'Pokemon GO' News: After Japan, Field Test Now Live in Australia and New Zealand
The much-awaited augmented reality game "Pokemon GO" is now on its beta testing phase after developer Niantic launched actual field testing in the Pokemon Company's home country, Japan, last month. According to a report in Game Rant, the field test will be expanded to the west and Australia and New Zealand will be the first countries outside of Japan who will get the privilege of trying out the game.
Only Australian and New Zealand residents are qualified to take part in the field test. Those who are interested can sign up through the Niantic website. According to a report in Tech Times, the requirements for field testers are indicated in the sign up link, which is only accessible to Australian and New Zealand residents. Among these include having an iOS device that runs on iOS 8 or newer, or an Android device that runs on Android 4.3 or newer, as well as signing a Privacy Policy which restricts field testers from sharing any information about the beta test.
Developers also cited that not all types of smartphones will be able to run the game smoothly. Sign up is currently ongoing, but may end any time. Field testers will then be randomly selected based on experience with real world gaming, OS type and luck, according to the report. A confirmation email will be sent only once to those who have been selected.
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Another report in GameSpot, field testers in Australia and New Zealand will be the first Western users who will see the game in action. Users need to adhere to a confidentiality clause as outlined in the terms of the beta test and their inputs will be used by Niantic to further refine and improve the game before its public launch. A single field test account is also restricted to one user only. Niantic still wants to provide an "element of surprise" for fans when the game is released.
