UK children’s charity says ‘Pokemon Go’ needs more safety features
Pokémon Go’s biggest strength is that it’s tied to the real world. Players are encouraged to explore their surroundings in order to capture new Pokémon and build out their Pokédex. But unlike the fantasy worlds of Kanto and Johto, planet Earth can be a dangerous place, especially for younger players. In the week since its launch, users have been encouraged to visit some inadvisable places, like a Hells Angels clubhouse. Crooks have also used the lure feature, which attracts Pokemon, to pull in players and rob them for real. They’re rare, but nevertheless alarming cases.
The NSPCC, a charity campaigning for child protection in the UK, has written to the app’s developer, Niantic, asking for a safety overhaul. Peter Wanless, chief executive for the NSPCC, says the app “appears susceptible to being hijacked by users who wish to harm other players.” He points to a number of high-profile news reports, including one that suggests Pokémon Go players have been led to a sex shop in Plymouth, England.
Technically, the app isn’t available in the UK, although countless players have side-stepped the problem by changing their app store location or downloading an Android APK. Before it officially crosses the pond, Wanless says Niantic should be looking at the game and changing how it plays.
“Given Pokémon’s already massive popularity with children, the NSPCC is concerned that basic safety standards appear to have been overlooked. I urge you to urgently reassess your app and its security and safety features. We all have a responsibility to ensure that children are protected and as creators of a game with substantive reach, you have a weighty responsibility to protect your young users.”
Specifically, the NSPCC wants “security and reporting functions” inside the app. It stops short of explaining just how these would operate — but it’s safe to assume that users, parents included, would be able to flag specific areas that they deem inappropriate. Niantic would then review them and, if it agreed with the report, delist the location or tag it as dangerous.
“All too often we see examples of companies simply not doing enough to protect children – their safety is an afterthought,” he presses. “This cannot go on – children live in a digital age, it is a standard feature of their lives. Therefore, their welfare must be a standard consideration when developing products that companies know children will use.”
The NSPCC says it would be happy to work with Niantic and The Pokémon Company before the app is released in the UK. We’ve asked both companies to comment on the letter and will publish their responses.
Pokemon Go’s mental health benefits are real
Dr. John Grohol is an expert in technology’s impact on human behavior and mental health, and for the past 20 years he’s studied how people operate online. He’s the founder of mental health network Psych Central, and he knows all about the latest tools aimed at helping people deal with anxiety, depression and a host of other issues.
And Dr. Grohol has never seen anything like Pokemon Go.
“In terms of the phenomena of people expressing the benefits of playing the game to their real-world mental health status, I think that’s very unique and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen anything like that,” he says.
#PokemonGO has honestly helped so much with my depression and anxiety I’m actually talking to people and being active I love this so much
— JENNY DEATH (@cybergoth1997) July 11, 2016
Srsly though, I haven’t felt this comfortable leaving the house in years. #PokemonGO is helping with my anxiety & depression & it’s amazing.
— Neil (d’class) Tyson (@TheBabyWitch) July 11, 2016
Twitter is flooded with stories about Pokemon Go’s impact on players’ anxiety and depression, with thousands of people lauding the game for getting them out of the house and making it easier to interact with friends and strangers alike. These simple acts are crucial milestones for anyone struggling with depression, Dr. Grohol says.
“The challenge has always been, if you’re depressed, your motivation level is nonexistent,” he explains. “So, you want to go out and get some fresh air, or even take a shower, and it can be a very difficult thing to even comprehend, much less do. I think the impact of something like this, this game, can really be beneficial.”
#PokemonGO has changed me so much for the better in only a week. Dealing with BPD, depression& anxiety it has helped me get out of the house
— Lara (@38Violetqueen) July 11, 2016
Real talk – as someone with anxiety/depression, the fact that I’ve spent most of this weekend outside with friends is unreal. #PokemonGo
— HiRez David (@uglycatlady) July 10, 2016
This isn’t hippie nonsense: Research demonstrating the positive effects of exercise on people’s moods goes back at least 20 years, Dr. Grohol says.
