Tag: Mobile - Page 16
News Spawn Rates Of Pidgeys, Rattatas And Zubats Reduced In Pokémon GO
Thank goodness for that
Niantic has revealed that it has reduced the spawn rate of some of Pokémon GO's more common monsters to increase the chances of players finding other, rarer 'mon. Pidgeys, Rattatas and Zubats are perhaps the most commonly-found monsters in the game, and players have previously complained that they seem to catch very little...
News Huge Miitomo Update Promises Direct Messages, Room Customisation And Sidekick Miis
Show off your style and answer publicly-posted questions, too
The Miitomo update that was teased back in October has been revealed in a little more detail. Once the mandatory updates arrives, you'll be able to send direct messages to people on your friends list. You'll also be able to customize what your room looks like by picking a wallpaper and...
News Pokémon GO's Designer Wants You To Look Up From Your Phone
"It saddens me a bit when I see a lot of hunched over people outside"
The name Dennis Hwang might not mean much to you, but you're almost certain to have seen one of his creations online. Hwang is responsible for many of the amazing "Google Doodles" which have been seen on Google's main page over the years - surely one of the most visited pages on...
News Super Mario Run Has Been Built on Unity
A sign of things to come?
Of all the common engines used in the game industry, few are used as often as Unity. Though it may not suit every developer's needs, the engine is scalable and easy to grasp, making it a popular choice among indie developers. Until very recently, Nintendo mostly developed games for its own hardware -- meaning that it also...
News Nintendo Expands Super Mario Run Launch To 150 Countries
Arrives in December on iOS, Android version in development
Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima has revealed that Super Mario Run will launch in 150 countries this December rather than 100, as was originally planned. The game will be exclusive to iOS for a limited time. Kimishima also confirmed that the Android version is in active development, but...
News Japan’s Financial Services Agency Considering Regulation For Pokémon GO's PokéCoins
Could mean big changes for "free to play" gaming in general
Microtransactions are commonplace in many "free to play" smartphone titles, including Pokémon GO. However, the amazing success of Niantic's title has attracted the attention of Japan's Financial Services Agency, which is apparently considering regulation for the app's in-game currency,...
News New Pokémon GO Update Appears To Disable Spawns And Sightings When Travelling At High Speed
Impacts Pokémon GO Plus, too
The most recent Pokémon GO update introduced catch bonuses and better gym training opportunities, but it appears to have introduced a less welcome alteration - the app is effectively useless when used in a moving vehicle. Forbes has reported tha
News Super Mario Run Notification Sign Ups Reach 20 Million
Mushroom for excitement
Apple's Tim Cook has revealed that the forthcoming smartphone title Super Mario Run has already clocked up over 20 million notification sign ups. Those 20 million individuals have registered via the iOS App Store to receive a notification as soon as Nintendo's latest mobile title goes live. While that figure is obviously not...
News Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Makes the Jump from DS to Smart Devices
Objection!
When it comes to the Ace Attorney series, there's certainly a sense of unease and nervousness around the future of the franchise. Though Capcom has produced multiple high-quality entries in the series for 3DS, not all have made it out of Japan, while those that have arrived are eShop-only downloads. Thankfully, confirmation of a sequel to...
News PokeLand Legends Reminds You Of Just How Shameless Some Developers Can Be
Developer, use replicate!
The success of Pokémon GO was always going to lead to imitators, but few are as blatant as PokeLand Legends (also known as Game of Monster: Legacy), a game which doesn't even try to hide the fact that it's ripping off the world famous franchise. Available on iOS and Android, PokeLand Legends involves catching monsters and...
News Latest Pokémon GO Update Brings Catch Bonus, Updated Gym Training And Other Fixes
Rolling out on Android and iOS now
Pokémon GO has been updated to version 0.41.2 on Android and 1.11.2 on iOS. This update includes the recently-announced Catch Bonus and Gym Training updates, as well as several other fixes and improvements elsewhere in the game. Here's the full change log: Catch Bonus: Trainers can earn a catch bon
News Forthcoming Pokémon GO Update Will Introduce Capture Rate Bonuses
Earn medals, catch that rare monster
Niantic has teased some information regarding a new feature which is currently in development for Pokémon GO. A new "Capture Bonus" system will make it easier to snag that rare 'mon, and is all based around type. Catching several different monsters of the same type will earn you medals, which will in turn grant...
Random Google Teases Smartphone Reveal With Zelda: Majora's Mask Reference
And triggers speculation of Nintendo and Google hook-up, of course
It's no secret that a lot of people who work in the tech industry are also pretty passionate gamers - the two go hand-in-hand for many people. Taking this into account, it shouldn't come as a massive shock to learn that one of Google's staffers is a big Zelda fan. So big in fact that...
