Feature: What We Can Expect From The Future Of Pokémon GO

It needs to be a bit easier to obtain pokeballs. Walking by a pokestop isn't enough, you have to camp there for at least a few spins or you won't get enough to catch the pokemon you find. That may be different if more pokestops are available but I have trouble finding them, there is one near me and I just have to go there and sit around waiting on the timer. That's just boring.

I expect more crashes and bugs...

More Stops for me....-.-

A stable server?

An official release in France? (Yes I'm still waiting)

@Megumi_Sagano Hmm good point! @aliuc I've already said that.

I hope they add more pokemon soon. That will hopefully reduced the huge amount of Drowzee and Pidgey!

Better error handling in the client (no freezes when the connection drops at an inappropriate time for instance)?

Oh honestly though, I expect shiny pokemons

Commercialization. There is a 3 page article today in my local newspaper Newsday - the first 3 pages of the business section no less - about how companies are buying lures and using them and offering B1G1 milkshake offers. Stores w/o Pokestops willing be paying Niantic big bucks to get them.

um, this might be locked behind a firewall, I don't know as I'm a subscriber to the actual paper newspaper.

http://www.newsday.com/business/li-businesses-look-to-catch-the-eye-of-pokemon-go-players-1.12049389

Proliferation. This may become the new "toys-to-life" craze w/ other licensees becoming their own "Go" game. I'm sure Disney, Marvel and Star Wars - yes I know that's all 1 company - will each have their own "Where's Waldo?" type game. Imagine a world full of people walking around w/ smartphones and every single one is playing "Let it Go" really loudly to attract the lost reindeer or Olaf the snowman. shudder

Funniest video of Go players I've seen so far. Maybe the game will get banned everywhere? Though more likely it will just fade away. Winter is coming. OK, 6 months from now winter is coming, but eventually winter always comes. How many of these people will be outside when it's 2'?

http://screenrant.com/pokemon-go-central-park-stampede/

@Snow-DThere are shinies already available in the game.ust

Like most fads it will peak and level out before it declines. Hopefully without any accidents.

Once those who stick with it look at their data bills and low battery life, the decline will start.

Sick of losing pokeballs and items due to server crashes.

@theinstruct0r that's a weird way to spell my user name. Currently there is no shiny unless there actually is but I haven't encountered any yet

Adding in shinies would be an easy way to increase interest and lifespan of the game, while not necessitating as much work as adding more new Pokémon. That can wait a bit. For once, it's just gen 1, like in the old days.

Also, shiny-hunters won't be able to reset to get their pray. They will have to do it legit

However, I don't think making any possible connection with the main series games would be a good idea. This could ruin both the main series and Go.

@Megumi_Sagano @Alshain01 If you live anywhere near a cluster of like 4 or more Pokestops (like a city or park), all you need to do is take one trip there and your bag will fill up quickly.

It's definitely a problem that there are so little Pokestops in rural areas, but I was surprised at how fast I was able to fill up my bag with one trip into a nearby town.

@rjejr I can definitely see my interest waning fast, but I really like Pokemon gen(eration) 3 (although gen 4 has my favorites) so once that comes out I'm playing this game until I catch 'em all!

The thing this game really needs to keep going is something fun to do that actually involves player-player interaction. Right now you can't do anything to defend your gym other than make it buff. You have to just watch it being taken and then take it back...

If the app could freeze up less that would be ace. It's great fun but I've lost so many Pokémon from it freezing up after a catch.

@Alshain01 More pokestops are coming.

The moment they put out that businesses can appeal (pay) to be pokestops, is the moment there will be a pokestop at every gamestop, every comic book store, every chuck e cheese, every toys r us.

As well as several bars, Dave and Busters, and Barcades.

@MasterWario From my house there's only one Stop...and I have to leave my neighborhood and cross a few streets (one of them big) just to get to it...

@Alshain01 Move to a bigger city....

@Roam85 I don't think that will ever happen. It's going to be hard to police. There are businesses now that are already pokestops. They would have to go through every pokestop in the world and remove those before adding a "pay to get a pokestop" service.

@Snow-Dust My message went completely wrong, weird. There are shinies already implemented, which you can see on YouTube and there was a Shiny venomant at a Gym near me, before the team lost it.

@theinstruct0r I thought the sentence was a bit weird haha. So the shinies are legit, i only saw images and thought they were photoshopped. Thanks for the info

Would like a way to train your pokemon w.o grinding captures. Similar to pokemon amie but on pokemon go. Ev training could be fun as well. A robust battle system would be bueno as well.