“The research is really, really clear on this, that the more you exercise, the more it would help decrease feelings of depression,” he says. “It actually works as an anti-depressant and it has a really, pretty strong effect. It’s probably one of the most beneficial things a person with depression can do, especially if they’re not accessing other types of treatments, such as psychotherapy or medication.”
Plus, walking around isn’t good only for mental issues — it can also help people lose weight, stay in shape and build overall healthier bodies. In this case, what’s good for the body is also good for the mind.
Yooo I lost 7 pounds playing #PokemonGO!!! Plus it’s helping me with my anxiety a little bit which is awesome af ☺️☺️☺️ #gottacatchemall
— ¯_(ツ)_/¯ (@Queen_Bologna) July 12, 2016
Roughly 43.8 million adults in the United States experience mental illness every year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. That’s one in five adults. The video game community is a magnet for people living with untreated anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses, says suicide prevention organization Take This. The industry itself is volatile, and it attracts particularly creative and highly educated people — factors that can contribute to a perfect storm of untreated mental illnesses.
Russ Pitts, co-founder of Take This, says that hundreds of clinicians and advisers have told him the same thing over the years: Generally, the more educated or technically sophisticated a person is, the less likely he or she is to seek help for mental issues.
“The sense is that because it’s a mental issue and they’re highly skilled in mental areas, they can think their way out of it,” Pitts says. “And a lot of people try that, and it doesn’t work.”
Here’s where Pokemon Go can help. It isn’t presented as a tool to help treat anxiety or depression; instead, it’s a game that happens to cultivate healthy behaviors.
Pokemon Go has got me up and moving and meeting new people.
Thank you, Nintendo/Niantic, for giving me a great anti-depression tool. ❤
— Josh the Seal (@ManectricMan) July 12, 2016
“It helps a person not even think of it as helping their mood because it’s not targeted toward their mood. It’s a game,” Dr. Grohol says. “Because of the way that they’ve created the gaming dynamics, they’ve actually created a very strong reinforcement for people to go out and become more active.”
But, for all of its achievements, Pokemon Go has limits. It may be a wonderful motivator for players to leave their houses, get some light exercise and meet new people, but it isn’t a substitute for professional treatment, Dr. Grohol says.
“I wouldn’t recommend people look at this sort of game or any video game as an opportunity to treat a serious mood disorder, such as chronic depression, solely with a video game,” he says. “I think it’s a great adjunct to other kinds of treatment, such as psychotherapy and medication, but it should not be the sole treatment that person is using to try and help their depressed mood.”
Whether/not #PokemonGO ends up being the cure 4everything from depression 2 obesity, fact remains it’s getting me out the house &off Twitter
— L.D. Lapinski (@ldlapinski) July 12, 2016
#PokemonGo has already been a better treatment for my depression than anything my doctor prescribed or therapist recommended
— Jesseanne Pope (@gleefullyhello) July 11, 2016
Pokemon Go can be an introduction to self-care, but it’s not a cure. It’s not even fool-proof as a video game — server outages have plagued Pokemon Go since its launch in early July, and the game doesn’t extend to some remote regions across the country. If someone is using Pokemon Go as a healthy-habit motivator and the game simply doesn’t load one day, that can be a crushing blow. Similarly, someone who already feels isolated won’t receive help from seeing their Pokemon trainer surrounded by miles of nothing, not even a stray Rattata.
just trying to play #PokemonGo but I live to far away from the road to find ANYTHING…
Depression hit hard tonight pic.twitter.com/5Zyy0JHppp— ramona flowers (@OJMPlemons) July 8, 2016
Pokemon Go is not a panacea for anxiety or depression in general, but for a lot of people it’s a stepping stone toward healthier habits and positive self-care. It isn’t perfect, but there’s no perfect solution for anxiety, depression or any other mental illness. Players who have benefited from playing Pokemon Go can use this opportunity to take their treatment to the next level, Dr. Grohol says.
