visit the magazine's website at gameinformer.com.
