For those who don’t know the difference between a Squirtle and a Zubat, here’s a look at “Pokemon Go.”
“Pokemon Go” is a free app that you can download for your iOS or Android smartphone. The game asks players to wander their real-world neighborhoods on the hunt for the animated monsters. Players build their collections, make their Pokemon more powerful and do battle with those held by other players.
Set up is relatively quick. You customize your avatar – choosing the color of its hair and style of clothing – then set off on your adventures.
The app displays your avatar amid a grid of streets and other bits of geography. It’s like a bare-bones version of Google Maps with a pretty sky above it. You can see in all directions by spinning your character around. Small, light-blue blocks signify “Pokestops,” landmarks that could be anything from the entrance to a park to fancy stonework on a building. Tagging these spots with your phone earns you “Pokeballs,” which you can use to throw at, and ultimately collect, Pokemon, along with other items.
The actual Pokemon – there are 128 initially listed in your profile’s “Pokedex” – also appear on your grid from time to time. Tapping on them brings them up on your screen, allowing you to fling your Pokeballs at them.
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