KUCHING: When asked whether the mobile game Pokémon GO is still prevalent nowadays, many responded positively.
Pokémon GO was released on July 6, 2016 but it was officially released within Malaysia around early August.
The game was widely popular among Malaysians, and even Kuchingnites swarmed most areas in Kuching when it was launched. However, the game quickly died down during the later months of 2016 and onwards.
However, there are still roaming, loyal players in sight in Kuching. The most prevalent areas for individuals and groups to meet up are places where there is a plethora of “PokéStops”.
“Yes, it is still famous. There is one older woman who plays the game in Sibu when I was there. Quite a few elderly people play it too,” Lydia explained.
“From what I think, they play this because of the eggs you received, and it requires you to physically walk for it to hatch.”
She said that while the game could be addicting, it also makes one productive and outgoing as the game provides quests such as locating a Pokémon or spin a PokéStop to receive quests.
However, while it makes one productive, it can also be risky as players would have to look at their phones to play the game and their surroundings simultaneously, be it walking or driving. There have been numerous reports of deaths and injuries.
Despite the reported cases of injuries and deaths relating to the game, Pokémon GO still has a massive loyal fan base that plays the game either since the launch or had recently started playing it.
According to Statista, the game ranks at top 10 in terms of daily revenue in the United States (US), looking at the iOS platform alone.
Based on the statistics provided from Statista, it is a proof that Pokémon GO is still famous around the globe, despite its major fall in late 2016 and 2017. And if that is the case, then Kuching still has a big number of players loyal to the game.