“If this is what it takes to help you get a treatment or consider a treatment, by all means, this can be an excellent first step,” he says. “But it shouldn’t be a last step.”
I’ve made so many new friends with #PokemonGO, it’s helped my social anxiety, and I’m actually getting out. This is more than just a game.
— Brandon Evans (@Brandon21Evans) July 11, 2016
A live action ‘Pokemon’ movie could finally happen after ‘Go’
Following the smashing success of Pokemon Go, Legendary Pictures is reportedly working harder to secure rights to the Pokemon franchise for a live action film, Deadline reports. We first heard that the studio — which was behind recent geek-friendly films like Warcraft, Pacific Rim and Godzilla — was trying to capture the Pokemon license back in April. As is usually the case with film rights, these things take time. It makes sense for Legendary to make a bigger push for the franchise now, given just how well Pokemon Go has taken off. It’s credited for increasing Nintendo’s overall value by $7.5 billion on Monday, even though the console maker is only a partial owner in The Pokemon Company.
Via: Polygon
‘Pokémon Go’ sponsored locations to let brands in on the fun
While you’re trying to catch ’em all with Pokémon Go, the developers are figuring out how to make (more) money from the white hot augmented reality (AR) game. Along with the existing in-app purchases from “PokéCoins,” developer Niantic says it will use sponsored locations as another way to cash in, according to the Financial Times. “There is a second component to our business model at Niantic, which is this concept of sponsored locations,” Chief Executive John Hanke told the FT.
Sponsorships make a lot of sense for Pokémon Go, because retailers are already paying to set Pokéstop “lures” to draw players. Also, Niantic is familiar with the concept thanks to its other AR game, Ingress. With that app, sponsors like Duane Reade pharmacies in the US and Vodafone in Germany pay to turn their locations into “portals,” drawing extra foot traffic. With Pokemon Go, advertisers would be charged for every customer visiting a store, as confirmed by the app.
In just a week, Pokémon Go has become the most downloaded and top-grossing app on Android and iOS in the US, and has 21 million active (and I do mean active) daily users as of yesterday. It’s not clear how much money the app is actually generating, though some analysts think it could make a $1 billion a year if it can keep up its current momentum.
Niantic is an independent company, but is funded by both Nintendo and Google parent Alphabet. Pokémon Go, meanwhile was jointly developed by Niantic and the Pokémon company, which is 32 percent owned by Nintendo. The success of the game has increased Nintendo’s value by billions of dollars in just two weeks.
Niantic has promised to release more information “in the future” about any Pokémon Go sponsorship deals. As with Ingress, it will no doubt introduce them carefully so as not turn off players. Businesses will need to be equally careful, as the game has drawn mobs of users to various locations, sometimes for the good and sometimes the not-so-good.
‘Pokémon Go’ update fixes the iOS app’s nosy Google access
Pokémon Go for iOS doesn’t have quite as much access to your Google account as some gamers have feared, but it’s clear that Niantic isn’t wasting time trying to assuage your concerns. It already has an update for the rabidly popular game that narrows the iOS version’s access to your Google data if you sign in using a Google account. In short, you can likely relax about your privacy while you’re Pikachu-catching — the biggest issue now is simply getting to play in the first place.
Source: App Store
‘Pokemon Go’ Driving Foot Traffic to Local Businesses
The success of Pokemon Go has had many real-world ramifications recently, including cautionary tales of car accidents, thieves using the game to stage robberies, and Nintendo’s shares jumping 25%, or $7.5 billion, in days. The new augmented reality game is also driving business to local restaurants and bars, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
Food and drink sales spiked by about 30 percent compared to a typical weekend, according to [L’Inizio’s Pizzar Bar] manager Sean Benedetti. It was part luck—the game chooses which public locations to imbue with special significance in its virtual world—but there was also savvy strategy. Benedetti, 29, spent about $10 on “Lure Modules,” an in-game purchase that attracts Pokémon to a specified location. Players soon picked up on the fact that L’inizio’s was well worth visiting. “People are coming out of the woodwork because of this game,” he said.
