Fans in South India rue the geolock that came with the game's last update, that does not allow them to play
On Tuesday morning, in the North Block, a few hundred metres away from the Parliament, oblivious to the drama that was about to ensue over the GST Bill, a Blastoise had “captured” the place. Journalist Rohan Venkataramakrishnan, who chanced upon the phenomena, did his bit by alerting the higher authorities via a tweet.
Rohan is part of a growing breed of Indians who have fallen for Pokémon Go, the GPS-enabled game, fuelled by the nostalgia of the popular Nintendo anime series. The game can be loosely described as a collector’s game, where players search, capture, fight and train different species of Pokémon. The Pokémon appear on the screen of the mobile device like they would in real life.
The game, launched in July 2016, achieved massive success in weeks, sending Nintendo’s market value soaring at 4.36 trillion yen (Rs 2.76 lakh crore), thereby beating Sony’s market value by over 300 billion yen (over Rs 19,000 crore). Its launch in Japan’s Mc Donald’s stores also helped boost the shares of the food giant.
In India, however, the game has not yet been formally launched. It was said it could be launched on August 6. But that hasn’t happened yet. Most Indian gamers, playing on the android devices, ape the APK by using apps like APKMirror, or BitAppz. Those with Apple phone are using it by making IDs from different countries.
It has been reported that in India, the Pokémon flock to temples. In Delhi, Rohan informs that the most popular place for Pokéstops is Lodhi Gardens, and for Pokémon, Deer Park’s lake and Hauz Khas Village. College student Dipannita Baruah, 22, says she goes to Connaught Place, Kailash Colony or in North Campus to chase them.
Both agree that nostalgia for the anime series got them to play the game in the first instance. “Unlike popular games, that are based on aggressive warfare, Pokémon Go focused on real playing, by meeting new people,” said Rohan, who is currently playing level 15. He is reminded of the times he played the game on a Nintendo Gameboy while growing up. “They came up with this device called Pokéwalker, which was similar to Pokémon Go, but had a basic black-and-white screen and needed you to walk to catch the Pokémon,” says the 26-year-old.
In Mumbai, sound engineer Lakshman Parsuram, 28, says that the Juhu Beach is usually teeming with Pokémon Go enthusiasts on weekends. He has been to Pokéwalks organised by enthusiasts in the city, and had reached level 15.
Dipannita says that the game drained her phone’s batteries too much, and she paused playing for a while, after she attained level 4. “The new update has eased that, and I will resume soon,” she says.
However, enthusiasts in South India, are not too pleased with that very update. The game now does not operate in Karnataka, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. “We were playing the game till three weeks ago,” said 28-year-old Bangalore banker Adith Shabarish. He had reached level 10 in three weeks. He too has been drawn by nostalgia. “Most of the people I know are between 25 and 40.”
For many like Adith, it is now a long wait.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Pokéwalks")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}