News Pokémon GO Creator Niantic Taken To Court Over Beach Mobs
"We had no other choice"
Dutch authorities are taking Pokémon GO creator Niantic to court after the popularity of the game has caused hordes of players to descend on protected beaches at Kijkduin, South Holland in the Netherlands. Dubbed the Pokémon capital of the Netherlands, Kijkduin is home to many rare 'mon and this has predictably led to...
News Google Engineer Reflects on the Technical Side of Pokémon GO's Launch
Suffice to say, they weren't prepared
Though the craze around Pokémon GO has mostly subsided by this point, few will forget the record-smashing launch that it had. Obviously, all those involved with the game's development grossly underestimated how popular it would be, and the game was positively riddled with bugs and instability in the first...
News Reports Suggest Pokémon GO's Rare Spawning Nests Have Been Totally Randomised
Don't worry, you'll still get lots of Pidgeys
It would seem that Pokémon GO's "spawn nests" have been entirely randomised for rare 'mon. Reports are appearing online that Niantic has changed things up for hard-to-find monsters, deviating from its previous approach of simply switching one type for another at predetermined spawn locations...
Weirdness "Lapras Panic" Grips Tokyo After Rare Pokémon GO Sighting
In hot water
Police had to be summoned to deal with a massive crowd of Pokémon GO players following a Lapras sighting in Tokyo's Odaiba district. Reports of the monster's existence caused hordes of players to descend on the location, with many spilling onto the road and causing a safety hazard. Some have even gone as far as to name the event...
News Pokémon Company President Doesn't Think We'll See Mainline Games On Smartphones
"Chance of success" in porting concept to phones "quite low"
Despite the incredible success of Pokémon GO on smartphones, Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara doesn't sound so keen about bringing the mainline RPG series to mobile. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Ishihara was asked if the popularity of Pokémon GO - which has now been...
News Livestreamed Mugging Highlights The Dangers Of Playing Pokémon GO Late At Night
Warning: distressing footage contained within
Pokémon GO has enraptured millions, generated plenty of cash for the companies involved and encouraged plenty of players to get on their feet in search of monsters. However, it's worth noting that despite the promise of elusive beasts and the obvious health benefits involved, there are risks worth...
Video Bandai Namco Goes Big on Iconic Franchises for Mobile Through 'IP Open Project'
From Pac-Man to Mappy, to Vampire Holmes Pac-Man?
Way back in March 2015 we told you about an intriguing 'IP Open' project being run by Bandai Namco in Japan. A number of iconic franchises were included, and the initiative enabled developers of various types to submit games using those IPs, with an approval and selection process in place. As you...
News One-On-One Battles Could Come To Pokémon GO In The Future
"It's probably something that will make its way onto our roadmap"
Pokémon GO developer Niantic has already promised more updates to the core app - including the ability to trade monsters with other players - but studio CEO John Hanke has revealed that one-on-one battles may also be featured in the future. Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt
News Pokémon GO "Pretty Likely" To Come To Android Wear As Well As Apple Watch, Says Niantic CEO
"We’ll look into supporting those, too"
Apple made quite a splash the other week when it revealed that its Apple Watch wearable will be getting a special version of Pokémon GO. Many assumed that this new app would be exclusive to Apple devices, but that doesn't seem to be the case. John Hanke, CEO of Niantic, has revealed in an interview with...
News Check out These Pokémon Stickers for iMessage
Worth $2?
One of the cool new additions to iOS 10 is the ability to use Stickers in iMessage to give messages a bit more visual flair. Super Mario Run already led the charge on these, and now it seems that Pokémon is getting in on the action. If you look here on the app store, you can download a set of Pokémon stickers for $2. The popularity of...
News Pokémon GO Has Lost 79 Percent of its Paying Population
Still remains most profitable mobile game
It's been a few months since Pokémon GO made its official debut, and although there's some pretty cool new features being added, it was inevitable that the app would struggle to maintain its initial level of success and popularity. After breaking several records for sales and downloads at launch, Pokémon...
Random Walking 10km With Pikachu As Your Buddy Creates A Stronger Bond In Pokémon GO
Just like Ash!
Pokémon GO's latest update introduces the Buddy system, which has to rank as one of the most significant changes since the title launched a few months ago. Using this system, you can assign a 'mon as your buddy and they will walk alongside you, earning candies as they go. This new mechanic also introduces a cool Easter Egg which...
