Nintendo Clarifies Reasoning for Pokémon GO Plus Release Delay

The craze could be gone by September. Maybe they should have had their ducks all in a line before releasing the app. Or maybe it'll help reignite the interest.

Hopefully they make more of them so supply is better and the preorders don't go for $100 on ebay.

Also it needs to work with android so making sure it works is key.

Ah, I suppose the Android support isn't even close to finish. Ok.

Unfortunately, the latest PGO update and shut-out to Pokevision seem to indicate that Niantic is changing things for the worse.

The popularity of the game revolves around simplicity. Walk, Catch, Battle. Often times that does include using "helper" tools like Footstep indicators or Pokevision. It's a great game concept but it shouldn't be a "difficult" experience and these changes will likely be the 2nd wave of people exiting the user base.

But with that gone then I wonder if the delay for the band is because it makes the game too "easy" to simply click a button.

It stinks that the Pokeband is the part Nintendo has control over. This would be a perfect app for Android Wear or Apple Watch but since it's Nintendo then we likely wont have it show up on our smartwatches.

1. If Nintendo is going to tell us why an item is delayed, they should do it when they announce the delay.
2. Pokemon Go Plus is an overpriced wristband that adds NOTHING to the game. There is no reason to "optimize" it, or have to delay it by 2 months to "optimize" it.
3. @KittyKatta's idea is ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! This is what the Pokemon Go Plus should have been from the start.

Although many will have stopped playing by September, I doubt those people would have bought the Pokémon Go Plus, anyway. So, it should be alright as long as there are no more delays.

So, they have the app out and the device manufactured but they don't work well together? That's how I'm reading it. Or is it not the app but maybe a Bluetooth limitation? Probably a lot easier to get it to work with the little item # of iOS devices than all those Android phones.

I wonder if they made specific ones for iOS and Android the iOS ones would be ready to ship?

How is everyone addicted to this game? I used to come here for actual news. Am I the only one waiting for sun and moon over this?

@nickoftime90 it may not be a great game but it is a very fun experience.

The success of PGO was the perfect storm of weather, summer vacation and a dry gaming industry. It's new, interesting, social and promotes physical activity. Also, it appeals to both casuals and obsessive collectors so it's a wide audience.

I understand that overexposure from the media can make PGO news annoying but let's be honest, not much is going on in gaming.

@NickOfTime90 The amount of downloads Pokémon Go has received is phenomenal, therefore new updates for such a popular game and news stories are noticed more. And, I guess it has many appealing parts to it, making it pretty addictive.

What does this Pokémon GO Plus actually do? I have read the item description, but it doesn't tell me specifically of its uses.

@KittyKatta i have to disagree, i understand the concept and how it is supposed to be a nice experience, but the game does not function like it should and there is so little to this game. Let's be honest, take away the pokemon license and what is left?

@NickOfTime90 GO, effectively. XD

@Alundra-1998 nice one! XD

@KittyKatta That's a neat idea, but the Apple Watch isn't as big of a deal as Apple hyped it up to be. I haven't seen a single person wearing one. I don't know anything about the Android Wear though, so maybe Pokemon GO Plus could work on that.

If there's a Plus accessory, will there be a Minus too?

@Chibiterasu Apple watch did exactly as advertised. Apple sold 12 million units in 2015. To place this in perspective, the Wii U sold roughly 3.6 million units that year. There is no relationship between how many you have personally seen in the wild and how popular the device actually is. Smart Watches are still in their infancy, give it some time and I am sure more people will be wearing them. Doesn't matter if it's Apple made or any other manufacturer. It would be nice to see GO have some smart watch functionality however.

The most recent update to the app and Niantic's actions has been pretty questionable.

The update removed the broken footprint tracking feature and Niantic has shut down 3rd party trackers like Pokevision, effectively leaving players blind. They haven't said a damn thing on whether they intend to fix it and reimplement it.

Removing 3rd party trackers before fixing the in-game one is a completely idiotic move.

There's also people reporting that the catch rate for all Pokemon has been lowered, and that they're more likely to flee, meaning that you waste Pokeballs on low CP Pokemon. Can't tell if that's legit or just widespread placebo though.

What I really need is support for Windows Phone OS. Why leaving behind a third of the mobile population??? It's so frustrating.

Good news, Pokemon GO Plus is being prepared for by removing every method of tracking down Pokemon in the game.

@IceClimbers

It might be a placebo effect, but the catch rate being lower and the flee rate being higher wouldn't surprise me because of the already existing mechanic of Pokemon being naturally harder to catch as your Trainer Level increases. Despite the fact that at higher levels it requires millions if XP to level up, Niantic seems to be afraid of everyone capping out, the game running out of progression, and people quitting the game, although their latest changes to the game may have made many people quit anyway.

@RodSD64 Because Windows Phone OS users do not make up a third of the mobile population. They would be lucky to make up 5%. From a business standpoint, the OS is worse than the Wii U in terms of return on investment.

@DarkKirby I think they wanted to recreate the 'slow' level cap in Ingress. That way many newcomers could level up quickly to the level 20 and stand a chance against veterans.

