Pokémon GO!

I'd have downloaded it... if it weren't for the fact that I'm still using a LGA340.

My brother and my nephew both have the app, though. Which is making driving around a real pain when they're in the car. Because they keep demanding that I pull over or take this detour so that they can try to catch this or that Pokémon.

Count me among those few.

I prefer the handheld versions to be honest.

*high five*
Technically I couldn't even if I wanted to since I lack a smartphone but I have no interest anyway. Kind of stopped on... fourth or fifth gen depending on how you count... when it comes to pokemon.

Ironically I might still get faced with it since I'm going to a MtG even tommorow and I've already seen people worried they might face people who get distracted from the event by Pokemon Go. This might get interesting.

I find it extremely irritating when people who have never had ANY interest in Pokémon are now suddenly picking up GO and are like "OMG THIS IS GREEEEAT!" Like wtf. Since when yo ass like Pokémon, chump? Play the main series, it's waaaay better!

...Sorry, just had to rant a little there...

XombieMike, maybe you can create a separate thread for everybody who wants to talk about why they don't want to play Pokemon GO. Call it Pokemon GOn't.

That was tongue-in-cheek, XM, given that you asked about people playing and nearly all of the responses have been about not playing.

In any case, as I mentioned, it's a great supplement to my normal walking routine. I'm avoid plunking down any actual cash, too. Maybe at some point I'll buy some pokecoins, just as an appreciation for enjoying the app.

One neat thing, though, is that I've discovered some cool places nearby that I didn't even know existed. Including this really awesome "celestial map" -- a wall on the side of an outdoor staircase that is covered in an iron sheet. The iron sheet has very celestial markings on it cut out of it, and at night, there's back lighting to make it light up. Really cool.... passed by it every day, and it was just down half a block.

Oh, and I hatched a porygon!

I've been playing it. There's Pokemon and Pokestops everywhere, which is great and always keeps me and my friends interested. We live in New York though so I'm unsure if it's always that populated in other locations.

Nope. I have a Microsoft Lumia phone atm, so I basically can't play it even if I wanted to.

(And I kindda do)

So, having spent a couple weeks with the app at this point, I'm dubious that this app has much staying power.

First and foremost, the program is way too buggy. I am frequently closing and re-opening it. The battery saving feature was a nice idea, but it also causes the app touch interface to stop working.

But on to the sustained interest. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I use it while walking to and from work. That's about 2.2 miles total each day. I typically catch about 10 pokemon each way. At this point, I am level 16. This seems like a sustainable pace for me, but at some point, I assume I'll just want to go back to enjoying a walk w/o tending to my phone.

I'm not sure what the draw will be for other people. Dominating the gyms maybe? I don't know, I don't do the gym thing. I battle occasionally, but the battle mechanics are boring -- type matchups really don't matter (even if it does say 'super effective' when you get a favorable type matchup).

I noted at SDCC, one of the developpers mentioned plans to add stuff over the months and years. I think they've under-estimated the longevity of the interest. If they keep introducing more generations of pokemon, I suppose there would be a resurgence of interest each time, but at present it just doesn't seem to have the depth necessary. At least, that's my take.

XombieMike -- any thoughts at this point?