News Buddy Pokémon Arrive in GO Update as Niantic Continues to Target "Bots and Scrapers"
Rolling out right now
A little while ago we told you that Buddy Pokémon had been confirmed for Pokémon GO; this allows you to pick your favourite 'mon to appear next to your Trainer's avatar, and will also bring some extra rewards. Niantic has now confirmed that the update is going live around the world, so it should be a matter of time before...
News Nintendo And DeNA Experience Share Price Jumps In Light Of Super Mario Run Announcement
18 and 21 percent respectively
Yesterday, Nintendo caused quite a stir by confirming Super Mario Run for iOS devices at Apple's yearly conference. Unsurprisingly, the news triggered Nintendo's share price to leap sharply, rising as high as 18 percent before settling down to a still-remarkable 11 percent at the end of the trading day. DeNA - the...
News Niantic Already Working On New Apps As Pokémon GO Passes The $440 Million Mark
"We have some projects that are in the early stages now"
Niantic has gone from being a near-unknown to one of the most famous developers on the planet thanks to the astonishing success of Pokémon GO, the monster-catching smartphone app which the company developed in conjunction with The Pokémon Company. Niantic's previous release, Ingress, laid...
News Niantic Is Lifting Some Pokémon GO Account Bans
"Our main priority is to provide a fair, fun, and legitimate experience"
In the past few weeks we've seen Pokémon GO developer Niantic drop the ban hammer on some accounts due to the use of tools which make it easier to locate monsters and gain an advantage over rival players. Some of these bans are the result of players using seemingly innocent...
News Niantic Pushes Out a New Pokémon GO Update
Pokémon Appraisal is the big new feature
A while back, Niantic promised Pokémon GO players that trading would be the next big feature they'd be working on implementing. While this still has yet to materialise, Niantic has just pushed out a new update with a feature that seems to be a pretty sizable addition to ease the process of raising Pokémon...
News Pokémon GO Player Aims For Million XP In 24 Hours, Unwittingly Triggers Anti-Cheat Mechanism
"Games are meant to be played, and in my opinion played well"
The topic of cheating in Pokémon GO has been a hot one over the past week or so as Niantic attempts to deal with the hordes of players who are seeking a means of getting an unfair advantage in the game, but it would seem that the automatic measures put in place by the developer can be a...
News Pokémon GO Player Apparently Gets Belgium's Biggest Mobile Network Banned
UPDATE: Ban now lifted, Proximus confirms "security" issue was to blame
Update: It would seem that the ban has been lifted this morning, with Proximus confirming that a security issue was indeed to blame. Original story: Niantic has been stepping up its game when it comes to banning people in Pokémon GO. It would seem there are quite a few ways...
News Italian Bishop Likens Pokémon GO To Nazism, Claims It Turns Players Into "Walking Dead"
App has "alienated thousands and thousands of young people"
Pokémon GO may have captured the hearts and minds of millions of players all over the globe, but like so many elements of popular culture - and the Pokémon craze in general, it should be remembered - it hasn't made fans of everyone. Agence France-Presse reports that Antonio Stagliano,
News Celebrate The Release Of Federation Force By Dressing Your Miitomo Mii Up Metroid Style
Where can we buy a 8-Bit Samus t-shirt in real life?
It's officially Metroid Day with the launch of Metroid Prime: Federation Force on 3DS, and to mark this event Nintendo has added lots of cool new items to Miitomo. From today so you can strike some awesome poses with your Mii - see if you can win the 8-Bit Samus T-Shirt for your Mii and various...
News Niantic Is Dropping The Ban Hammer On Pokémon GO Players Who "Cheat"
"Your account has been terminated"
Like any game that becomes stupidly popular, Pokémon GO has seen its fair share of "cheaters" - people who use shady measures to get an unfair advantage over others. In Pokémon GO's case, this includes faking your location to rake in items and capture Pokémon, using third-party trackers to pinpoint certain...
News French Mayor Says "Non" To Pokémon GO
Zut Alors!
It seems like the whole world has gone crazy trying to catch 'em all sometimes, such is the worldwide success of Pokémon GO. However Bressolles Mayor Fabrice Beauvois has had enough of mischievous Pokémons causing mayhem in the village of about 800 inhabitants northeast of Lyon which he presides over. The French mayor has mailed a...
News Pokémon GO Has Set Five Guinness World Records
And likely many more to come
Though it's popularity has declined to more normal levels now, Pokémon GO's worldwide success is undisputed. The game made a big splash when it debuted this summer, breaking records seemingly left and right, and now Guinness World Records has finally acknowledged some of these records, cementing the game's status as an...