This seems like something that should have been implemented a long time ago.

@ceedee Actually, there is some correlation even if it's not a major one. I don't live in a big city so maybe the population here isn't crazy about the latest tech. But regardless, GO is clearly doing really well right now, so you see everyone playing it around you. You see it on the news. You see it in YouTube videos. Shall I go on?

And I never said anything negative about smart watches. I said that it would be a neat idea, and I might consider buying one if they had more support for games like GO. But until then I have no interest in them.

@Alshain01
Really? The market is just iOS and Android? I think that 5% may be a bit of an exaggeration. I mean, every year there are new windows phone, could that be justified with just 5%? And the "investment" you mention is for Niantic, right?

@NickOfTime90 Maybe you should stop thinking about it as a game and should mentally reclassify it as an app.

gen 1 is the best! 2nd is 2nd! Gen 1 ftw baby! YEAH!

@RodSD64 Not an exaggeration. Last estimations I saw said 5% with analysts predicting 12% by the end of 2017.

@IceClimbers in response to catch rates decreasing and pokemon breaking free more often i would attest to that. having played last night after the update there was a marked difference at all my usual catch haunts, and this was before i read any testimonials regarding such changes so i doubt placebo. ive been playing for weeks, something changed.

@Captain_Gonru
Yeah, I have the Lumia 925, and I love it.
How are we going to play Pokémon Go?

They'll all be back once the Johto Pokemon are added, just you watch...

@NickOfTime90 Try Ingress. It started with less features and lots have been added over time. They will also add lots to Pokemon Go, when they don't have server issues occupying alk their time. And Poke vision uses up lots of server bandwidth.

@briwipdx for me I found it easier to catch Pokemon. I think you'll find break out rates aren't higher, it's just that it takes far longer for a breakout and the time to catch a Pokemon is tripled, so some think therefore breakouts have tripled.

The wording to me makes it sound like they want new content to coincide with the release of this device. Maybe the next wave of Pokemon? Makes sense to do it that way, otherwise it could be coming out when people start to lose interest because of the same content - asking $35 from people for an app they're getting bored of won't reignite their interest, but new content could, and it could result to impulse purchases of this... Assuming it will actually be in stock when it comes out.

@RodSD64
@Captain_Gonru
I'd try the game if I could.
I have the Lumia 735.

@BornInNorway8
@Captain_Gonru
I actually contacted Microsoft about it. The representative gave me a positive generic response, but adding statements like "I'm positive we'll have Pokemon Go on the Windows Store!"
I didn't believe him
I do have screenshots of the whole conversation lol

I don't think they were actually expecting to release it in July in the first place... they were just using it to force Niantic to release it sooner... they had to make it look like they were serious, so were prepared to release it in July if the app was ready, but it wasn't, so they didn't.
We should really be thanking Nintendo for getting the app released in time for the summer, because at the pace Niantic were going we would have been lucky to get it by the end of Autumn.

@KittyKatta Pokevision should never have been even possible from the beginning!

The whole point of the game is go out, explore and encounter pokemons and not knowing which one you will encounter and where!
Not using a "cheat" site (Pokevision) that tells you exactly where to go to get which pokemon!

To keep such a site up and running would be the death of the game, as the game is free, they need to make money somehow to pay for the massive infrastructure and to keep that running!

So they need people to pay for stuff in the ingame store or they will go bankrupt.
Not to mention, if everyone uses Pokevision, they will have caught all Pokemon way too quickly and be done with the game in no time.

I have checked out the Pokevision site two weeks ago and was shocked. It just takes the fun out of the game.
All these people complaining, is just a prime example of what is wrong with the current gamer generation!
It's what we call the "Instant gratification" crowd! I want it all and I want it right now! generation. /Facepalm

Gamers no longer want any challenge or work for a reward. They want everything with least amount of effort.
It's the prime reason why so many games have been dumbed down over the years and why there is so little challenge and difficulty in games anymore these days. /shrug

making it an app for smart watches would mean only people with smart watches could use it. It is a wrist strap designed for kids to wear day in day out at a price parents can afford (its very over priced still). Thats why it is made the way it is. Pretty sure it will still sell well but not as well as it would have done near release.

@Antray1984 You still need it connected to your phone and have it with you.

This wrist strap is basically just a very expensive Notification Device, notifying you when a pokemon is near, so you don't have to constantly look on your phone, giving you the oportunity to play Pokemon Go more discrete as you will.

So I actually think it will be more adults that buy this strap than young kids.
If they are not allowed to borrow their parents phone, this wrist strap isn't going to do anything for them anyway.

People bringing up smart watches apparently don't know how bad those are selling. Let's completely glaze over the ridiculous price difference too.

Pokemon Go Plus = $35
Smart watch = $150+

Use common sense people, Nintendo/Niantic/TPkC aren't going to create an app only to help make money for companies with useless smart watches.

@Jeronan Very well said

by the time this noob gadget arrives it will be called Pokemon WENT.