Pacific Standard co-owner Ryan Kahl told Bloomberg that while the game has increased foot traffic in his Brooklyn-based bar, he hasn’t yet seen the traffic translate into business. “We had one guy run to the back because he had a rare Pokemon,” he said. “It’s been a little weird.” However, Kahl said he had not tried to see if using “Lure Modules” would make a difference, noting that he’s hoping it gets hot enough that adventuring players need to refuel.
Pokemon Go. Got. Real. (Thanks, @Clatham78) pic.twitter.com/fjrtOw97CD
— James Bartholomeou (@Iyagovos) July 8, 2016
Some businesses have taken to hanging up signs alerting players how it does or does not support the game. Pacific Standard, for example, hung up a sign saying “Pokemon are for paying customers ONLY!”, although Kahl says it was a joke. A Dairy Queen in Texas also put up a similar sign. Other businesses, however, have alerted customers to in-store discounts for meeting certain parameters within a game, like using a “Lure Module” or being a part of one of the game’s teams.
Other locations, like Internet Archive’s Washington office, have found themselves unable to financially take advantage of the attention. Many of the game’s gyms are churches or other public establishments, and former churches and establishments can still be crowned as gyms. The group eventually put up a sign letting players know that they were welcome to battle at the gym, but to not disturb their staff, according to Bloomberg. Designer Boon Sheridan, who lives in a former church, has seen his home transformed into a gym.
Living in an old church means many things. Today it means my house is a Pokémon Go gym. This should be fascinating.
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 9, 2016
Nintendo, Niantic and The Pokemon Company plan to make improvements to Pokemon Go, including the ability to trade Pokemon with other players. While business owners indicated to Bloomberg that they’d be interested in working with the companies to promote their businesses through the game, it’s unclear if Nintendo is open to that idea.
Pokemon Go is available in the App Store for free [Direct Link] for users in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. The game is expected to roll out to the United Kingdom and other countries in the near future after server issues are sorted out.
Tags: Nintendo, Pokémon GO
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‘Pokémon Go’ adds billions to Nintendo’s market value
Pokémon Go is the latest hotness in mobile gaming and Nintendo is basking in its glow — to the tune of $7.5 billion in additional market value. Nintendo stock closed up 25 percent on Monday, and by the end of last week, when Pokémon Go hit mobile devices across the US, Australia and New Zealand, the company’s stock was already up 9 percent. Nintendo added $7.5 billion to its market value on Friday and Monday alone, Reuters reports.
Nintendo didn’t directly develop or publish Pokémon Go, but it holds a large stake in the series’ licensor, The Pokémon Company. Pokémon Go was developed and published by Niantic Labs, Google’s former AR division that was responsible for the Ingress mobile game. Nintendo and Google invested an estimated $30 million in Niantic while it was working on Pokémon Go.
The stock boost is great news for Nintendo, which has been struggling to save face and money since 2011. Its living room console, the Wii U, hit shelves in November 2012 and it didn’t sell nearly as well as the company expected or needed it to. Nintendo executives predicted they would move nearly 100 million Wii U consoles, but they’ve sold just 13 million since 2012. Nintendo lost money annually between fiscal years 2011 and 2014, largely banking on legacy titles like Mario, Animal Crossing and Super Smash Bros.
Of course, market value doesn’t translate directly to profit for Nintendo, but rising stock is a sign that investors still believe in the house that Mario built. Nintendo will need all the support it can get ahead of its next console launch, which we expect in March 2017.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Pokémon Go will hit Europe, Japan and other Asian nations within a few days, citing people with knowledge of internal plans.
