Beginner's Guide in Playing Pokémon GO: Tips and Things You Need to Know
Thanks to GPS, and augmented reality, people now have the ability to catch Pokémon in the real world through the newly-launched game app, Pokémon GO. But before you go wild for this game, make sure you acquire enough knowledge while playing.
Based on Nintendo's creature-catching series, Pokémon GO is a mobile game which allows players to catch, trade, and battle virtual Pokémon that appear in the real world. A few days right after it was launched, it has quickly taken the world by storm.
If you are one of the beginners who are eager to play the game but are still clueless on how it goes, here are a few tips and guides you need to know before you 'gotta catch 'em all.'
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Game Basics
1. When you launch the game, you will be prompted to sign in your Google username, or create a new account.
2. After you create and have your account verified, you can now customize your digital avatar. You can change its gender, eye color, hair color, clothes and other accessories. Once you've done, you can now enter the main area of the game, the Pokémon GO map.
3. The map is detailed as an animated version of Google Maps. In the map, you can see roads, rustling grass, and local landmarks, the PokéStops and Pokémon Gyms. The interesting part here will be your movement while playing the game. As you walk in the real world, your avatar walks too.
1. A rustling grass indicates that a Pokémon is nearby. When you walk closer to it, a Pokémon will appear. On the bottom right corner of your screen, there is a menu that indicates what Pokémon are near you. Once you pull down the menu, you'll see that each Pokémon has footprints placed under them. Three footprints means that they are still far and zero indicates they are really close.
2. Once you see a Pokémon, you can throw a Poké Ball by tapping to capture it.
3. As you progress in the game, you'll encounter stronger Pokémon that require a powerful Poké Ball.
4. In catching Pokémon, you will see a ring that indicates its level of difficulty in catching. Green indicates Easy; Yellow indicates Moderate; and Red indicates Difficult. The good news is, as your Trainer/Avatar levels up, you'll gradually earn special Poké Balls. These Poké Balls are much likely to capture rarer Pokémon.
5. To make your Pokémon evolve, you'll have to use the Stardust you gained from capturing Pokémon.
6. Once your trainer reaches Level 5, you can now join a team and start battling in the Pokémon Gyms.
7. You'll have to use special items in healing and reviving your Pokémon.
Tricks and What You Need To Know
1. You can have Pikachu as your starter Pokémon. At the beginning of the game, you will be offered Charmander, Bulbasaur, or Squirtle. Don't pick any of them. Instead, run away physically. They might run after you, but after four tries, this will give them the message that you don't want them. And Pikachu will then appear.
2. The best way to capture Pokémon is turning off your AR/camera.
3. The easiest Pokémon to evolve are Weedle, Pidgey, Caterpie, and Rattata requiring only atleast 12 candies of their type.
4. You'll need to travel outside your area to complete Pokédex.
5. Weather and time of the day affect the type of Pokémon you will encounter.
6. You can collect your own gym rewards every 21 hours.
Pokémon GO is surely a fun way to socialize with people. It is also helpful in exploring things around your environment.