News Work For Volkswagen? Better Delete Pokémon GO From Your Phone
The only bug you're going to catch is the Beetle
Yesterday we reported on the news that people working inside The Pentagon have been instructed not to play Pokémon GO due to security concerns, and today we've got another sad tale - German automobile maker Volkswagen has told 70,000 of its staff that they have to delete the game from their phones...
News Pokémon GO Predicted To Make More Than One Billion Dollars Worldwide In 2016
Could exceed global box-office for 2016’s highest-grossing film
While there are a great many people out there hoping that the Pokémon GO bubble is about to burst, the figures indicate that is unlikely to happen any time soon.
News United States Department Of Defense Bans Pokémon GO At The Pentagon
"Poses a potential a security risk", apparently
Pokémon GO's hold on mobile phone users shows little sign of weakening, so much so that workers at the Pentagon are being told they're not allowed to use the app when on the premises. The move follows concerns that the game could potentially used to spy on activities within the facility, which houses...
News This Exploit in Pokémon GO Allows Trainers to Put Eggs into Gyms
Poaching gyms has a whole new meaning
Despite the fact that Pokémon GO has been out for about a month now, the game still suffers from its fair share of hiccups and glitches. Sure, it's not the unmitigated mess that it was in the first week, but the removal of the three step glitch among other instability issues still show that Niantic has...
News PokéAdvisor is the Latest Third-Party Pokémon GO Service to Bite the Dust
Niantic continues to clear the server decks
A recent source of debate around Pokémon GO has been takedowns of third-party apps that, in the opinion of some, were offering features the main game should already have. Another has now joined the ranks, with the creator of PokéAdvisor stating that their website is having its access to GO data blocked...
News Take-Two Interactive President Praises the Success of Pokémon GO
Doesn't expect any NX impact for the company's financial year
Take-Two Interactive has been sharing its Q1 financial results, reporting better than expected sales but also forced to admit that hyped shooter Battleborn has struggled; it arrived around the same time as Overwatch, which definitely won that battle. Take-Two Interactive president...
News Niantic Explains Decision to Stop Unofficial Apps From Accessing Pokémon GO's Servers
Shows some data to prove its point
Pokémon GO has been enduring its most sustained negative backlash to date this week, at least in online forums and social media. The latest update removed the three-step radar feature that barely functioned, and at the same time multiple popular third-party apps were taken down. One of these, Pokévision, got a...
News Pokémon GO Rolls Out in Latin America as Niantic Reclaims Legendary Pokemon
Fix for battery saving mode on iOS also due soon
Niantic has continued its recent quest to communicate more and reverse the tide of online negativity around Pokémon GO by posting its second notable message of the week; it addresses a few key areas. For one thing, the app is finally rolling out in Latin America, with special mention given for...
Random Japanese Olympic Gymnast Racked Up Massive Bill From Playing Pokémon GO in Rio
"Looked dead at the team meal" after 500,000 Yen charge
A lot of players are obsessed with Pokémon GO, playing it a lot and rattling through data while out roaming for 'mon. If you roam too far, however, it can cause problems. Japanese Olympic gymnast Kohei Uchimura, who won all-around Gold during the London 2012 Olympics, had been playing the AR...
News PokéVision Creator Writes Open Letter On Niantic Shutting Down Fan-Made Pokémon GO Tools
We made Pokevision not to "cheat"
We recently debated the rights and wrongs of shutting down Pokemon GO fan-made tools like Pokévision, and it's fair to say it has become a bit of a heated topic, with many feeling that Niantic has been a bit heavy handed. Pokévision was one of the most popular fan-made apps to help track down elusive Pokémon, and...
News Niantic Addresses Pokémon GO's Removal of 3-step Display and Third-Party App Access
"We hear the frustration from folks"
With great success comes significant pressure, and in recent days that's started to weigh a little on Pokémon GO. A double-whammy of an unpopular update - which removed rather than fixed the '3-step' display - and the closing down of third-party apps caused a bit of a storm online. We considered some of the...
News Nintendo Clarifies Reasoning for Pokémon GO Plus Release Delay
Preparations for updating the app are cited
The Pokémon GO hype has been quite something to behold, though it's calming down a little despite the app's continuing success. As we heard earlier in the week, the Plus accessory - which allows you to receive updates and play aspects of the game with the press of a button - was pushed back to September,...
News Pokémon GO Updates to Make Game "Respectful" of Private Institutions
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum already removed from the game
The rapid rise of Pokémon GO has brought plenty of benefits, fostering communities of fans and helping players explore and get exercise. There can be negatives, however, and not just in terms of absent-minded players being robbed of their phones. There have been multiple reports of...