Source: Reuters, CNBC
How to beat ‘Super Mario Bros. 3’ in two seconds flat
We’re actually pretty okay with AI winning at “Go,” but when it’s beating Super Mario Bros. 3 in mere seconds, it’s time to be worried. ais523, an expert on game “speedruns,” noticed that pressing a Nintendo NES’s controller rapidly could allow him to insert new code. With help from the “tool-assisted speedrun (TAS)” community, he used a Nintendo robot called “TASBot” to virtually mash the button up to 6,000 times a second. With just the right pattern, he got through Super Mario 3 in seconds, to the delight of Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ) 2016 speedrun fans.
Because of a glitch in the NES hardware, the speedy inputs cause code to run twice in a frame, “so things start breaking and memory [is] interpreted as code,” says ais523. From there, it actually interprets the control inputs as code and tries to run it, “so you can influence what the code does at that point with controller inputs.”
As shown in the video above, the game jumps from the opening screen directly to the finish in two seconds. That gets you directly to Nintendo’s snarky ending (above) without actually earning or enjoying it. However, you can enjoy the clever way that the programmers figured out how to trick the game by just using a robot that mashes an Nintendo NES controller. “All this happened while SGDQ was running, and the … schedule got changed in order to add the run in because it’s such a mindblowing thing to watch,” says ais523.
Via: Kotaku
Source: Countryclubguy (YouTube)
Nintendo hints at smartphone controller plans
Nintendo executives have dropped an unsubtle hint that it is working on a peripheral to enable people to play its action games on smartphones. At the firm’s annual shareholders meeting, Shinya Takahashi said that his team have looked at third-party controllers on the market and “may develop something new by ourselves.” Takahashi was responding to the question that playing Nintendo’s more famous titles (i.e. Mario) is difficult using the virtual controls that are available with touchscreen devices. After all, it’s clear that more than a few people would be happy to lay down money to play a classic Mario title on their smartphone.
The advent of a Nintendo-branded peripheral, unlike other devices like Hyperkin’s Smart Boy, is likely to be a big seller. Unfortunately, this was just a single off-hand comment at a shareholder meeting, so we can’t take anything as read. But this is Nintendo, and whenever one of its executives mentions anything, even in passing, people’s ears begin to prick up. Takahashi also said that his division would make “applications and not just action games,” a subtle hint that we’ll see more innovative titles like Miitomo as well as, or instead of, a new iteration of Super Mario. After all, the company is hoping that mobile games will help turn around its flagging business after a few years of slow hardware sales.
Via: Polygon
Source: Nintendo
Nintendo Considering Creating Physical Controllers for Smartphones and Tablets
As a part of its push into mobile gaming, Nintendo is considering creating physical controllers and other kinds of hardware for different types of mobile games and experiences, reports Polygon. Shinya Takahashi, Nintendo’s general manager of entertainment planning and development, discussed the possibility at the company’s annual shareholders meeting.
“Physical controllers for smart device applications are available in the market and it is possible that we may also develop something new by ourselves,” Takahashi said. “I believe Nintendo’s way of thinking is to look at whether action games are really not impossible (without a physical controller for smart device applications) to create and how we can make it happen to create such a game.”
In the console and handheld gaming spaces, Nintendo has taken to crafting unique controllers that the company can take advantage of with its first-party games. Nintendo’s unique controllers include a reverse trident design, motion control remotes and dual-screen handhelds.
Apple added support for iOS game controllers with iOS 7, expanding its Made for iPhone program to include game controller accessories. More recently, the company dropped its requirement for tvOS games to support the Siri Remote, allowing game developers to create more complex games for the fourth-generation Apple TV.
Nintendo also reiterated its commitment to create mobile app experiences that aren’t games, like its social lifestyle game / app Miitomo. The company still has plans to release five smartphone games by March 2017, with Miitomo already released and Pokemon GO set to debut later this month. Smartphone games based on Nintendo franchises Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing will arrive later this year.
Tags: Nintendo, MFi Program
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