(Shows a Player about
to catch a Spearow.)
Pokemon Go is an augmented reality game that became very popular
recently. In the game, the player can catch and collect fictional creatures
called Pokemon using Pokeballs. With these creatures, the player can fight in
gyms with other Pokemon to gain experience points and receive awards. It’s
considered an augmented reality game because it uses maps to show the player’s
current surroundings like streets, pathways, monuments, etc. As the player
walks down the street, the view of the map changes and eventually the player
will encounter wild Pokemon to catch.
Pokemon Go is rhetorically effective for two reasons. First, the interactivity elements in the game helps
a person to move around and explore its surroundings. The player is inclined to
venture to new places to catch Pokemon available only in those geographic areas
and travel to Pokestops where the person can receive Pokeballs to continually catch
Pokemon. It uses GPS to generate a geographical map as the main view of the
game and this helps the game to be more realistic. It is important to mention
that the interactivity element must be relevant to the goals of the game, or it
will dilute the effectiveness of the persuasion. As Bogost argues, “the closer
we get to real experience, the better.” He is directly referring to the vivid spectrum.
He’s implying that the steps involved in the games is what makes it
rhetorically influential.
However, there were
unintended consequences to Pokemon Go. Since the release of Pokemon Go, there
has been robberies and fatal car accidents. These instances became so frequent
that the Pokemon Company International and Niantic, Inc. released a statement
saying: “We are aware that some incidents have occurred involving fans playing
Pokemon GO. We encourage all people playing Pokemon Go to be aware of their
surroundings and to play with friends when going to new or unfamiliar places.”
The company took further action by adding messages in their games like this
shown below.
(The company added pop-up messages in the game app for their players
so they will not put themselves or other people in harm's way)
so they will not put themselves or other people in harm's way)
The second reason is the identification element in the game.
In the beginning of the game, the player can design the appearance of his or
her character in the game. The character will not look exactly like the player
but it starts the subconscious process of the player placing themselves as the
character into the game.
In conclusion, Pokemon Go is a rhetorically influential game
because it has elements of procedural and identification.
Source:
-Bogust's Procedural Rhetoric
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