I want a gifting option were I can give my pokemon away without receiving any (also better servers,birthday surprises and TM/HM)

@rjejr
I was gonna show you that vid lol...

Crazy

It would be nice to be able to suggest new stops they could add. At the moment in my town (which is kinda small) there are three pokestops but they're sorta placed one after the other. It would be more fun if we had more pokestops spread out to encourage more exploration.

These are really neat and essential features to include ^_^ but won't these inclusions be very content-heavy for a Free-to-play mobile game? And won't it cut into the sales & focus of the main series games? I think Pokémon Go will remain more simplistic than its main series counterparts just to keep the keep the casual Pokémon fans happy.

I don't think you will see online trading or online battling any time soon. I am pretty sure the trading referred to is at the local level. It would defeat the purpose to do anything online. The whole point is for you to get out and do something.

Gen 3 is my favourite generation. I can't wait to catch all those different Spindas! 😂

"it's actually cost this writer a victory in a heated gym battle, a hatched 10km egg, and dozens of Gastly that refuse to be caught"

So server issues can semifreeze the app during the egg hatch, too? Ouch. But like I said earlier, it's the bane of many Android games and a big performance problem about them - not even midgame connection issues themselves as much as the apps' systematic failure to stomach these issues without hiccuping errors, rebooting, freezing or plainly crashing. And given that the platform's game library tends to rely on the Internet for the most trivial things like switching screens and menus, it sure does brew frustration.

This buzzkill fan vent aside, the prospect of trading does sound tempting, although so far the impression (or the illusion?) is that GO may be one of the rare games where one CAN fill the pokedex on their own, and I like the idea. All the better if the app can contribute to collections in the flagship games (I wish Pokemon Bank emulated backtrade with VC Blue and Red since making use of StreetPass here in Minsk is like searching for water pokemon in the basement, but that's wishful thinking).

@JaxonH My cousin posted it on FB. I thought he might have been there - he spends a lot of time in Manhattan at night - but he just linked to it from somewhere else.

We still aren't playing it, it's too hot out, we huddle under the AC once it hits 80', we're a weak willed lot. We might go spend Wed afternoon at that town in the newspaper article wandering around and being hip, or maybe not, it's still undecided. But every other day this week it's 90', Wed it's only 80', so we are going out somewhere.

How's Generation's going? You playing thru the tutorial or just skip to the good stuff? My kids still aren't interested, they wait for Sun and Moon.

@Alshain01 I haven't played Pokemon Go, but I did play Ingress for a while. Sitting at a single or even a few Pokestops/Portals will not get you supplies. The more hardcore players would organize farming sessions, where they would traverse around an area that was dense with portals. An example for Nashville, TN would be Bi-Centennial Park where there was a portal every few feet in the small park. If you use the Ingress Intel Map, you should be able to locate a dense area near you.

As for the game itself, they will probably introduce community events eventually. If they follow Ingress's path, it will be major events in various cities around the world where the three teams battle for supremacy.

EDIT: In case anyone was not aware, Pokemon Go's initial portals was based on the Ingress's portals. That means most churches, roadway historical signs, park benches with a memorial marker, fancy statue, etc. is a Pokestop.

@Alshain01 there are very few in my immediate vicinity, too, but what about the town/city where you live? Mine has plenty downtown, and it's often possible to quickly use some even when passing them on a public transport ride (especially if they're near a bus stop). I've managed to keep my stock around 90 so far.

@MasterWario I never got an email from your post, just saw my name there now when I got an email from Jax's post. Did you add me in as an edit? I always wondered if edited in names later sent the email or not. The name looks right, weird.

@rjejr
I have an infection in my foot that's taken a lot out of me. When I'm not sleeping 12 hours straight, I'm ripping my entire GC collection for play on the Wii U. Down to the last 5 games after Rogue Squadron 2 finishes up.

So YA, just been takin it easy getting this GC collection in order. Haven't played more than 3 quests so far. I'll get there though. Just really bad timing with all this other stuff going on.

@JaxonH Foot infection? That sucks. Good thing you weren't addicted to Go or you'ld be really annoyed. Well take it easy, get well, and have some ice cream. I'm eating some right now, Breyer's Blast w/ mini Hershey's kisses filled w/ caramel, yummy.

@rjejr Well that confirms this mystery for me as well! Yes I did edit in my comment, so it appears doing so does not send an e-mail!

