Pokémon GO

Field Test

In early 2016, residents of Japan, Australia, and the United States could apply to participate in a closed beta test. Applicants were randomly selected, though it was said that those who had played Niantic's previous augmented reality game, Ingress, had a greater chance. Beta testers had to agree not to post screenshots or discuss information that Niantic had not already made public, and could be banned for non-compliance.

Origins

The idea of Pokémon GO came from 2014's Google Maps: Pokémon Challenge, whose trailer featured the concept of finding and capturing Pokémon through augmented reality gameplay, despite the game itself not including any such features. Tatsuo Nomura, a former Google employee who worked on the Pokémon Challenge, began work with Niantic Labs and helped bring the trailer's concept to reality.

Awards

• The Dragon Awards
  • 2017 – Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Mobile Game – Won