Shelby Wallace
Graphic Designer
A major aspect of the free-to-play location-based augmented reality game “Pokemon GO” has been almost brushed aside. However, with more and more players purchasing it, the Pokemon GO Plus has become a staple for how you can play.
According to pokemongo.com, the official site for Pokemon GO, “Pokemon GO Plus is a small device that lets you enjoy Pokémon GO while you’re on the move and not looking at your smartphone. The device connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth low energy and notifies you about events in the game—such as the appearance of a Pokémon nearby—using a LED and vibration.”
The Plus device allows you to catch Pokemon without having to keep your app constantly running- however, there are some catches. While the device will notify you when a Pokemon appears and allows you to throw a ball at it simply by clicking the button, you do not know if you’ve caught that Pokemon or not!
You must open your app and check your journal activity to see if the Pokemon was successfully caught or ran away.The Plus will also alert you about pokestops! Just like the Pokemon notification, the Plus will “begin to blink and vibrate whenever you’re within range of a stop” and you will have to press the button if you’d like to search the pokestop for items.
With a price tag of $34.99 many players are hesitant to drop the cash. Though, Nintendo has proven in the last few days that the Plus is updateable and will continue to gain features as the game grows.
The recent update which, according to Nintendolife.com, allows you to turn off notifications for pokestops and/or Pokemon encounters, proves that the Plus is not only versatile but that the company is planning to utilize it as a permanent companion accessory to the mobile game.
Some players have reported that their egg walking distances and buddy Pokemon distances seem to track better using the Plus. There are several factors that go into how the game tracks distance, but perhaps the Plus does give players an advantage when It comes to hatching eggs and getting candy.
Overall, $40 for the Plus is certainly something to think about. If you have the spare cash and would like a slight advantage in the game, the Plus may just be perfect for you. But for those casual players, just looking to enjoy the game, the Plus may be a waste of $40.
Visit www.pokemongo.com for more information regarding the Pokemon GO Plus device and how it works.
