Well, here I am again! A college student with the privilege of playing with the recently-released (is summer 2016 still considered "recent"?) app, Pokémon GO. Although I started playing in the middle of July, I was never completely immersed in it. If I'm ever heading outside, it's for the sole purpose of getting to my destination without ambling around and swiping my finger along a screen, trying to catch mystical creatures that were once embedded only in the roots of my memories.
It wasn't until this past summer that Pokémon fans were able to finally become real-life Pokémon trainers. COMM 3545 gave me the opportunity to try it out again, but from a designer's and user's viewpoints. Evaluating the app allowed me to see the nuances and details in the game that created the identity of Pokémon GO.
Let's begin!
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As a PRIMARY USER of the app, I'd be the one interacting with the app the most: I would be the one affected by the music I was listening to, the one catching the Pokémon, the one redeeming items at various PokéStops, and also the one trying to battle Gym leaders (my average lifespan in any Gym in Columbus was about 2 seconds).
I would also be the one sending surges of dopamine into my brain every time I caught a new Pokémon, and grabbing my phone every time it vibrated, signaling me to the apparition of said Pokémon. I sensed a little bit of CLASSICAL CONDITIONING in the making: I was becoming more and more responsive to that vibration, expecting a Pokémon even before turning my phone on and discovering it was a text or call instead. Not only was classical conditioning developing, but OPERANT CONDITIONING was rearing its ugly head as well: I knew by the adorable and celebratory sound effects that yes, I was supposed to capture Pokémon, especially the ones I hadn’t caught before. It also told me that I needed to collect the Poké Balls, Eggs, and healing items hidden at PokéStops; and even “pet” the members of my own team. These actions were linked to positive associations, and if I was rewarded with jolly sound effects, then of course I would continue to annoy everyone around me with the power that is POGO! But now I’m going to check out the other options I have for enhancing my PoGO experience.
When I press the Poké Ball shown directly on the main screen (the screen with your avatar and the map of your current location), I can see five main options: Pokémon, Items, Shop, the Pokedex, and a smaller “x” in a circle (suggesting the return to the main screen). How do I know these options are related? The GROUPING of particular objects shows a relationship between them. In the top-right corner, shivering and sad (j/k), are two other, smaller options: Settings and Tips. Because they are farther away from the main options, I know that they are not directly tied to the gaming experience, but instead are features that help customize the user's general experience (Settings) or assist them when they're stuck (Tips). The different sound effects, created by pressing the icons, also confirmed that the four main options (excluding the x) are indeed separate from the two other options.
Seeing the Tips button gives me flashbacks to PokéStops and Gyms. I remember when I tried to 1) battle at a Gym for the first time, and 2) redeem prizes at a PokéStop. I wouldn't have known how to do either to this day if it wasn't for the Tips. Although Pokémon GO can be intuitive for many players, there are still some elements that require assistance. NORMAN'S FUNDAMENTAL ARGUMENT states that a design should be usable simply by looking at and using it. And if it isn't usable just by itself, then tutorials should be provided for users who are too clueless or clumsy to figure things out themselves (i.e., me). This is where the God Professor comes in, teaching me the ways of a true Pokémon GO Trainer. He told me that to battle at a Gym, I would need to "swipe left and right" to dodge incoming attacks. He also explained to me why I should battle at Gyms – to either “claim it for [my] team,” to “increase the [friendly] Gym’s Prestige and level,” or to “lower [the rival Gym’s] Prestige and level.” To redeem items at a PokéStop, I'd need to be in the vicinity of the PokéStop and swipe the magical coin that appears in order to collect the items. I'm too weak to win any sort of Gym battle, but collecting items from the PokéStops worked just fine! Thanks, Professor!
…Wait. Did I just thank a phone? No, no… that's not right. I thanked the Professor! But he isn't a real character. Ugh! It's the MEDIA EQUATION at work again! According to CASA, humans are prone to treating technology like humans as well. We tend to humanize them because we think they are social, interactive entities. Mindlessness at work. I'll note this for next time. You won't be fooling me any longer with your human wannabe ways, Prof- I mean, PHONE!
Anyways. Did you notice how “soft” the interface seems? All full of curved edges and “cooler” colors, such as blues and greens. Even the text itself is sans-serif – no jaggedy serifs here, save for the numbers. Circles and rounded rectangles and squares encompass many of the portraits and icons ranging from badges, PokéStop items, the Pokédex boxes, the avatar customization choices, stats in the profiles of Pokémon, and the meters indicating distance walked, HP, and especially the roads on the map.
The CONTOUR BIAS suggests that elements with more curved edges and less-pointed corners are perceived as more positive and friendly. I used to think that Weedle were ugly until I met its PoGO cousins – its horns look less menacing than in the anime, and its little feet and buggy parts make it look approachable and not as slimy. The most prominent angular elements are the PokéStops and the Gym platforms, which suggest riskier or more threatening elements such as venturing outside your house… or fighting.
