The World’s Gone Pokemon Crazy – Pokemon Go. What Business Owners Want To Know.

Businesses & Brands can learn a trick or two

I’m a retro gamer, not a headset wearer who is up until 5am playing Call Of Duty. I don’t own a PS4, or PS3 nor an Xbox of any sort. I’m a Mario on the NES guy, who knows that when i’ve had enough I can switch it off or save and walk away. I have (at present) no intentions of pulling over my car to catch a Pokemon! But people are doing it!

In the crazy world we live in a new mobile app is literally taking over the world, but I wanted to download, take a look and share some important stats and thoughts on what businesses can learn from Pokemon Go.

What is Pokemon Go in 3 Short Paragraphs

1. Intro

Pokemon first became popular in the 90’s through games on the Game Boy, an animated tv series and toptrump style playing cards. The game involves catching and battling monsters or Pokemon (Pocket Monsters)- I’m not too familiar with the entire game play but I understand you can train your monsters to gain experience and battle other trainers (users or Pokemon owners).

2.  It Uses AR & Geo Location

Pokemon Go is a new incarnation of the game for smart phones that uses AR (Augmented Reality) taking the phones geo location and use of the user’s camera to display 3D monsters on the device screen as if looking through X ray glasses and these monsters have been there all along. Which is where the excitement /  madness begins, as you patrol the streets you can see where Pokemon are hiding – really dangerous if you’re driving!

3. It’s Downloaded Free, Not Sold.

Some business owners won’t get their head around giving things away for free, but the freemium model has been successful in many businesses, however like many app games now (Candy Crush etc) they have in-App purchases, which are far more lucrative than making a single transaction as the user invests more money if they want quicker results. Cha-Ching. Alongside in-app coins you can purchase it has also been suggested that sponsorship of ‘Pokestops’ will happen from large restaurant chains to drive footfall.

Let The Numbers Do The Talking

Pokemon Go launched in the UK on the 13th July on Android & 14th July on IOS and is already number one in the download charts on both platforms.  But what’s more important is that the time users are spending playing Pokemon is on average 40 minutes per day, which knocks out Facebook and Snapchat combined! (http://appinstitute.com/pokemongo-realtime-stats/) With 23 Million daily active users the app overshadows the daily usage of addictive games like the Candy Crush Saga when it peaked at 22 Million in 2013.

Are people spending less time or social networks?

Currently, it appears so. As the more time they’re spending chasing fictional creatures, means the less time they’re doing anything else. But remember this is new and fun, the question is can they make it interesting enough to keep players. Some suggest that the game is a fad and won’t last forever and before you know it the regular day-to-day social updating will return and the users will reduce, but only time will see.

Technology Presenting A New Opportunity

What’s extremely fascinating about the game is the way that that kids and adults are required to leave the house to play the game. Simply sitting on the sofa with a control pad won’t get you anyway, you literally need to walk about, waving your phone to play. Ingenious.

Through this creativity also brings huge opportunity. Bricks and mortar businesses such as restaurants or even retail shops can contain Pokemon inside or even be a Pokestop (where you can recharge or stock up on pokeballs – which you need to capture the pokemon). Kids are flooding to these locations (some being also in very bizarre places like roundabouts) but they are still flooding there. Being that the free app will no doubt need to drive more cash to the business other than in app purchases and top ups; sponsorship of these pokestops is inevitable.

If McDonalds can ensure that a Pokestop is at each of their restaurants then surely the kids will flock there and food and drink will be purchased!

Does this bridge the gap between the bricks and mortar businesses and the digital world? Will more businesses introduce AR to help bring a digital twist into their day to day lives?

Would A Game or App Boost Your Bricks & Mortar Business?

Would AR technology benefit your business, or what are your thoughts on Pokemon, or would an app or game attract new customers to your business? We love to chat and are always excited to brainstorm ideas and help businesses grow through new technology as well as old – so get on the blower, or find our studio on Pokemon Go – we have at least 3 Pokemon inside 🙂