What is Pokémon Go? What is the Pokémon Go Fest?

The second Pokémon Go Fest is scheduled this weekend in Chicago. Thousands of people are expected at Lincoln Park to play augmented reality game. Last year's Pokémon Go Fest – also in Chicago – was riddled with technical problems, but the organizers say they've made changes to make this year's festival run more smoothly.

In 2016, 28.5 million users were playing Pokemon Go

But if you've never played the game, here is some information about the game and the upcoming Chicago Fest:

What is Pokémon?

Pokémon is a Japanese media franchise first developed by Nintendo in 1995 as a role-playing video game for the company's Game Boy product line. The video game and consumer electronics company has continued to develop the Pokémon series over the past two decades

The Pokémon (short for "pocket monsters") are fictional animals created in the US. franchise universe. Pikachu, the yellow-type electric Pokémon mouse, is the adorable ambbadador of the brand and has appeared in Pokémon video games, animated TV shows, movies and trading cards.

Thursday, June 14, 2018, Pikachu and Eevee The Nintendo booth at the Electronic Entertainment Expo E3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. (Photo AP / Damian Dovarganes)

What is Pokémon Go?

Pokémon Go is an augmented reality game developed by Niantic Inc. in collaboration with Nintendo, which continues to own the Pokémon brand. Niantic was previously part of Google before becoming an independent company in 2015.

The game takes advantage of modern features of smartphones, such as geolocation and camera, to insert a virtual game world between the player and the physical. world via the smartphone screen. The mechanics of Pokémon Go are the same in video games developed by Nintendo: players act as "trainers" for Pokémon, capturing wild Pokémon and fighting other players to improve the skills and abilities of their Pokémon.

previous Pokémon games, as it requires players to move into the real world, rather than standing still and moving their character into the game. The game takes place in a virtual world mapped to the real world surrounded.

Bring your smartphone to a park, for example, and you'll probably see more grbad-type Pokémon to catch. Go to the lake and you will see more types of water. Pokéstop and Gyms – two sites in play that help players progress – are usually located in places of great historical and cultural interest, such as museums, sculptures and monuments. This encourages players to explore the real world around them while they play the game.

Pokémon Go is displayed on a mobile phone. | Photo AP

What is the Pokémon Go Fest?

In simple terms, it's a celebration of the game live and in the real world. The activities, tents and trekking of 1.8 miles in Chicago's Lincoln Park this weekend are just the physical manifestations of the Fest. Niantic, the developer of the game, has prepared special features in the game for players within the confines of Lincoln Park, which may include more rare or new Pokémon.

However, these activities are not exclusive or even limited to Lincoln Park. This weekend, the Pokémon shown in the Fest will appear more frequently to all players around the world, even if they do not participate in the Fest. The Fest can be described as a party, a rally of players, a celebration organized by a developer and a game launch stage at the same time.

The first Fest, held at Chicago's Grant Park in 2017, was "disastrous" because technical problems with gaming and with cellular network providers meant that players were not able to play Pokémon Go during the event. Niantic has made some changes to avoid these problems again this year.

Pokémon Go coaches gather at Grant Park for Pokémon Go Fest on July 22, 2017. | Max Herman / For the sun

What about security?

Because Pokémon Go requires using its phone on the outside, there is always the danger of being out and distracted. When the game was launched in 2016, it was feared that players would be distracted and unconsciously in dangerous situations. The Pokémon Go game has been updated to include security warnings reminding players to pay attention to the world around them.

Pokémon Go requires the features of the smartphone – geolocation, camera and screen – as well as the data processing app means Pokémon Go is quite exhausting. Although a phone running out of battery is not dangerous in itself, it means that the cell phone is unusable, and not being able to call 911 for help in case emergency is not ideal.

Pokémon Go as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Chicago Riverwalk. | Pokémon GO

Why do so many people play it?

Because it's very entertaining. When the Pokémon Go game hit in 2016, we reported to the Sun-Times that players thought the game was connecting them with people they would not have met otherwise. Pokémon Go does not really have an age or target demographic and encourages physical activity: players must move to hatch eggs in the game, and the game detects when you are at home. above a certain speed and that you stop counting the movements. Do not cheat while driving.

The excitement of the launch of the game may have disappeared, but the Pokémon Go still offers players a strong sense of community. Niantic has organized Community Days around the world this year, encouraging players to visit their local parks and meet other players by offering them special Pokémon in a limited time. Allegra Frank, of Vox Media Polygon, described the game as "a matter of friendship with coaches and Pokémon, in a world that encourages players with an adventurous spirit."

What can I expect this weekend? separate complete guide about so well please check.