However, the use of COLOR EFFECTS – in this case, blue and green – implies a rather friendly adventure experience: blue suggests open-mindedness, purity, amiableness, and the fostering of creativity. Green promotes safety, security, and is the most common color in nature. Taking a nature walk in Columbus, which is full of green (at least before autumn hits, in which case amazing colors are present nonetheless) also alleviates stress. PoGO really is a great way to explore your world and not think about the relentless waves of time crash against the ephemerality of your dreams. That’s the BIOPHILIA EFFECT in action, by the way. The “nature” of the adventure, not the shipwreck analogy… of(f) course. Heh.
After smacking my face against the wall multiple times, due to PoGO freezing and crashing and refusing to activate its AUGMENTED REALITY feature (which did not enhance my USER EXPERIENCE), I captured a Raticate, spending about 20 Poké Balls trying to catch it. Why wouldn’t I leave it alone and spend my time catching other more docile beasts? Because of the FEAR OF MISSING OUT – who knows when I’d encounter another Raticate? Also, I had already worked sooo hard to try to capture this rat. I wanted to be rewarded for my efforts! I was a strong ~~~level 6~~~ already, and my skill level should have been paying off! Also, it was my first catch of the day, beginning the new incentive of a seven-day streak in which some type of reward would be offered at the end of the continuous routine of catching a Pokémon daily. Thanks, Niantic. You’ve got players hooked again. And so that you don’t forget, PoGO keeps track of your daily capture using a meter, showing progress – a sense of ACHIEVEMENT.
And, I do like progress, that sense of achievement. It’s a ploy to keep the Achievers going on and on, fulfilling their goal of collecting and catching them all. It’s a way to fulfill one particular USER GOAL – to keep improving and collecting. And signs of such progress are EVERYWHERE – from the distance you need left to hatch your eggs, to the meters that keep track of the smaller incentives in the medals case (What happens if I catch three tiny Rattata? I’m not sure, but it’s another badge of pride to add to my collection of Signs I’ve Been Way Too Involved in This Game. Also included are the amount of experience points you need to get to the next level and the Journal that keeps track of your Pokémon captures and Poke Stop looting as you journey through the wilderness of suburbia.
Heading back to my profile to admire how handsome Growlithe and I – ahem – my avatar, BlackCatKio, were, I felt a sense of BELONGING – another user goal. Team Valor’s red Moltres silhouette logo was emblazoned behind my avatar, who wore a top with a thick red stripe on it. Accompanying my avatar was Growlithe, a Fire Pokémon. Were they all coincidences, or did I just think Growlithe was the cutest of all my Pokémon and red complemented my complexion? Or was it the COLOR EFFECT in action again, lurking in my subconscious? I also noted that although there was a limited choice in complexion, clothing and accessories, with no option for hairstyles. The defiance of HICK’S LAW cut down on the agony of choosing the perfect outfit for school. PoGO’s version of a French wardrobe allows some variety, but not so much that a user would spend more time dressing their avatar than actually playing the game.
PoGO also has the sense to realize that not everyone’s fingers have the grace of famous pianists or the common sense of… hm, who really even has common sense these days? In either case, Niantic was generous enough to gift us plenty of CONFIRMATION ERRORS, which prevent us from renaming your avatar, divorcing your avatar from your Buddy, and laying out an Incense in deserted areas. In addition, the amazing amount of control you have over your collection of Pokémon is strangely comforting – if you want to play favorites, you can sort your Pokémon by whether you’ve starred them or not. You can alphabetize them, sort by amount of HP or CP they have, and other qualities. The FIVE HAT RACKS in PoGO are essential for sorting the many Pokémon you’re able to acquire.
Despite the lagging and crashing, Pokémon GO is an enjoyable experience. While the AUGMENTED REALITY feature may cause some phones (like mine) to crash, and the app itself tends to crash or is unable to find my location, marring my USER EXPERIENCE, its beautiful graphics, especially in COLOR EFFECTS and CONTOUR BIAS, ability to organize your Pokémon (HIERARCHY), and the opportunity to collect the many Pokémon and medals available (ACHIEVEMENT) makes up for the buggy AR feature. Additionally, the BIOPHILIA EFFECT invites players to enjoy the sunshine and de-stress from college worries. PoGO can become immersive, inviting ENVIRONMENTAL PRESENCE; the music and sound effects congratulating you for every move you make and every Pokémon that appears only breeds CLASSICAL and OPERANT CONDITIONING. And, who wouldn’t want to put more steps into their day? You can see yourself progressing in the amount of kilometers you walk with your Buddy and your Eggs. With its aesthetic graphics, ability to offer nostalgia at every moment of play, and the opportunity to work together or alone outside of the house in catching Pokémon and exploring the neighborhood, I am an endorser of Pokémon GO.