@MasterWario Thanks for confirming that. Think I'll go back to multiple posts to people rather than just 1 w/ 4 or 5 replies - I get carried a way a bit on here sometimes. People were complaining about how many posts I was making so I started consolidating and I noticed some people who normally reply back weren't. Now I know.

My friends are getting pretty fed up with the freezing, crashes and server issues.
I haven't even bothered to try it at all yet. ;p

You'd think it would work better, since it must use a lot of the same code as Ingress...

I wish there was a way I could actually use my favorites like Cubone instead of having to just go with whatever I can catch most of and grind into candy. Not sure how that would be done though.

https://support.pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=319928

Go here to request a pokestop or gym, or to report one

@Alshain01 https://support.pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=319928

check this out - you can request a pokestop or gym, or report one

@Alshain01 there was a request form to ask for new pokestops but it seems that niantic took down the option may be there was to many people asking. http://kotaku.com/you-can-now-request-new-pokestops-and-gyms-in-pokemon-g-1783669406

A full worldwide release in all regions first would be nice.

@Moshugan it probably does but Ingress was never remotely this popular. The issues are less with the app (although it's not without a few bugs - I had a Pokémon run away as I opened the item menu and then I couldn't close it again!) and more with the servers unable to cope with quite so many people playing. I don't think anyone could have expected it to be as big as it is.

It's super fun when it works though

I read a story about a man in New Zealand who quit his job to become a full-time Pokemon Trainer. The most he's gotten from it is free transportation passes. All the same, this got me thinking about possible corporate sponsorship for the really strong players. If you look at people who hike the Appalachian Trail or the PCT, some of them have their costs compensated for by companies willing to sponsor the hikers, so long as they are willing to talk about the product on the trail. Same with Pokemon, I can imagine players backed by sponsors to sell a product while they're out playing the game.

I disagree with the point about battling for XP defeats the purpose of going outside. I think catching Pokemon, candy, and poke stop for items aside from gyms it's enough. If anything battling should grant you stardust. Also like the game boy games they should provide XP or stardust based on the Pokemon level that you beat as in if you beat a Pokemon too weak you gain less.

Happy for Nintendo, but I'm already starting to become spent on all the stories and people talking about u gotta play it. Ready to see what they'll do with Animal Crossing and how it'll perform. Haven't played one game, but it seems like the perfect fit for mobile, and it's a hugely success franchise.

Hope You will fix the bug with 3 feets to every pokemon ;_;

@Darknyht That's not how Pokemon Works. You get supplies only from the pokestops, once you obtain them you have to wait a few minutes to get more from that stop.

Sorry if I missed this prior, but was trading confirmed to be online, or just local? If online, that's a bit of a letdown. I would think local trading would be much better to complement the social aspect that this game has brought to the table. Granted, online might be better for getting certain region-locked ones though.

U could fix gps performance.Google maps work perfect for me instead of polemon go.

@rjejr
It's winter right now. In six months time I'll be catching pokemans on the beach 😎🌴

I've said it before but I think the biggest issue Pokemon GO has is the inability for people to get attached to their Pokemon.

In comparison to the main series where you can choose a Pokemon you like, and than put your effort into raising the Pokemon you like, making them feel like friends you can be attached to, Pokemon in Pokemon GO feel like commodities or tools. Pokemon in Pokemon GO are fully disposable as you get slightly stronger ones, and raising a Pokemon of your choice is unreasonable since you can't power up/strengthen a Pokemon unless you've caught a lot of it and have a lot of its candies. As a result you end up just replacing your older Pokemon as you catch better ones, there is no sense of attachment, and in fact the game mechanics discourage it.

I feel like this could at least be partially fixed if Pokemon Candies weren't absolutely required to increase a Pokemon's CP, maybe having the Candies just provides additional benefits, like more CP, or less Stardust Cost.

Another suggestion I've heard is to allow people to optionally battle wild Pokemon to increase its CP, as to not need the Candies.

I hope this trend also raise the Hype of Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing on mobile that will be released soon. Almost people in the world suddenly like Pokemon because of Pokemon GO. So, i hope those two titles will be liked by people same as Pokemon GO.

Imagine if Nintendo give each region its own exclusive Pokemon in Pokemon Go (ex: Johto's Pokemon exclusive only in Asia, Honne's Pokemon exclusive only in SA, Sinnoh in Japan, Unova in NA, Kalos in PAL, Alola in Oceania, with Kanto's Pokemon scattered throughout), you would have to travel the Earth to finally catch em all. If Nintendo smart they'll do this so people will have a reason to take vacation.

