Pokémon GO Fest: Makers want to connect people using AR technology
This year it can Pokemon GO Fest finally taking place again as a live event and tens of thousands of players from all over the world followed the call to the German capital. In Berlin, with the best weather and a relaxed atmosphere, they went in search of all kinds of Pokémon.
PlayCentral was there for you to talk to the makers of the mobile hit. Among other things, we were allowed to do an interview with Philip March lead that as Senior Manager for Product Marketing is responsible for the development studio Niantic. You can read what he told us about the future of the game here.
What does the future hold for Pokémon GO?
PlayCentral: “Pokémon GO” has been an integral part of Niantic’s DNA for about six years now. What are your plans to keep the game attractive for old and new players in the future?
Philip March: Pokémon GO is for us a forever game. Our internal planning is correspondingly long-term and we are continuously developing the game. On the one hand, of course, through content and features, such as PVP and new Pokémon, but on the other hand as well through the regular events for our community. This includes the monthly Niantic Community Days with special challenges as well as the larger live events around the world.
the unique connection of the game with the real world and the community ensures that there is always something to experience. Recently, this was again clearly seen at this year’s GO Fest in Berlin, where People from all over the world played together and exchanged ideas. This exchange and atmosphere is what makes Niantic games (and therefore “Pokémon GO”) so popular.
Niantic on the development and evolution of argued reality games
Augmented Reality (AR) is becoming more and more popular, especially in the mobile sector. What do you think is the appeal of this technology and do you think it can hold its own alongside the Metaverse of Microsoft and Meta?
Philip: We believe we can use technology to augment reality. We also want to encourage everyone to get outside, explore, and interact with others.
That is a basic human social need and as a result, these are the things that make us happiest. Technology should be used to do this improve human experience – not to replace them. That speaks to us all in a very fundamental way and clearly distinguishes our vision from others.
Accordingly, we have one very clear vision for Niantic’s version of the metaverse, namely a real metaverse!
We strive for a future where we use technology to thrive as people, to create a better world and to make life more fulfilling.
It is based on the idea that technology connects people with their environment and not isolated from him. We want to create incentives for this through our AR experiences. This concept is so far unique and not really comparable to other common ideas of a metaverse.
Maybe you are familiar with the anime series Sword Art Online? In the first feature film in the series, Ordinal Scale, the characters don small devices, allowing them to play an AR game. Do you think a similar technology could actually become a reality one day?
Philip: Niantic can look back on many long-term partnerships in the software and hardware sectors. We’re about always in close exchange with network operators, to make our products even more accessible and better through current technologies, such as 5G. We also work closely with them in the hardware area Qualcomm as partners together.
All these partnerships serve to enable us to use AR in the best possible way, because it can’t just be a gimmick, it has to be carefully worked out. The cell phone will certainly won’t remain the dominant input device for AR foreverbut what the next big hardware development will look like, we can’t predict right now.
What is the biggest challenge in developing a multiplayer AR game and where do you see the greatest potential for further developments in this regard?
Philip: I think one of the most important things that Niantic has brought to people is that we introduced people to AR technology – and we did it in a playful way. There is certainly further great potential here.
AR has the potential to improve people’s lives in many areas and make them more comfortable. The possible applications are practically unlimited. Be it medicine, navigation or architecture, just to name the tip of the iceberg.
Niantic has the aspects Entertainment and community as core themes picked out. We often get feedback that players have learned a lot about their hometowns from Pokémon GO because the game encouraged them to explore. From new friendships made through “Pokémon GO” we have heard quite often. Of course, that makes us happy and also shows how much is really possible with AR.
A major challenge is of course the highly complex technology and the required map data. Niantic is already a leader here and will deal with it newly announced Visual Position System (VPS) further develop. In addition, with our own Lightship platform, we offer other developers around the world the opportunity to benefit from our advanced technology.
Thank you for taking the time for this interview!
Note: This interview has been shortened and condensed.
Reference-www.playcentral.de