Gotta Catch ‘Em All with Pokémon GO!

Pokémon, Niantic and Nintendo are teaming up to create the ultimate FREE gaming experience.

Pokémon GO will use your phone's GPS to hunt down Pokémon as you walk around parks, neighborhoods and hiking trails. And, if you haven’t lost touch with your friends while searching for that elusive Gengar, you’ll be able to trade and battle!

But don’t worry, if you have no friends left, you can always battle the nearest opponent in range.

The best part about the whole experience is the game will be F-R-E-E (with in-app purchases)!

Pokémon has always been a big seller, but gamers have been attached to their handheld games or cards. Now, in 2016, Pokémon GO will get you off your ass and into the wild! Encouraging players to explore the world around them, on foot, going places that perhaps they normally wouldn't venture to.

Here's a quote from Tsunekazu Ishihara, the president and CEO of the Pokémon company:

“Our challenge was to develop a great game for smartphone devices that expressed the core values of Pokémon. Pokémon GO is the answer to that challenge.”

Niantic, creators of the GPS location game ‘Ingress’, are the perfect partners for Pokémon and Nintendo for this type of game. In ‘Ingress’, players seek out access points to create triangulations, turning sections of the maps blue or green (depending on their faction) for world domination. Alternatively, with Pokémon GO, players will not be on teams, and instead exploring for themselves and trading with others to complete their collection of Pokémon. Personally, I plan to target Charizard because dragons.

^{You will be mine.}

According to the YouTube video (embedded below) players will be able to send their Pokémon into battle if they’re in range of other players with the app. Teased in the video is a possible battle with Mewtwo that would allow multiple players send their Pokémon into battle in hopes of taking down the legendary creature.

And based on the clip, you’ll be needing all the support, from nearby players, you can get!

In an effort to expand to merchandising, an add-on piece of bluetooth enabled hardware called Pokémon GO Plus will be available for purchase. This will allow players to perform in-game actions, without having the app on their smartphone open. A simple vibration will alert players to nearby events or an appearance of a nearby Pokemon. The biggest question is, would you wear it? The device isn't exactly subtle and with everyone buying up smartwatches, will there be room on your wrist for another device?

^{Is this something you'd wear?}

So, while 2016 seems too far away, it’s time to get off the couch and get in shape because Pokémon GO will require more wanderlust than you’re used to. Pokémon GO will be available for both Apple and Android devices.