@Flanktwo You mean this bird, Farfetch'd

Well that's a start but I feel they should just give all regions the Kanto Pokemon and make the other ones exclusive cause everyone knows about the Kanto ones already, all the other regions Pokemon could be exclusive so to make finding them worthwhile. Nintendo could then add online trading so players from around the world could trade their region's exclusive Pokemon to get other region's exclusive Pokemon too (if they prefer not to travel international) as well as an International PokeDex upgrade. For paid DLC, they could just add more unique balls for player to use like Great Balls, Lure Balls, and such but limit the Master Ball or have it as a grand prize via a giveaway or something so player actually makes an effort to try to earn that.

@Alshain01 I tested your statement by downloading the game and using it to walk my old farm route. It is exactly how it works. By walking the route I used for Ingress, and doing a 10 minute circuit I managed to harvest 20ish pokeballs from 5 Pokestops. The Pokestops behave exactly like Ingress portals in that once you spin them there is a 5 minute cooldown before you can harvest again. So you make a walking route that takes 5-10 minutes (or more if there are more close-by Pokestops) harvesting them as you go. When you come back around to the first one, it will have recharged and will be ready for a second spin. Just keep walking the circuit until you have farmed enough of whatever it is you want from them.

I would guess there are some hardcore Ingress players that have switched over and they are going to dominate until others learn the strategies. In fact, my knowledge of the farming working originally came from one that did.

One of the biggest things you have to learn is that like Ingress, Pokemon Go requires you to get off your butt to be successful. You can walk a route or you can drive one (although I would guess they have a speed lock like Ingress also. I think it was 35 MPH but I don't remember exactly), but you will not get far in the game without one or the other.

"I will travel across the land searching far and wide" Meh!
More PKMN spawning in rural areas (away from PokéStops and not only in towns) there's virtually nothing out in the countryside.

I've lost my shot at a Charizard not once, but twice, and countless other Pokemon because of the game freezing and crashing. Everything is bound to have its setbacks, especially on this scale, but it certainly does make you want to keep playing.

I'd love them to implement some form of Team Rocket. Maybe you can happen upon some in the wild and battle them, maybe chase their hot air balloon down the road for prizes.

trading, more generations, etc

A new update for Pokemon Go will arrive in March next year:

Nintendo says, "Connect your phone to the NX and receive this update or the game will be disconnected from the game server."

Nintendo will sell hundreds of millions NX. That's their new Blue Ocean strategy: Use mobile games as bait to attract the fishes, when they bite, pull the net.

@Fandabidozi I thought Pokemon were like Polar bears and they only existed north of the equator. (OK, not really, but I liked the alliteration.)

@Nintendian That's both insane and brilliant.

There need to be more Pokémon in rural areas. The lack of stops and gyms out here is understandable because there's nothing here, but there's lots of tall grass here — that should have Pokémon in it! This is where Pokémon would logically be if they existed! I walked 5km last week to hatch an egg and all I saw the whole time was a Weedle. One Weedle. That's insane. (though it kept saying there was a Jigglypuff three paw prints away from me the whole way back; probably behind some of the No Tresspassing signs that line the road the whole way down)

@Darknyht That's the whole point. I have one pokestop and I get 3 pokeballs each time I pass it every 5 mintues. That isn't enough.

@Alshain01 Again, did you consult the ingress intel map for portal locations in your area? There are probably more Pokestops around you than you are aware unless you live in very small, rural, and remote community. Downtown locations usually have quite a few, as do parks, cemeteries, walking trails, and other such locations.

Ability to see other players near you on the map, trading and player battles, and most importantly an actual battle system. For a game series built around turn based strategic battles this game really dropped the ball. Skill involved in certain 'timing' or 'dodging' kinda similar to whats in place, except for the part where you hammer the screen like a parkinsons patient.

@AshFoxX Agree with you on seeing other players on the map, and I said the others already, but I have to disagree on the battle system here.

Yes, the current battle system isn't the most elegant way of taking out gyms, but the whole point is that it's supposed to be a casual game. There's just enough depth in the game for veterans to seek out an edge, but not too much to overwhelm casuals - and that's part of the reason why GO has done so phenomenally well.

If GO had complex battle mechanics and stayed true to its roots, what would be the reason to purchase the main-series games? Casuals would also have to learn a great deal about Pokémon's ins and outs - something that'd increase the drop-rate of the app loads.

That's my two cents anyway...